Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-05-07
WAS VERMONT'S OWN CHOICE
SENATOR PROCTOR DID NOT MAKE
M,KlNLEY SENTIMENT.
The Senator Back in Washington and Ex-
plains the situation to the surprised
People Thore-He Does Not Try to
Boss" Vermont.

Boston, May "A special despatch from
Washington to the Journal says:
Senator Proctor of Vermont appeared at
the Capitol yesterday for the first time
since the Vermont convention, and he was
very much in demand by those who were
anxious to know exactly now IL came
about"
In view of the reports which have been
prevalent during the last two or three
days in regard to the senator's attitude,
the correspondent asked him to make an
explanation for the benefit Of the people of
New England, OF certain statements
which had been made.
He was told that some criticism had been
caused by the fact that he had not done
more to advance the interests of Speaker
Reed, whose candidacy he was understood
to favor; that he had invited Senator
Thurston, an eloquent advocate of GOV.
Mckinley, to address the Republican
League the night before the convention,
and that he had FASTENED to inform Mark
Hanna by telegraph of the convention 3
act at the same time assuring him of the
support of the Vermont delegation for
Gov. Mckinley. He replied as follows:
at does not seem to me worth while to
answer the various incorrect statements
in regard to the Vermont convention. or
in regard to my attitude toward the candi-
dates. The result was surprise to people
outside the State, and In the overwhelm-
ing sentiment for Mckinley it was doubt
| less q surprise to the ardent Mckinley
men themselves.
II had not been in the State for five
months-had had but little communication
with the people in regard to their prefer
ences. 1t had been my declared purpose
in any action ! might take to follow and
| obey the republican sentiment of the State
and not undertake to lead it. The people
of Vermont have an old, fixed habit of de-
Gliding for themselves what they want
and it is the part of wisdom not to inter-
| fore with this habit.
| Il did not try In the least to influence
the choice of delegates TO the State con-
venton: 1t would have been resented, very
properly so, If | had. The republicans OF
the State doubtless believed that If made
a delegate to st. Louis ! should endeavor
to faithfully represent them, and should
vote and act as | believed they would wish
me 10 in any situation that might arise
Further than to do this had no purpose
or thought
! Until within a short time IL appeared
from the general tone of the press that
the sentiment in behalf of a New Eng
land man, and one so very able and en-.
tirely unexceptionable as Mr.. Reed would
prevail, and that Vermont would Join the
other New England States in a solid col
umn for him. This seemed to me to be
the probable result, and I could very
heartily have Joined with it. II the con.
vention had been held six weeks or ever
n month earlier there Is little doubt thai
this would have been the result.
But the Mckinley sentiment had beer
growing very rapidly for the last few days
preceding the convention and at the las
1t was a tidal wave, ground swell, cyclone
avalanche-you may take your choice o.
expression it was simply Overwhelming
! got homo at 230 o'clock in the morning
and / didn't have time to get my break
fast before l found out how strong the
feeling was. The sentiment came from
all over the State, from small towns even
outside the ordinary channels of com
munication.
Representative Powers, for example
has been very pronounced in his advocac!
of Speaker Reed. He lives In a small tow
OF not more than $500 inhabitants, and /
has boon known there how he stood. HI
expressed wish to be elected a delegat'
to the State convention. They elected him
but they elected four strong McKinle!
men to go with him, and indorsed McKn
ley by a strong vote, four or five to one
That is an illustration of the way senti
ment was running.
at was the protection idea more thai
any enthusiasm for Mckinley in person
Mr.. Mckinley is we'll known In the State
and he has spoken there several times
and is we'll liked. But the thing that de
cided it was his Identification with tn
policy OF protection.
LAS to taking Senator Thurston to Yer
mont, this is the explanation. Some tim
ago, at the request of the Republican
League of Vermont I asked Senator Fry
to visit Montpelier and address the leagu
meeting the night before the State con
vention. He accepted, and said that h
would be very glad indeed to go. Ate
consulting with the Vermont member
of the House, asked Representative Dol
liver, and he accepted Then / requisite