The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-06
CLEMENT ON HAND !.
FOR INAUGURATION
Gov.-Elect Will Begin His
Term of Office Next
Thursday
SPECULATION AS TO
GOVERNOR GRAHAM
viii He Appear Before a Joint Session
to Read His Retiring Message or Will
He Simply Retire Is the Question
Which. is Interesting Montpelier
Especial 10 The Reformer.)
Montpelier, Jan.

M0ntpeiief,s Jan. y.
Pereival W. Clement of Rutland viii
satisfy a lifelong ambition when he is
inaugurated governor of Vermont
Thursday afternoon. Plans are COM
nleted for the opening of the biennial
session of the Vermont general assemb-
Y at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning
for which members Eagan arriving this
morning Mr.. Clement, past the three
score and fen allotment. after three
submissions of his candidacy to the
people, is ratified as their choice. Ten
wears ago this would have carried with
Il higher ambitions but todav-well
that is another story.
Gov. Horace +. Graham, once idol of
The state, retires under unpleasant as
well as unfortunate circumstances. At
I time when the general assembly
zones together. the state faces the
spectacle of one state officer on trial
cor alleged wilful neglect of his official
luties and preparation being made for
he trial of another.
As private citizen. in March Gov
ernor Graham will face jury of his
peers. His official connections with
the state ceases on Thursday morning
when the new governor is declared elee-
ted.
The biennial session Of the Vermont
legislature is approaching converting
time on the soft pedal With the
date of the assembling fixed by statute
for 10 O'Clock Wednesday morning no
one viii Hazard a guess about the
events that may transpire during the
opening davs, but everyone will breathe
easier when they are over. Not for
wears, and perhaps never, has there
been the prevailing uncertainty of
what is in the wind.
''Slow down to Is miles an hour is
sign the automobile department in
advertently deposited at corner of the
capitol leading to the secretary of
states office, but that sign tells the
story in few words, and it applies
to every nook and corner Of the build
| ing, which is in an attitude of watch.
| full waiting.
Uncertainty About Graham.
Gov. Graham will arrive this after.
| noon from his home in Craftsbury. He
| has prepared his annual address to the
| legislature. 1t is understood to be
| short, perhaps shorter than the average
| but whether the governor will have an
opportunity to deliver the message in
| person on invitation of joint resolu
| ton adopted by both branches is 8
| matter that must be settled by some
| improviSed steering committee in the
| interests of harmony and an orderly
| condueton of legislative affairs NJ
| one can remember when it was not tn,
| custom to hold a joint assembly anC
hear the parting salute of retiring
| governor, but this year. with the pres
emf executive under Indictment for al
legged misapplication of state fund
while a trusted auditor, a situation ha
arisen which calls for prayerful con
sideration. Hence it is small wonde
that the oncoming lawmakers are slow
ing down to the legal speed limit AM
are shifting into low.
Constitutional pilots declare there i
Fno duty imposed on the retiring gov
ernor beyond making a report to th
legislature and that he is not require,
to appear in person in joint assembl,
4
liver that message which appears abou
the same time in printed form. The
say it is matter of custom and no
obligation of the house and senate t
hear the message, and that even shoul
a resolution be adopted by one brane
it could be rejected by the other. Thi
viii be one Of the hardest nuts for tn
legislature to crack in the opening day
: and it must he settled on the first o
second day because it has been the rul
7 If Gov. Graham appears there is niue
to hear the message of the retiring goS
, ernor on the morning of the second day
speculation as to how he will appea
and be received and whether he wi
have his nerve' with him or wi
break down. The governor is not lacl
ing in friends and advisors in his &C
+ versity and no doubt he is proceedin
r in full accord with their suggestion
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