The sun., 1896-09-04
THE CONTEST ~ rERMON1.
senator Proctor Says the Democrats Mad
Bryan aud Free silver the Issue.

|
Bryan aud Free silver the Issue.
WASHINGTON. Sept. Ex-senator Redneld Proc
| tor fresh from his triumph in Vermont, re-
| ceived an enthusiastic greeting at Republican
| headquarters when he walked into Chairman
| Babcock's room this afternoon. The Senator
took occasion to refute the statements given out
at Democratic headquarters to the effect that
| tho Democrats mado no contest In the Green
Mountain State. On the contrary. Senator Proc
| tor Gays that the Democrats commenced to cir
culato their campaign literature in that State
before he received hls first installment from
| Republican headquarters.
| As soon as II was ascertained that Senator
| Proctor was at headquarters he was surrounded
| by Representatives Babcock, Mercer. Hull, Set
| tie, and other Republican Congresspen, who
were anxious to hear his story of the recent
contest in Vermont. As q starter rome
asked him whether the silver question entered
into the fight in view Of the fact that the
Democratic candidate ran on q sound-money
platform,
is that what they are saying down this way ?"
inquired the crafty old Senator. with hia
characteristic drawl THE Democrats up our
way don't give any such excuse. They held
their Convention and adopted their platform
before the Chicago Convention met. but they
subsequently came out and endorsed Bryan and
| the Chicago platform. and conducted their cam
paiEn on that basis. Why. the reports of their
allies will show that their candidate for Gov
ernor. who is q very excellent gentleman, was
called upon to declare himself. and he
nounced several times that he would support
Bryan and the Chicago platform. At all OF their
public meetings they discussed the financial
question. and Bryan and free silver was the
isSne. as much so as II the election had been
held In November instead OF September.
/ Up our way" continued the Senator. "wo
do all OF our campaigning for the September
election. and the Novem Der election takes care
OF itseit we , DO not SEND out any literature or
postage stamp in the November contest. for
toll you as goes the s's,e of Vermont in Sep.
lively campaigning on both sides there this
time. and we increased our majority because
many souDd-money Democrats voted with Us.
and then we brought out the reservs vote to
help show what we can do when the occasion
some one suggested that Bradley B. smalley.
in commenting upon the result: said the Demo-
crate m ade no attempt to interfere with the Re-
D:S DBssa siways wa. ssssh, semsssh,ns Of . wsE.r
him up home. We found out that Brad made
fact in the papers and added that he was desert
We have no fault to find with Brad. and what
iis,is documsns al my hotel IN the shape Of
letter sent to Democratic officehoder. in tho
pected to contribute ten per cent. of their sal
aries to the campaign fund: The Postmasters
and the Federal officials in the State know
whether there was any activity on the part of
Democrats in the recent election
While the Senator was talking @ telegram was
handed him announcing that the arrange
men,s for moose hunt had been completed.
ami he will leave Washington to- night to Join q
congenial party in the Green Mountains OF Yer
mont TO indulge in his favorte sport during the
next three weeks. He says he has not looked
into the political situation in any OF the New
England States. but all the information he has
received Is that they will all follow Vermont in
November.
Representative Mercer. Secretary OF the Con-
Rressional Committee con firms the statements of
senator Proctor about the Democratic Actvityin
the recent contest in Vermont. Several Of tho
Poetmasters there refused to deliver some of
the Repu blcan literature. claiming that under
the law it conld not be handled by the postal
service twice under one frank. Tho matter waa
sent in bulk to one party and then distributed
masters was to check the distribution of tho
literature. but when the matter was brought to
the attention Of the Acting Postmaster enerat
the local Postmaster received instructions from
headquarters TO- allow the matter to pass
through the mails