VFKMnNT. 





for paying tlic debentures of the Lieutenant ' 

 ernor. Senate, and llou-.- of Ikepivs,-ntatives. and 

 contingent exj ,|,| V ; 



s-l-j .-,.11110 for 1896-'97nd *-400.ooo r,, r i- 

 payment of such demands on : \g may he 



allowed by the State Auditor: x:;o.ooo fur 'each 

 year for paying interest on bonds and other debts 

 of the State: xlt'Ml.ooO for eaeh year l'r i-xp' 

 of the penal institutions and the care of the in- 

 $5,000 for each normal school : *.-,.. JOO f,,f mainte- 

 nance and further equipment of the iisli hatchery ; 

 $5,500 for land and warden's house ai 

 Prison: a sum not to exceed s-.20.000 for tie 

 diers' Home : and for improvements at the Ii 

 Asylum a sum not to exceed 22,000. Other 

 were : 



Requiring the State geologist to inspect the mines 

 and quarries and unopened deposits of economic 

 value in the State, also unused water power, and re- 

 port as to their value and workings. 



Constituting statements made under the sanctity 

 of the religious confessional privileged communi- 

 cations. 



Prescribing a fine for removal, sale, or incum- 

 brance of property mortgaged or having a lien 

 upon it. 



Allowing a lien for labor or material amounting 

 to sl5 or more. 



Empowering a married woman to convey her real 

 estate by her separate deed. 



Requiring a residence of two years in the State 

 and six months in the county to allow of divorce 

 for any cause that shall have accrued in any other 

 State or county. 



To prevent cruelty to children and other depend- 

 ent persons. 



Providing that the marriage of a female minor 

 shall discharge her guardian from all right in her 

 custody and education, but not in her property. 



Authorizing towns and cities to vote money for 

 chartered hospitals, and cities and incorporated 

 villages to provide for open-air musical entertain- 

 ments. 



Forbidding the appointment as town liquor agent 

 of any person who shall have been convicted in the 

 State for illegally selling liquor within five years. 



Repealing the provision for bounties on noxious 

 animals. 



Allowing owners and renters of land to sell the 

 produce of their land without license. 



Making a tramp punishable by imprisonment for 

 not more than six months or a fine of not more 

 than $100, and giving justices of the peace concur- 

 rent jurisdiction in such cases. 



Imposing a fine not exceeding $50 for selling or 

 otherwise furnishing firearms or explosives to a 

 child under twelve years of age, and 20 on a child 

 for having such in his possession. 



Political. The election of State officers was 

 held Sept. 1. 



A Republican League convention for the reor- 

 ganization of the league was held April 28 in 

 Montpelier. and the following day the first Repub- 

 lican convention at the same place. Four delegates 

 at large and four alternates were chosen for the 

 national convention. The following resolution was 

 adopted by acclamation, but subsequently a motion 

 to table it was carried: 



" Rtxnlnd, That in the great apostle of protec- 

 tion, William McKinley. of Ohio, we recognize the 

 first choice of the Republicans of Vermont for 

 presidential candidate." 



The resolutions declared in favor of a protective 

 tariff, reciprocity, the maintenance of the Monroe 

 doctrine, just and liberal pensions, adequate coast 

 defenses, and restricted immigration. The money 

 resolution declared unequivocally against free silver 



t by internal ional agreement. ( 'out inuin. 

 platt 



" \\ red it of t i. vieiit 



should lie sustained not Ijy the issue <if bnnds and 



the ii the national debt, bal by a n-iuni to 



i-m of duties which shall replenish the public 

 Treasury, put in motion the now siknt 

 business, and insure living prices to American !'. 

 and workshops." 



The Republican convention for nominati- ' 



met in Burlington. June 17. Two 

 candidates for the governorship had \ en I 

 the people for some time Josiah Grout and W. 

 W. Stickney. On the ballot Grout received '':''>'>. 

 and Stickney 3:J6. The entire ticket was: F.T 

 Governor. Josiah Grout: for Lieutenant Governor. 

 ii W. Fisk ; for State Treasurer. Henry I-'. 

 Field: for Secretary of State, Chaum-ey W. Bn>wn- 

 ell: for State Auditor. Franklin 1). Hale. 



The only resolutions adopted were in condemna- 

 tion of the demand for free coinage. 



The Prohibitionists held a convention ii. 

 pelier. May 7. and adopted resolutions declaring for 

 prohibition only, two that were offered on free coin- 

 age and other national issues having been voted 

 down. The ticket follows: For Governor, Rodney 

 C. Whittemore ; Lieutenant Governor, C. W. Wy- 

 man: Secret rary of State. Rev. A. X. Woodruff; 

 Treasurer, Wilson Davidson ; Auditor, F. W. 

 Wheeler. 



Delegates to the national convention and candi- 

 dates for presidential electors were also ch 



The Democratic State Convention, held in Mont- 

 pelier, May 27. adopted a platform declaring: " We 

 demand the maintenance of the gold standard of 

 value as being for the true interests of all our pco- 



Ele and especially for those who are obliged to 

 ibor for what they receive, and we are opposed to 

 the free coinage of silver, except under international 

 agreement": commending the able, patriotic, and 

 statesmanlike administration of G rover Cleveland : 

 thanking Secretary Carlisle for his conscientious 

 and efficient management of the Treasury Depart- 

 ment : expressing sympathy with the Cubans: de- 

 nouncing the Republican protection theory; de- 

 nouncing the Republican party for fostering " the 

 un-American, cowardly, and despicable A. P. A. 

 organization." 



Nominations for State officers were made as fol- 

 low : For Governor, J. H. Jackson ; Lieutenant 

 Governor, Ralph Sherwood ; Treasurer, James H. 

 Williams : Secretary of State, William W. Rider ; 

 Auditor, E. F. Seav'er. 



In response to a call written by one of the dele- 

 gates to the national convention, a conference of 

 Sound-money Democrats was held Aug. 4, and it 

 was decided to hold a convention, Aug. 18, at Bel- 

 lows Falls. At that time delegates were chosen 

 to the Indianapolis convention, and resolutions 

 were adopted which, after asserting the firm ad- 

 herence of the convention to " the time-honored 

 traditions and principles of genuine Democrats, 

 with renewed assurances of abiding regard for the 

 welfare, prosperity, and business of the people." pro- 

 claim unswerving loyalty to convictions of public 

 and individual duty. "and" reaffirms undaunted fidel- 

 ity to the platform of the Democratic party of Ver- 

 mont, adopted in State convention, at Montpelier. 

 on May 27, 1896, urgently commending that portion 

 of the platform which declares : " We demand the 

 maintenance of a gold standard of value as being 

 in the true interests of all people, especially 

 obliged to labor for what they receive, and are ever 

 opposed to the free coinage of silver, except by in- 

 ternational agreement.'' 



The People's party nominated candidates for 

 presidential electors and State officers in a conven- 



