Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-01
THE GOYERNORSHlP
A Call for Fair Play In the Campaign
Various Charges Considered.
(From the Bennington Banner)

various ChargeS CONSIDERED.
(From the Bennington Banner.)
We notice the Brattleboro Phoenix, in its
Issue Of April 18th. has a lengthy editorial
upon the "governorship question" in
which 1t says. among other things, that
tho political purity and integrity Of our
people are at stake in the present COVER
norship contest, and that the election of
Gen. Mccullough will be "A serious blow to
the purity Of the politics Of this State. OF
course, II this Is true, Gen. Mccullough
ought not to be nominated; but is 1t so?
The Phoenix says that Gen. Mccullough
Is millionaire. and, therefore, ought not
to be elected to the governorship. What
is Mr.. Proctor7 Is 1t not well known that
the Proctor family. with Redfield, the sena-
tor, at It's head are milionaires? Are not
they at the head of one of the most gigan-
tic corporations in the marble business
that exists In the world to-day, and do
they not own practically all its stock?
Does not this corporation practically con-
troll the marble output of America, and
does 1t not IN fact fix the prices of that
product SO far as America at least Is con-
cerned? Is 1t not true that the Proctor
family own substantially a controlling in
terest In nearly all the marble industries.
not only in this state, but elsewhere in
the United States? Is not the Phoenix
concerned lest an octopus Of that kind may
get its grip upon the administration OF the
government of this State. and does not 1t
fear If such a grip is obtained that some
legislation will be enacted that is beneficial
to such trust and detrimental to the
common people?
The Phoenix charges that money is be-
ing used in this campaign and suggests
that the action of the primaries Will be-
Influenced thereby. Very likely the Phoenix
knows all about this; and right in this
connection, we inquire if II is not true that
hn oytv ic los g.
ands OF extra copies all over the State OF
Vermont advocating the cause of Proctor?
Who foots the bill Proctor the Vermont
Marble company, or the Phoenix man?
Mr.. Proctor comes into the field. the
Phoenix claims, because there was a uni
Nersal demand for his nomination. draft,
SO to speak. If this is true, why is it ne
cessary that he should visit nearly every
county, and practically all the large towns
in this state soliciting support; and why
should he find it necessary to send out
thousands Of personal letters to men, all
over the State of Vermont, asking for as
sistance? why should he find it necessary
to ask. to meet him in the various places
10 which he goes, men from the smaller
adjoining towns; and, If the demand is so
great, why should 1t be necessary TO pay
the expenses Of the various men who are
thus assembled? Who pays the expenses
of the various employees Of the Vermont
Marble company. some OF whom have been
all ovT the State Of Vermont advocating
the cause OF Proctor, and insisting that
he must be drafted?
Does the Phoenix intend to intimate that
elections In this state can be controlled by
the use of money? Is that compliment
10 the integrity, the honesty, and the
sturdy common sense of the inhabitants Of
this grand old State?
We suggest to the Phoenix, in the spirit
of fairness that a discussion of the merits
md personal qualifications of the respoc-
tive candidates Is better politics. If Gen.
Mccullough is not personally fitted to be
the next governor. has not the ability to
Iulfll the duties Of that office; and, also,
II Bennington county is not entitled to con-
siderauon at this time, then she and her
candidate ought to be set aside. Does the
Phoenix claim this? II, on the Other hand
II is apparent that her candidate j. well
qualified and her claim reasonable. why
Should not she and her candidate be hon.
ored: Why does not the Phoenix discuss
the matter along these lines?
Gen. Mccullough can never be a candi-
date after this election. Mr.. Proctor has
many years before him. and can undoubt-
eddy be governor at some later date. Is 1T
not fair that this time the nomination
should come TO this country; and, later on
If there Is such a universal demand for the
elevation of the member of the house OF
Proctor to the governorshp, there is nc
that tho demand is enforced.
In the spirit of all fairness. we suggest
TO the Phoenix that the discussion ought
not to take the course that the Phoenix
10y It's editorial seems to prefer.
THE PHOENIX SPEAKING FROM EX.
PERIENCE.
jF'rom the Brattleboro Reformer)
1t is with its most solemncholy empha-
sis that tho Phoenix of last week bcwals
the use of money in our Vermont politi-
cal campaigns characterizes it AS the
real question underlying all others before
the people at present, and recognizes that
the entry of Mr.. Proctor has been a sig
nal for redoublcd efforts" in this corrupt
ing and demoral2ing' business.
Such had been our Surmise as we ha0
seen the neighbor filled full of shoutings
steadily growing louder, and to the cXclu-
sion of all other editorial discussion week
after week, while simultaneously the mails
were stuffed with sample copies" Of it
TO keep on ground of definite fact. it is a,
least safe to say that Mccullough is MOI
using any more money in this sample
copy" business than Proctor-whether he
will prove to be so shrewd and close "A buy
err remains to be seen later,
Let us commend something very like
frankness on the Phocnixs part that II
over a column of objurgation of McCul
Tough for the business, it doesn't anywher,
pretend to deny that Proctor is doing thu
same thing. In fact, it admits that thu
Methods In use are not essentially differ
ent from those which we have seen uset
repeatedly in the past dozen years" Only
this time 1t is summer resident mill
lonaire'' several times "A millionaire
that has taken hand. And
Let Mccullough methods triumph in thi
campaign, and then in four years let an
other summer resident millionaire an
nounce himself for the Vermont governor
ship, and what Nermonter, with only tn
backing of his own ability and attainment
and the good will of his friends would carr
to enter the lists against him."
That is, the sin is in buling the marke
so high as to spoil II for the future.
1t is with deft and familiar hand tina
the neighbor sketches the situation:
DO our people realize what methods o
political work in Vermont have come t
mean? The man who would be gov
ornOr goes deliberately at worl
through paid retaincrs to influence ant
control the action of the voters. il
every locality and every town men are pro
cured to use their Influence" or ito TAX
care of things" as the phrase goes.
Hired men are literally put In the field a
so much a day, either for general work o
for a house toulouse canvass. The wors
feature of the situation Is that men who's
votes cannot be bought, and who wou
not themselves stoop to or tolerate sue
methods come to look on them as matte
Of course"
Just as tho Sample copy" business
tolerated and recognized. The publisher
who do their shouting with ink and tn