Vermont, the Green mountain state (Volume 4) online

at Paris, and Commander T. G. Dewey (retired) to the
Fifth Naval District.

The following Vermont naval officers were cited for
distinguished services rendered:

Rear Admiral Henry T. Mayo, U. S. N. — Dis-
tinguished Service Medal. "For exceptionally meritor-
ious service in a duty of great responsibility as Com-
mander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet in connection with
the organization, training and maintaining of the Fleet
in a condition for war."

Capt. George C. Day, U. S. N. — Navy Cross. "For
distinguished service in the line of his profession as com-
manding officer of the U. S. S. America and the U. S. S.
Montana, engaged in the important, exacting and
hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and
supplies to European ports through waters infested with
enemy submarines and mines."

Capt. Philip Williams, U. S. .V.— Navy Cross. "For
distinguished service in the line of his profession as
commanding officer of the U. S. S. Chester, engaged in
the important, exacting and hazardous duty of trans-
porting and escorting troops and supplies to European
ports through waters infested with enemy submarines
and mines."

Commander Leigh Noyes, U. S. N. — Navy Cross.
"For distinguished service in the line of his profession



THE PERIOD OF THE WORLD WAR ')29

as Flag Secretary and Fleet Communication Officer on
the Staff of Commander-in-Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet."

Commander Liicien F. Kimball, U. S. N. — Navy
Cross. "For distinguished service in the line of his pro-
fession as Executive Officer of the U. S. S. San Fran-
cisco, engaged in laying the mine barrage in the North
Sea."

Commander George T. Szi'asey, Jr., U. S. N. — Navy
Cross. "For distinguished service in the line of his pro-
fession as commanding officer of the U. S. S. Ammen,
engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty
of patrolling the waters infested with enemy submarines
and mines, in escorting and protecting vitally important
convoys of troops and supplies through these waters, and
in offensive and defensive action, vigorously and unre-
mittingly prosecuted, against all forms of enemy naval
activity."

Lieut. Comdr. Henry G. Fuller, U. S. N. — Navy Cross.
''For distinguished service in the line of his profession
as commanding officer of the U. S. S. IVenonah, engaged
in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of trans-
porting and escorting troops and supplies to European
ports through waters infested with enemy submarines
and mines."

Lieut. Comdr. Gerard Bradford, U. S. N. — Special
Letter of Commendation. "As Executive Officer of the
U. S. S. San Diego, his coolness, zeal and devotion to
duty on the occasion of the sinking of that vessel by
enemy torpedo, were highly meritorious."

Lieut. Philip C. Ransom, U. S. N. — Navy Cross.
"For distinguished service in the line of his profession



530 HISTORY OF VERMONT

as officer of the deck of the U. S. S. AL-2 upon the occa-
sion of an encounter with the enemy submarine. Lieu-
tenant Ransom was the first to sight the enemy, and
took prompt and correct action in heading direct for it."

Lieut. William R. Spear, U. S. N. — Navy Cross.
"For distinguished service in the line of his profession
as Commanding Officer of the U. S. S. Penguin, engaged
in the difficult and hazardous duty of sweeping for and
removing the mines of the North Sea mine barrage.

Commander J. P. Hatch (SC), U. S. N. — Special Let-
ter of Commendation. "He performed meritorious
service as Supply Officer on the staff of the Commander
of the Train, U. S. Fleet."

Commander George P. Aidd (SC), U. S. N. — Navy
Cross. "For distinguished service in the line of his pro-
fession as Chief Accountant of the Navy, in charge of
the Accountancy Division, in which capacity he prepared
an up-to-date accounting system, based on the latest and
most scientific principles, and handled with marked abil-
ity the many cost accounting problems brought by war
conditions. He negotiated great numbers of contracts
and settled numerous controversies between contractors
and the Navy Department."

Commander Chester G. Mayo (SC), U. S. N. — Special
Letter of Commendation. "He performed meritorious
service as Senior Assistant and Executive Officer to the
Supply Officer of the Navy Yard, Boston, Mass., during
the first year of the war and later as officer in charge
of the Disbursing Division of the Bureau of Supplies
and Accounts."



THE PERIOD OF TPIE WORLD WAR 531

The colors and shields of the Vermont organizations
participating in the war were presented to the State on
the evening of October 23 by various officers and they
were accepted by Lieut. Gov. Mason S. Stone. A Ver-
mont division of the American Legion, composed of
veterans of the World War, was organized at Burling-
ton on October 23, 1919, and President John M. Thomas
of Middlebury College was elected the first commander.
At the national convention of the American Legion, held
in November, 1919, Vermont won the banner awarded to
the State having the largest number of paid up member-
ships in proportion to population. At the close of the
year 1920 there were in Vermont eighty-four posts of
the Legion.

The readiness of Vermont to respond in men and
money to aid in winning the war, the sacrifices and
labors of her men, women and children, demonstrated
that the patriotic spirit of the Green Mountains Boys
lived in their descendants, and that the State could be
depended upon to do its full duty in any emergency.

The contestants for the Republican nomination for
Governor in 1918 were Percival W. Clement of Rut-
land, Charles H. Darling of Burlington and former
Lieut. Gov. Frank E. Howe of Bennington. Mr.
Clement won in the primaries by a small plurality, the
result being as follows: Clement, 12,060; Darling,
11,408; Howe, 9,122; scattering, 2. Mason S. Stone
of Montpelier was nominated as candidate for Lieu-
tenant Governor without opposition, receiving 25.481
votes. Dr. William B. Mayo of Northfield was nomi-
nated as the Democratic candidate for Governor, receiv-



532 HISTORY OF VERMONT

ing 2,486 votes. Percival W. Clement received 28,358
votes for Governor. Dr. W. B. Mayo received 12,517
votes as the Democratic candidate, and 1,342 as the can-
didate of the Prohibition party. The scattering votes
numbered 106.

Percival W. Clement, one of Vermont's leading busi-
ness men, was born in Rutland, July 7, 1846, his father
being Charles Clement, a prominent business man and
active in the development of the marble industry. He
was educated at the Rutland High School, St. Paul's
School, Concord, N. H., and Trinity College, Hartford,
Conn. He began his business career as a clerk in his
father's marble firm of Clement and Sons and in 1871
became a partner. This property was sold in 1876 at a
price which made the sale the largest marble transaction
known in the history of the country. The firm then
organized the State Trust Company and later the
Clement National Bank. Governor Clement is the presi-
dent and principal shareholder of the last named bank.
In 1882 he began buying the shares of the Rutland Rail-
road Company and soon secured control. The shares
of stock and the bonds increased in value under his
management, and in 1887 he sold to the Delaware and
Hudson Canal Company, retaining the presidency of the
company and leasing to the Central Vermont Railroad in
1891. He built the Rutland-Canadian Railroad from
Burlington through Lake Champlain and the islands of
Grand Isle county, making a new scenic route and an
additional line from New York to Montreal. This line
is forty-three miles long, three miles being through the
lake from Colchester Point to the southern point of



THE PERIOD OK THE WORLD WAR 'yx^

South Hero. He bought the Ogdensburg and Lake
Champlain, the Bennington and Rutland and the
Chatham Railroads and consolidated them with the Rut-
land-Canadian. He also built the Ticonderoga Railroad
from Ticonderoga, N. Y., to Lake Champlain. Both
this road and the Rutland-Canadian were difiicult engi-
neering tasks. He built a terminal warehouse in
Chicago, representing an investment of nearly one mil-
lion dollars. He bought the Hotel Dunmore in New
York and Hotel Woodstock in the same city, enlarging
and remodeling the latter property. He bought and en-
larged the Rutland Herald, one of the oldest and largest
of Vermont newspapers. He was active in organizing
the Rutland Board of Trade and was its president for
three years.

Mr. Clement represented Rutland in the Legislature of
1892. was Mayor of Rutland in 1897, 1898, 1911 and
1912. He was a Senator from Rutland county in 1900.
He was chairman of the New England Railroad Con-
ference Commission in 1912, member of the Vermont
Educational Commission in 191 v3 and a member of the
executive committee of the Vermont Committee of Pub-
lic Safety in 1917.

The Legislature organized by electing as Speaker
Charles S. Dana of New Haven. In his retiring mes-
sage Governor Graham reviewed Vermont's part in the
war. Sixty-one men from the State had been cited for
bravery. The total amount expended for State pay
amounted to $512,103.94.

In 1903 the receipts of the State from all sources were
$1,276,238.01, and the disbursements, $1,212,781.19.



534 HISTORY OF VERMONT

In 1918 the revenue of the State amounted to
$4,006,670.61 and the expenditures were $3,738,076.12.
During that period the deposits in savings banks and
trust companies had increased from $43,000,000 to
$106,000,000. Deposits in national banks, subject to
taxation, were approximately $12,000,000.

In his inaugural address Governor Clement paid a
tribute to the Vermont soldiers and advocated payment
to drafted men of a bonus from the State similar to
that paid the enlisted men. He asserted that the hand
of the Federal Government rested heavily on all busi-
ness in the United States. He favored a greater con-
solidation of State activities and called attention to the
increase of taxation.

The Legislature authorized the State Treasurer to
issue negotiable bonds not exceeding $1,500,000 to retire
outstanding notes issued to secure funds for State pay
granted to drafted men and women. The sum of
$1,000,000 was appropriated for paying drafted men
and women in the military and naval service. An act
was passed to prevent anarchy. An effort to incite per-
sons to promote anarchy was made punishable by three
years in prison, a fine of one thousand dollars, or both.
The display of a red or a black flag, except as provided,
was forbidden. Sound business principles were pro-
moted by providing further checks on the transactions of
State officers. The Secretary of Civil and Military
Affairs was directed to compile and edit a fitting history
of Vermont's part in the World War. The prohibition
amendment to the National Constitution was ratified.



THE PERIOD OK THE WORLD WAR 535

The State did pioneer work in sul)Slilutin;^^ for local
health officers a system of district health officers. The
office of State Fire Marshal was established. The (lov-
ernor was directed to appoint a committee of seven to
propose amendments to the State Constitution. A joint
assembly was held on March 1 1 to listen to a speech by
Gen. Clarence R. Edwards, commander of the "Yankee
Division" in the World War, who also spoke at Barre,
Burlington and Northfield. The Public Service Com-
mission and State Engineer were directed to investigate
the water resources of the State, and the Board of Con-
trol was authorized to investigate State expenses.

A joint assembly was held on February 12 to hear
addresses on Theodore Roosevelt by Governor Clement
and Rev. Eraser Metzger of Randolph.

Resolutions of sympathy on the death of Ex-President
Roosevelt were adopted. Resolutions of greeting were
extended to Ex-Senator George F. Edmunds on his
ninety-first birthday. His death occurred February 27,
1919, at his home in Pasadena, Calif. The hall of the
House of Representatives was ofifered for the funeral
but the services were held in St. Paul's Church, Burling-
ton. A legislative committee was appointed to attend
the funeral and the following resolution was adopted:
''Vermont, while lamenting the death of the great coun-
sellor and statesman, takes a solemn pride in the glory
of his achievements and his splendid services to the
Nation, and commends to her sons at home and abroad
a devout recognition of the qualities which will make
his fame enduring." A resolution was adopted urging
the President to use his influence in favor of the applica-



536 HISTORY OF VERMONT

tion of the principle of self determination to be applied
to small nations, including Ireland. Katherine Viles of
Montpelier was thanked for a gift to the State of a tract
of land back of the Capitol.

Shortly before Governor Graham's term expired it
became known that there apparently were irregularities
in his accounts as State Auditor. These charges
naturally resulted in consternation throughout the State.
Mr. Graham had been considered an unusually capable
official and during the trying period of the war he had
made an exceptionally able and faithful Governor, one
of the best in modern times. Few persons believed that
he had deliberately planned to defraud the State. The
case was brought to trial in Washington County Court,
January 20, 1920, Judge F. M. Butler, presiding. Atty.
Gen. Frank C. Archibald and former Atty. Gen. H. G.
Barber prosecuted and the attorneys for the defense were
W. B. C. Stickney of Rutland, former Atty. Gen. R. E.
Brown of Burlington and former Lieut. Gov. Hale K.
Darling of Chelsea. The Ex-Governor was found guilty
of malfeasance in office, but sentence was not imposed,
as exceptions were noted by the defence and a petition
was filed for a new trial. On the morning of November
4, 1920, counsel for Ex-Governor Graham appeared in
Supreme Court, waived his exceptions and withdrew his
petition for a new trial. Justice George M. Powers then
imposed a sentence of not less than five nor more than
eight years in State Prison. On the afternoon of the
same day Governor Clement pardoned Mr. Graham, issu-
ing a statement addressed to him, which was in part as
follows :



THE PERIOD OF THE WORLD WAR 537



"When you finished yuur term of olhce as Auditor of
Accounts, in 1917, there was a balance of moneys due
from you to the State of Vermont, as appeared by the
record upon the books of the Auditor, which record, I
understand, has not been questioned, and which balance
has since been paid by you.

"I have briefly called your attention to the condi-
tions which existed during your term of office as Auditor
of Accounts of the State, because the knowledge of what
was going on by the public, by the Legislatures and by
State officials generally has a bearing upon the question
of your intent and upon the action which I am now
taking.

"In the fall of 1916, you were elected Governor, the
highest office in the gift of the people of Vermont. A
few weeks after you assumed the duties of that office,
Vermont, with the other States of the Federal Union,
was engaged in the great World War. Incident to the
part which Vermont played in the war, a tremendous
burden of duties came upon you, but you were inde-
fatigable in the performance of those duties. You en-
rolled fifteen thousand of our boys who went into the
service of the Federal Government to fight our battles.
You were in constant touch with our soldiers.

"In addition to the war w-ork which you accom-
plished, you advocated and secured a budget system, and
a Board of Control, w^hereby the business of the State
is better handled than ever before. You brought to
Montpelier State offices which previously were permitted
to be scattered about the State. Your services to the
State of Vermont during the two years of your Gov-



538 HISTORY OF VERMONT

ernorship were second to those of no other Governor
since the days of Thomas Chittenden.

"Whereas I accept the action of the honorable court,
nevertheless, on account of the great and valuable serv-
ice which you have rendered to the State of Vermont
and the suffering which you have endured by reason of
your indictment and trial, I grant you an unconditional
pardon, and restore you to full citizenship in this State,
which has in the past so highly honored you."

In 1918, thirteen towns and cities in Vermont voted to
license the sale of intoxicating liquor, and in 1919 thirty
towns and cities voted for license. The adoption of the
prohibition amendment to the United States Constitution
automatically put an end to the legal sale of liquor in
Vermont.

The return of the Republican party to power in both
branches of Congress, as a result of the elections of
1918 gave more important committee positions to Ver-
mont Congressmen and Senators. Senator Dillingham
resumed the chairmanship of the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections and Senator Page became chairman
of the Naval Affairs Committee. Senator Dillingham
was second on Judiciary, second on Immigration, second
on District of Columbia, and a member of the Committees
on Finance, Railroads, Geological Survey, University of
the United States and Expenditures in the Navy Depart-
ment. Senator Page was second on Agriculture and
Forestry, second on Banking and Currency, second on
Interoceanic Canals, and a member of the Committees
on Education and Labor, Printing, Transportation and
Sale of Meat Products and Expenditures in the War



THE PERIOD OF 'PHE WORLD WAR 539

Department. Congressman Greene remained on the
Military Affairs Committee, but was advanced to fourth
place. Congressman Dale was made Chairman of the
Committee on Expenses in the Treasury Department,
second on Banking and Currency and a member of the
Committee on Rules.

The hundredth anniversary of Norwich University
was celebrated at Northtield, October 10-14, 1919, with
a large attendance of alumni and friends. On Friday
afternoon, October 10, Governor Clement reviewed the
Norwich Cadets, and the new cavalry stable was for-
mally opened. An alumni dinner and meeting were held
in the evening. Saturday, October 11, was observed
as undergraduates day, with military, athletic and social
events. On Sunday afternoon, October 12, a memorial
service was held. Rev. James B. Sargent, University
Chaplain, presiding. An address was delivered by Rev.
Francis A. Poole.

Monday, October 13, was "Founder's Day," and a pil-
grimage was made to Norwich, Vt., the original site of
the institution. Addresses were delivered by Dr. John
K. Lord of Dartmouth College and Rear Admiral George
P. Colvocoresses, U. S. N. (retired).

Tuesday, October 14, was Centennial Day. Col. Ira
L. Reeves, U. S. A., a former president, presided at the
morning exercises, a feature of which was the dedication
of a Centennial Stairway of granite as an approach to
the college buildings, each step bearing the name of a dis-
tinguished official, alumnus or past cadet of the institu-
tion. Hon. Alexander Dunnett of St. Johnsbury deliv-



540 HISTORY OF VERMONT

ered the dedicatory address, and the centennial orator
was Hon. Frank Plumley of Northfield.

After a Centennial lunch, served at noon, an educa-
tional conference was held. Dean. H. R. Roberts pre-
siding. Addresses were delivered by President Alex-
ander Meiklejohn of Amherst College, President Harry
A. Garfield of Williams College and Maj. Charles W.
Elliot, U. S. A., representing the War Department of the
United States. A feature of the centennial observance
was the erection of gateways of brick and granite, suit-
ably inscribed, at the northern and eastern entrances to
the University grounds.

A Presidential primary law was in effect in 1920, but
the vote cast was very small. The vote for Republican
candidates was as follows : Gen. Leonard Wood, 3,451 ;
Herbert Hoover, 564; Hiram Johnson, 402; William
Grant Webster, 354; Calvin Coolidge, 335; Charles E.
Hughes, Z7 ; Frank O. Lowden, 29 ; Henry Cabot Lodge,
12; Philander C. Knox, 6; scattering, 33.

The vote for Democratic candidates is given here-
with: William McAdoo, 137; Woodrow Wilson, 68;
Edward Edwards, 58; Herbert Hoover, 39; William J.
Bryan, 26; Hiram Johnson, 18; Champ Clark, 18;
James Cox, 14; Eugene Debs, 8; Henry Ford, 7;
A. Mitchell Palmer, 7; Thomas Marshall, 7; scattering,
31.

The Republican State Convention elected the follow-
ing delegates to the National Convention: H. Nelson
Jackson of Burlington, Alexander Dunnett of St. Johns-
bury, Rev. John M. Thomas of Middlebury, James F.
Dewey of Quechee, Redfield Proctor of Proctor, Hugh




C;ilviii C'tKilid.ne



THE PERIOD OF THE WORLD WAR 541

J. M. Jones of iMontpelier, Fuller C. vSiiiith of Si. Al]jaii>,
and George O. Gridley of Windsor. Resolutions were
adopted deploring the "autocratic course" of President
Wilson in negotiating the peace treaty and condemning
the League of Nations as submitted to the Senate. The
Governor was asked to call an early session of the Legis-
lature for the purpose of ratifying the amendment to the
Federal Constitution granting the right of suffrage to
women. The Republican State Committee had invited
the principal Republican candidates for the Presidency
to address the convention, but Gen. Leonard Wood was
the only one who accepted, and he was given an enthus-
iastic reception.

The Democratic State Convention elected as delegates
to the National Convention, J. Holmes Jackson of Bur-
lington, Henry C. Brislin of Rutland, Fred C. Martin of
Bennington, Dr. E. H. Bailey of Bar re, Howard E.
Shaw of Stowe, L. W. Watchter of Windsor, John B.
Flanagan of Proctor and Harry C. Shurtleff of Mont-
pelier. The platform endorsed President Wilson's ad-
ministration, favored woman suffrage and opposed the
Volstead act to enforce national {prohibition, unless
modified to permit the sale of beer and light wines.

Alexander Dunnett was made chairman of the Repub-
lican delegation to the National Convention. \'erniont
supported Gen. Leonard Wood on all the ballots taken
for a Presidential nominee, and supported its native son.
Gov. Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts, for Vice Presi-
dent. Governor Clement was the first Governor to con-
gratulate the Vice Presidential nominee. Earle S.
Kinsley of Rutland was reelected the Vermont member



542 HISTORY OF VERMONT

of the Republican National Committee, and had an active
part in the campaign, being National Director of Repub-
lican Clubs. Senator Warren G. Harding, the Republi-
can candidate for President, had visited Vermont a few
years before his nomination, speaking in Burlington on
a Chautauqua circuit.

Calvin Coolidge, the third son of Vermont to be nomi-
nated for and elected to the office of Vice President of
the United States, had been placed in nomination as a
candidate for the Presidency in the Convention of 1920.
He had distinguished himself as an exceptionally able
Governor of his adopted State. He had won nation-
wide prominence by his firm stand when the Boston
police went on strike, leaving the city unprotected. His
refusal to permit the strikers to return, and his reply
to Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federa-
tion of Labor, in which he asserted that "there is no
right to strike against the public safety by anybody, any-
where, any time," was enthusiastically commended from
one end of the country to the other.

Calvin Coolidge was born in Plymouth, Windsor
county, Vt., July 4, 1872. He is the son of John C.
Coolidge, a prominent man in his part of the State, who
has been a member of both branches of the State Legis-
lature, and a Colonel on Governor Stickney's staft". The
lad grew to maturity on an upland farm in the foot-
hills of the Green Mountains. He attended the public
schools. Black River Academy, at Ludlow, and Amherst
College, graduating from the last named institution in
the class of 1895. He studied law in the office of Ham-
mons and Field in Northampton, Mass., and was ad-



TliK J'1':r1()1) Ob" TllK WORLD WAR .j4:J

mitted to the bar in 1897. While a law student he won
the gold medal, valued at one hundred and fifty dollars,
offered by the American Historical Society to seniors in
all the American colleges, for the best essay on some
historical subject. He was elected to the Northampton
City Council in 1897, served as City Solicitor, 1900-01,
and as Clerk of the municipal court in 1904. He was
twice elected Mayor of Northampton, 1910-11; was
twice a member of the State House of Representatives,
1907-08; four times a member of the State Senate, 1912-
15, and its President, 1914-15; three times Lieutenant
Governor, 1916-18; and twice Governor of the Common-