The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-08-19
Rutland Man Is In Favor of
Thorough Investigation of
All State Accounts
STANDS SQUARELY
FOR LOCAL OPTION
Says the Proposed Constitutional
Amendment Is Vicious and Attitude
of Other Candidates Is Reason for
Coming Into the Field.
Especial to The Reformer.)

RUTLAND; Aug. 10.
Following the disclosures of condi-
tions in the Office of the state auditor
and the recent surrender of Judge
Charles Fl. Darling and former Lieu
tenant Governor Frank E. Howe to the
Prohibitionists, Percival w. Clement of
this city Saturday announced himself as
candidate for governor on the follow
ing PLATFORM:
!. No measures but war measures.
:. thorough investigation of all
state accounts.
). Such an administration of state
affairs as will prevent the possibility of
deficit in state departments.
His formal declaration, in which he
pledges himself, if nominated and elect
ed, to thorough reorganization of the
state IS business, is as follows:
To the Editors of Vermont
Two considerations urge me to de-
clare myself candidate for governor
at this time: a. the recent revelations
of vicious business system in the of
fice of the state auditor, and (2) the
proposal of the professional reformers
to limo up Vermont for national pro-
hibition. In my mind, the second prop
| osltion is of more Importance, although
the former is more Immediately before
the public mind.
During my lifelong residence in Yer
| mont some of my time has been given
| to public activities, and the result of
| those activities has, / hope, appeared in
some amendment of public conditions.
| IT / were to consult my own conven-
| ience l should content myself with such
| service as | might render as a private
| citizen. In fact, of late years, the pros
| pect of retiring from business and pol
| ities has appealed to me very strongly.
| At the same time / recognize in the
| present situation real emergency and
an opportunity for special public serv-
| ice.
Should you, therefore, in your good
judgment, call me to the high Office of
| governor, / feel that the call of duty
should not be disregarded.
| Perhaps my experience in business fits
me for such service, and with that in
view | would eheerfully put aside my
| personal inclinations and accept the
| burden that your choice would impose.
| In any event, shall continue to give
my best efforts to the cause of good
| government and my undivided support
to the state, and to the governor of the
state, whoever he may be.
| OF course, winning the war is the
first thought that comes into every
one mind. In that we are all of one
| accord. We wish Vermont to exert all
of her power by the use of men and
money to that end. Incident to that
| effort is the absolute necessity of pre-
venting waste and misuse of the public
money. Recently we have been shocked
and humiliatcd by the disclosure of
shortages in the Office of the state au-
| ditor, which occurred while Horace +.
/ Graham was in charge.
/ Without dwelling unduly on the
| grief and chagrin which we all feel in
| facing such situation, it is plain that
an utterly improper and dangerous sys-
TEN has grown up of handling the
state S funds.
1t is an invitation to fraud and mis-
appropriation. 1t should be remedied
without delay, so that shortage of
$4,000 in the account of any state Of