Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-10-01
NUMBER l9,
LIVELY AND POCKET.FILLING
STATE POLITICS NEXT FALL,
MCCULLOUGH, WEBB AND
PROCTOR FOR GOyERNoRSHyp


PROCTOR FOR RGOyERNoRSHJp
GrOnt to WrestIs with Dillingham; a,stn
| Clement Railroad Intsr~st 10 TAX. a
Hand-Pians for the UndOing of IIns-
| kins-And Carroll Page Is Not as,e.n
While Foster Draws Coneress,ona, Sal
ary-Nsarlv All Good spenders and
Caucus Fixers and Workers ana Jo.rn
aiisiic Boomers Will Have a Good Year
(Montpelier Letter in Sunday Republican
1t is becoming evident that next wear will
| witness political battle as sharp and as
closely fought as that of 1896, or the senate
| RAJ night OF 1900. First in interest is the
governorship. Both Mccullough and Webb
| are wealthy and both are capable of making
lVely campaign in which money enough
might be spent to bewilder the Imagination
OF tne ordinary party workers. Money is
pientliui IN Vermont politics when il is need
ed. but not in such amounts as Webb or Me-
Cullough might put in circulation TO CRAFTY a
long-eherished ambition.
| Now It must be understood that DR. Webb,
who is interested in railroads. is closely con-
nected IN business way with w Clement
OF Rutland. Clement is the owner of the
Rutland Herald. prominent man in the al
| falrs OF the Rutland railroad and in the Rut-
| land canadian As well, a born fighter without
the diplomacy of a successful politician.
Ihere was belief toward the close of the
iesisiatlVe session list year that Clement
would seek the nomination in 1902 and some
| apprehension was aroused among the faith
| ful adherents Of the machine. with the result
| that McCullough's claims on them were more
hrmly fixed. Its now believed that Webb
| represents the Clement interests and that
Clement and his forces are behind the Webb
/ candidacy. Thus another element is thrown
| III the scale to balance the generosity, urban
ity and generally pleasant personal character
| lstics OF the Adirondack magnate. who mar
| ried into the Vanderbilt family and maintains
residence in Vermont
There was perpIeXity and trouble enough
| in prospect with Webb and McCulloukh in
the fleld, but the matter has suddenly become
| further mixed up by the appearance of
Fletcher d Proctor. Proctor is native Ver-
monter. son of the senator. but something
more than the son of bis father. He is
young, a sound business man, enjoys wide
acquaintance. has few enemies. is a favorite
among the younger element of the party aud
was speaker of the House last year. He is
no friend OF Clement, and it is supposed that
the growing Webb strength has brought him
into the field. Here most perpIeying situ-
alton confronts the ordinary Republican. Be-
tween Webb and Mccullough he might feel
Tree TO choose as suited himself. With Proc
tor in the field it is different. for the Proctor
element is the strongest thing in Vermont pol
tiles today. The senator seldom exercises
that influence openly. He is too shrewd to
invite trouble in the future by allying himself
with either party in factional struggle. But
with his own son in the field every politician
will know where the senator's interest lies.
He has more to say about patronage than
any other man in the Vermont delegation.
lie Is willing 10 reward the faithful and those
who look for preferment desire his favor.
Whether his son is looked upon as n COM
promise candidate or in some other light, he
is the Proctor candidate. Here then is the
situation: Mccullough is the machine candi-
date Webb represents the semi-ndependcnt
element, but has considerable following
among all classes, Proctor comes in at late
date with no known Endorsement or support.
except that of the name.
The governor question offers opportunities
enough to keep the most active politician busy
but it may be a small matter in comparison
with the senatorial fight. a repetition of that
OF last year Since the election of w p Dill
ingham as Morrills successor last year there
has been distinct falling off of Dillingham;
feeling. The new senator has no opportunity
To do anything more than get acquainted with
his quarters in Washington. but il is already
whispered here and there that he has done
nothing, and that he may be an overrated man.
This is unfair. of course, but it is the fact.
Nothing has been heard from the friends of
Gen Grout. but il is known TO those on the in
side that quiet work is being done in his in
ferest. and that there is every probability
that the eN-CoDgressman VIII again he a can
didate before the Legislature. The ambition
OF his life is not to be abandoned because of
one defeat. He was once defeated for the
nomination for Congress. but he went back
into the fight and won.
The senatorial question will enter into the
contest for the gubernatorial nominations
Is expected TO favor Dillingham;.
Clement supported Prouty last year. and
would favor Grout in preference to Dilling-
ham. Proctor. when speaker voted for
Grout. and it was understood for long time
that the preferences of Senator Proctor Were
in favor of Grout, though he took no active
part in the contest. Grout kept ont of per-
sonal contests last year and took no side openly,
desiring TO have everything harmonious in the
event OF his election. He and his friends dis
covered his mistake after the battle. and they
will make no such mistake this year. GrOut
will throw his influence in the pre-convention
struggle where it will do him the most good.
and Dillingham; will do the same. The
Dillingham; machine is not as well organized
Iow as il was last year. The Grout workers
IRE all in harness. The nomination for COVER
lor will have an important effect on the sena-
orial issue and both parties know it.
But this is not all. There are two congress-
nen TO he elected next year. Plans are now
)eing laid for the undoing of kittredge Has
iiDs of BrattleborO next year. Haskins is
irout man. and his closest competitor in the
convention OF 1900 was Frank Pumley of
NOTluHelu,d DllllngDdln supporter. lluUtN
las not abap ioned his ambition. but he may
De found encouraging the GrOut men next
ear. On the other side of the state II J
Noster was elected TO Congress last wear. not
because people wanted him. but because there
vas combination of the other candidates
gainst Carroll Page. He may be allowed
Q serve two terms, but he is not safe in his
eat.
There is politics enough stirring in Ner-
nont now TO kept every politician on the
nXious seat until the first Tuesday of
eptember 1902.