News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-03-19
Proctor Makes No Trade.

A correspondent of the Boston
Globe has interviewed E. R. Morse
of Proctor, treasurer of the Vermont
Marble Company, and who speaks
authoritatively concerning Fletcher
D. Proctor's candidacy. Here is the
interview as given in the Globe
1t has been intimated that Messrs
Proctor and Webb had come to an un
derstanding, and that was Mr.. Proctor's
reason for entering the contest This
supposed agreement was that Mr.. Webb
would withdraw from the race, using
his influence to bring about Proctor's
election against all opposition. Mr..
Proctor's part of the agreement, it is
said, was to turn in and assist Webb
to secure the office of governor in a few
years, when it again falls in rotation to
this side of the state to make a choice.
Are you aware of any trade made by
Mr.. Proctor 20 was question asked Mr..
Morse.
" Mr.. Proctor has made no trade and
will make no trade, but will fight the
matter out on his own merits" was the
emphatic answer made by Mr.. Morse.
1--WE know nothing about what the
other candidates may desire in the ex-
change line with Mr.. Proctor, but we
are not asking them to come to us.
Many people have wondered if Mr..
Proctor gave out the statement that he
was candidate or if Jealous friends did
not make the statement without the
knowledge of Mr.. Proctor"
Mr.. Morse cleared the clouds away on
this point.
" Mr.. Proctor was aware that the an
nouncement would be made" he said,
" and it was done with his consent. OF
course much pressure was brought to
bear on Mr.. Proctor before he was will
ling to become a candidate. This in
than fluenCe has been working stronger
ever the past week or ten days. Many
who months ago advised Mr. Proctor to
remain out of the contest this year have,
within the past few days, been urging
him to enter the contest. This inf1u-
ence is what caused MIR. Proctor to an
nounce himself at this time"
1t is learned here this evening that
Mr.. Proctor was much averse to an an
nouncement of his decision being made
as coming from him. The first infor-
nation was given out in this city by Mr..
Proctor's intimate friend, Mr.. Morse.
He sent for a well-know Burlingtonian,
who, following instructions, visited the
newspapers. The latter wished the an
nouncement to come from the candidate
and called him by telephone, but Mr..
Proctor would not talk until he had
promise that the announcement would
be made Ill such way that it would
not appear as having been made by him.
This will appear strange to those persons
who are firm i'll the belief that Proctor
agreed not to become a candidate
against Webb and Mccullough.
Questioned on this point, Mr., Morse
said that Mr.. Proctor had never agreed
not to be candidate. He might have
said it was not his intention to be in
the field, but conditions had changed
since he had talked in this way, and he
did not believe he was breaking any
pledges in deciding to contest for the
governorship.
Mr.. Morse's explanation of Mr.. Proc
tors position early i'll the campaign
does not agree with the statements
made by other prominent Vermonters.
Only to-day a well-known politician
said that he held letter from Mr.. Proc
tor in which he said he would not be
a candidate.
There are many people in the state
who claim to have received word from
the new candidate that he must not be
considered i'll their plans and promises.
This position has sent to either Nc
Cullough or Webb men who otherwise
would have been supporters DIRECTORS.
The coming into the canvass of Proctor
at this time complexities matters to an
embarrassing degree for many.
II neither Webb nor Mccullough
withdraws it will be the warmest guber-
material campaign the state has ever
seen. General Mccullough says he will