Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-10

that It hardly seems probable that he
would consent to do so even though no
were drafted" Beside the regular ma
chine which is now thoroughly harmon
lied, he would in the event Of running as
an Independent run UP against the 10y
atty TO his party Of the average Vermont
republican who for generations has been
In the habit of blindly following his leader
and who could not be expected to get over
the habit so quickly This was demon
strated at the state convention last week
by the large number of delegates who re-
fused to leave the hall when the Clement
men boltcd the convention.
He cannot, at this time II ever, hope
to secure any assistance from the unter-
rifed democracy OF Vermont, and alto
getber 1t IL rather difficult to see where
he would get sufficient support to come
anywhere near an election.
On the whole it Is quite possible that
the Hon. Percival w. knows these THINGS
as well II not better than we do, and that
he will act accordingly.
NOW FOR THE MAJORITY.
(From the Bennington Banner)
The prominence Of the gentlemen put
forward for the republican nomination for
governor of Vermont this year has had
the effect to draw the eyes of the entire
Republic toward the Green Mountain com
monwcalth Just note the list: Gen. John
@. Mccullough, DR.. VIM. Seward Webb,
Col Fletcher u. Proctor, Hon. Percival
w. Clement,-giants in the business world
as well. 1t Is not every state that can
produce a quartette of equal availability.
character and influence. 1t IS not our
purpose to review the causes which prob
ably led to tho substitution of Proctor for
Webb, nor the issues that induced Clement
to take the field as against Mccullough
and Proctor,-all these are now a matter
10, tata o,,. :
as TO the present situation are In order.
When after two ballots without choice,
Proctor withdrew in favor of Mccullough,
II was human nature that there should be
some boisterousness on the part OF those
who then saw the beginning OF the end.
bennington county had won,-she had been
recognized for the first time since 1853.
The wonder is that the roof remained up
on the armory hall at the capital, rather
than that the Clement leaders could not
he heard for few moments. Here Is
where the Clement men made their first
mistake OF the canvass. Forgetting the
cost of a pullman special" and the ex-
pcnse of five hundred shouters for three
days away from home,-all of which, pre-
sumahly, Clement paid as we'll as other
/ cash liabilities at Montpelier, and else
where throughout the state,-the charge
was childshly made that money had beer
used by General Mccullough: and, sc
many as two could influence, marched out
Ito see a man." as we say at the theatre
The solid part of the conceded 221 dele
gates, however participated In the third
ballot. and voted unanimously to make
Mr. McCuloughs nomination unanimous
Done like men, and the Banner forgiv"s
the minority who lost their heads" We
are quite sure that Mr.. Clement will moi
knowingly become a party to such hascC
as to call this proceeding bolt
Should he do so, as is clearly pointed on
bv the Brandon Union Ga high license ant
local option paper, but supporting Genera
Mccullough, "he will make a mistake
which will iniure himself and the cause
which he processes to have at heart. Bu
! it will never make him governor. He vii
find that the Republican party has more
friends and more admirers in Vernon
/ than has Percival w. Clement When Mr.
Clement took his case before this BODY
he obligated himself to abide by their de
cson. When he refuses to do this h
institutes rule or ruin policy, and should
be treated by every true Republican al
a renegade. We hope Mr.. Clement ha'
no intention to follow this policy
Meantime every paper in the state fall
Loyalty into line, excepting the RUTLAND
Herald. and supports the nominee of tn
convention, who received 4o5 out of {
II total 5A votes cast.