Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-03-29
\ New Political Power IN Vermont.

A Vermont correspondent of the SPRING.
field Republican has made an interesting
discovery i'm connection with the activity
of President Pcrcival w. Clement Of The
Rutland railroad in opposition to the lease
of the Fitchburg to the Boston and Maine.
According to this authority Mr.. Clement
is ambitious to be the head of great
railroad system and governor of the
state, and will use the one to bring
about the other. The correspondent nnds
a parallel for this course in the part
played for quarter of a century in Ver-
mont politics by the Central Vermont
railroad under the Smith regime which
passed with the absorption of that sys-
tenn by the Grand Trunk.
IT must be admitted that so FAR as the
ambition TO become the head of a great
railroad system is concerned. Mr.. Clement
has already taken "A long step toward the
goal of his ambition. with the consolida-
ton of the Rutland and the OgdensOurg
and Lake Champlain railroads and the
building of the Rutand-Canadian to con-
meet those links in a trunk line, and with
tho Rutland Transit line of freight steam
crs running between Chicago and Ogdcns-
burg as feeders for the line and with ihe
Bennington and Rutland and the United
Counties roads practically absorbed by the
Rutland system, it is evident that very
good beginning has been made, while
there still remain other possibilities in the
direction of railroad consolidation.
It must also he admitted that the presi-
dent of q railroad extending diagonaly
across the state from the extreme north
west to the southeastern part with an
other division running through the south
western part of the State, is in a position
to exert u large degree of influence in Yer
mont politics, always provided the power
which he possesses is welded with tact
and diplomacy. A railroad can not be
used as a political battering ram as many
a railroad magnate has found to his sor-
row and cost, and we believe that Presi-
dent Clement is bright enough TO avoid
many of the pitfalls into which many an
ambitious railroad magnate has fallen. If
he succeeds in accomplishing this he will
undoubtedly become a power in Vermont
politics.
. Inc announcement mas ncen maze tndt
the Central Vermont management was 10
refrain from active interference in Green
Mountain politics. asking merely for fair
play where its interests were involved and
/ to be let alone in every other way. 1t Is
not to be forgotten, however, that the
| Boston and Maine covers in an opposite
direction the East side of the State much
as tho Rutlard embraces This side wi !,
one division reaching out to Lake Cham
plain, and if President Clement enters
the political arena the question Will
naturally arise whether the Boston and
Maine and the Central Vermont which in
some ways are natural allies will be with
him or against him. Here too much will
probably depend upon the policy adopted
by the official head of the Rutland sys-
ten.
1t is very evident that the correspondent
of the Republican is not inspired even II
he can he well informed regarding Ver-
mont politics in general for he says that
inside reports have it that he tMr
ClemenD is slated to grace the gubcrna-
torial chair in 1901" In the natural course
of events the West Side" will be entitled
to the governorship two years from now
and unless the mountain line"i is ruthless.
lyignored inl904 our friends on the east side
thereof will claim their inning, while Nj
Clement will be on the west side. 1t ha-
also been generally assumed that DR.
Webb would do the political honors foi
the Rutland road. But however this may
he, ii is very evident that the organiza
ton of the Rutland railroad system OF
an enlarged and thoroughly establi~ hoC
basis introduces new factor into Yer
mont politics, and one that will need e
be taken into consideration in all bis
nolitical poptasts