Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-04-10

were informed orally or by letter not later
than six weeks or two months ago that
Proctor was not a candidate. After COM
hitting themselves to the support of an
other candidate. they are now receiving
letters from Mr.. Proctor asking for their
aid and assistance Many who have n
very friendly interest In Mr. Proctor and
under different conditions would willingly
vote for him for governor feel that he has
made a sad mistake. They feel, as one
man put 1t the other day. himself a Proc
tor man, that the announcement OF the
Proctor candidacy was most inopportune.
The manner of the advent of the heir Is
the one point that offends the moral sense
of the editors of the State. The Lyndon
willie Journal is curious enough about the
methods of the manipulators who retired
Webb and gave Proctor his chance of be-
ing drafted 1t remarks: 1--WE believe that
when the inside history OF the now famous
Now York or Waldorf Astoria meeting
is made public it will involve the honor OF
some who now stand in high places. These
all-the-year-round Vermontcrs who have
so long cloaked their deeds with robes of
sancity and proclaimed themselves 'holier
than thou Will be shown up in their true
light and their perfdy exposed"
MIGHT BE A DANGEROUS ISSUE.
T'rom the Rutland Herald)
The Morrsville Messenger says: Let the
canvass for the republic an gubernatorial
nomination continue to develop in bitter
ness, rottenncss, etc, and the opportunity
for a local cption ticket On that single Is
sue with Percy w. Cleme nt as the candi
date is great. Shrewd republican leaders
admit 1t would be a very dar Gerous isslic
to have raised in an off year" This leads
the Nprgennes Enterprise and Nermontcr
to observe: Then shrewd republican lead
ers should Immediately get busy with
u a.
vail in Vermont. Personally, we should
ike to SEQ the Republican party treated
to a vivid object lesson We are governed
too much" The St. Johrsbury Repuhli
C; n likewise touches on this subject; Tho
rumor that Percival w. Clement of Ru.-
land may be a high license candidate for
governor does not throw much dust in
PEOPLES eyes up to cate" The Vrrgenno
contemporary is led to say: 1.-The Clement
influence had a large share in the defcat
of two strong candidates in 1900 We can
see divided If not q hostile delegation
from Proctor's county in 1902"
THE GOVERNORSHIP SITUATION.
(F'rom the Bellows Falls Times)
Although the situation has rot greatly
char ged since last week, still we are aNl"
to report progress. Un.rss appearance
arc wonderfully deceptive Gen. McCul.
lcugh's candidacy is steadily growing IN
strength and favor. In fact many Of His
friends profess to believe that il Is only Il
question Of time when Fletcher d. Proctor
will announce that he is not q candidate.
Rarely in the history of State politics has
what was Dubbed 20 popular demand" "a
ats olutcly refused to become popular. THIS
is ret because Mr. Proctor is not a we'll
liked young man, but because of his me-
coming candidate Under peculiar ci,rum-
stances. Prominent men in Windham and
WINDSOR counties who feel friendly toUar
Mr.. Procto. say they were informed orally
or ty lette- not later than six weeks or
two months ESQ that Proctor vas not Il
candi,latc. After committing themselves
to the support of mother cana date. they
are now re sewing letters from Mr.. Procno"
asking for tlieil aid and assistance. Mary
who have Il very friendly interest IN Mr.
Proctor and under different conditions
would willingly vote for him for govern,r
feel that he has made a sad mistake
They feel. as one man put II the other day.
himself a Pro ctor man. that the announce.
ricnt Of The Proctor candidacy was most
inopportune
The only argument in Mr. Prcctors favor
whit h carries any weight at all Is tho
hackn"yed cry of Vermont fer Vermont
ers,' but even this Is So shallow. so hide
bound. so narrow, so suicidal that it can
appeal to no thinking man who thinks
twice.
Nc, Fletcher d. Proctor cannot secure
the eovernorship this time. He Lay, how
ever, he elected to the office some Other
time If the folly of his present course does
not prove fatal
Gel w. II II Slack Of Springfield nj
lowed himself to he interN icwed Ey a news.
Paper man recently. The colonel AWAY;
feels well and has a conIrlcndable way of
taking rosy view Of life. but on the DAY
the interviewer approached he must have
been unusually Happy. We imagine It was
enc of those lovely spring days for which
Springfield Is Justly famous and that the
colonel had just finished good dinner and
was biting off the talerinp end of a ten
tent straight He welcomed the inter
viewer with a benign smile and forthwith
began To fill him uI with chunks Of fact
ana wisdom. Among ether things, for we
haven't room TO reproduce all that was
said. the rolorel said that he was free TO
say that tho sentiment in his locality is
largely In favor of Fletcher d. Proctor
Ter governor SO far as Springfield Is con-
crfned ii is significant fact that Gen.
McCullough's supporters consist principal
~ of half dozen men vhc attended the
hsh and game league dinner ut Isle La
Mctte. Personally, he WIS opposed to in
Producing Addlcks Il ethods into the poll
tics of Vermont, and vas glad of the op-
rortunity to support plain. aIl-the year
round Verne nter like Col. Proctor, who's
record is 50 clean, and whose ability has
tecn so we'll demonstrate d in every posi-
tion he has beer called upon to hll." I his
sounds like sn excerpt from speech
which might have been made when the
famous Springfield Proctor club was form
ed. 1t is we'll for the coluncrs reputatin
that he confined his estimate of the Froc-
tor sentiment to his imm, diate locality.
CONSIDERED FROM THE PROCTOR
STANDPOINT
From the ST. Johnsbury Gale dOnan)
There is no question ir The mind of any
body as to Fletcher u. Proctor's fitness
for the governcrship. Z here Is nobody who
doubts that ne would give the State a bus
iEess-like admins tration and handle the
details of the Office effcctiN ely His com
Ing into the field appeals especially to the
younger elerlent In the party. as we'll as to
those who lay stress upon a candidate :
being an allround, every day int he year
Vermonter Mr.. Proctor made popular
speaker Of the House. is man Of marked
executive ability, and would fill ire gube-.
Material chair with honor to himself and
the State. He graduated from Amherst
college in 1889. has known what II Is 10
serve along the humber lines of labor
made good use of his time outside of school
and college days, fitted himself to cope
with the business problems Of life. and
gradually rose to the management Of his
fati!er's extensive marble industry He
was Gov. Or1nshee's secretary OF civil and
military affairs, has been q member of the
House and Senate Is the present speaker,
and has by reason of these experiences q
very complete knowledge of Vermont men