Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-20
WEBB W|THDRAWS
Is No Longer a Candidate for
Vermont's Gubernatorial
Nomination.
VARIOUS REASONS FOR STEP
Time of the Move Comments among
Politicians-Two Opinions as to
Ex-Gov. Pages Course Inn
probable Deals Charged.
The announcement Monday that DR.

The announcement Monday that DR..
Webb had withdrawn as At candidate for
the governorship of Vermont was received
with establishment by a large number,
perhaps majority Of his supporters, while
others, those who were on the inside.
claimed TO have known for several days
that such a step would be taken.
In the early morning the rumor was not
credited and not until the leaders in the
local fight emphatically announced that
he had withdrawn was the story believed.
And then as the fact dawned upon his sup
rui ters that they were left without Il can
didatc, the term mid Is the most char
| liable that can b. applied TO some CT the
expressions that were heard.
| Theories without number were advanced
as to the cause for Dr. Webhs Withdrawal.
a prominent man, who has Eeen allied
with Ir Webb since the b, ginning Of the
campaign, said during the day.
We have known Tor several days that
DIR. Webb vas rot a candidate ana when
he first made the announcement to us we
were in almost constant communication
with him in California III an attempt 20
get him to recC slider his decision but our
Eersuasions were useless Fletcher Proc
tor would never have entered the fight had
he not known thai Dr. Webb was not a
candidate. He was fully aware of Or.
| Webb = position before he consented to NJ
| lew his name to be used. OF course We
| think that Dr. webb could have been
elected had he stayed in the tight but bust
ness interests Gene first with him and he
says that he has not the time to devote
to politics.
He says that when he entered the race
for the governc rshir his business opera
tons were much smaller than they are
now. Then he owned a small amount OF
the stock of tho Rutland rail
road. Complaints in regard to tn,
bn4r1n To NJ
! discovered that he should cithei
have to dispose of his stool: oil
secure controlling interest in the road
The latter option was taken by him ant
the consolidation of the system with the
extended Improvements contemplated oc-
cupy a large part of his time. Still larger
railroad operations are now being con
Quoted in Canada and his time is entirel!
occupied.
\ Another man. who has been closely con.
nected with the Webb campaign, said:
"Dr. Webb stated before the race begar
that If he was elected governor of Yer.
mont it must be because the people of tn.
State wanted him. He absolutely refused Il
use his large wealth to purchase the office
4 From time to time reports that money
was needed to night opposing candidates
were received and as the demands grew
M became disguised with the situation
4 That fact had great deal to do with tn,
withdrawal of DR. Webb.
l The fact that "a conference of prominen
Webb men with Fletcher d. Proctor Wa.
held in New York recently was whsperaC
Monday. II is claimed by some that a.
that meeting the chances of Or. Wcot
were discussed and that it was then de-
tcrmined that Mr.. Proctor should bccom,
"A candidate.
Some of the Webb men were certain tha
a deal had been made between McCullousf
and Proctor whereby Webb was to %,
forced from the field and predict Proctor