The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-04

Ing gubernatorial election In the history
OF the Old Green Mountain state. the one
filled with the most elements or uncer-
tainty. took place Tuesday, but the night
for the governorship was not decided and
will continue for the next six weeks, or
until the members OF the state legisla-
ture meet I'm Joint session and I'LL the Of
fce OF chief executive by ballot.
While It Is too early at the present
time 10 foretell with exactness what the
Legislature will do. as It's complexion has
not been entirely fixed. yet dispassion-
ate view OF the situation leads TO the
strong opinion that the legislature will al
most certainly pass high license local
option measure. but viii not elect Perci-
val w. Clement, the local option oandi-
date. as governor. Mr.. Clements cause,
II seems. will win. but Mr.. Clement him
self will fall without the breastworks.
STATE SHAKEN UP.
Certain II Is, however. that old Ver-
mont has received a shaking UP that II
will long remember. The vote given Mr..
Clement throughout the state while much
below the prediction estimates or his
managers, was nevertheless surprisingly
large when one considers the past polit-
teal history of the state. II shows that the
issue which he promulgated and OF
which he had been the leading exponent
In Vermont for many years. has taken
an immense hold upon the people. The
been terrihcally taking one. and 10 him
belongs absolutely. the citizens almost
unanimously agree, whatever credit there
Is in overturning things politically In
Vermont, and stirring up the state as IL
has never been stirred before.
That Gen. John q. Mccullough of Ben
nington. the regular Republican candi-
date for governor. did not hold the full
vote OF his party In the election is In no
way TO his discredit.
SICK OF PROHIBITION
Gen. Mccullough has the full confidence
Of the Republican voters of the state and
had ne been the nominee of his party In
any ordinary year he would have un-
doubtedly received the customary over
whelming Republican majority, but he
happened TO run during a year when
there was a popular uprising against the
old prohibitory law, and the falling OF I'm
the Republican strength was due TO the
fact that many people In their hostility 20
that statute voted for Mr.. Clement
for years and will be In future devoted
10 its overthrow and removal from the
statute books.
Had Gen. Mccullough foreseen that
there was to be such a popular uprising
against the prohibitory law, he would
undoubtedly have taken about as posi-
tive a stand for high license as has Mr..
Clement and the present contest would
have been avoided, as IL Is undoubtedly
true that at heart Gen. Mccullough is as
sick of prohibition as are many others OF
the people of Vermont: but II has for
years been considered little less than sa-
crilege for a Republican office-seeker 10
say anything against the prohibhory law
IN public, and Gen. Mccullough. In refus-
ing to go on record as opposed 20 the
statute. not only did just wat many
other candidates for governor have done
IL. Ill
him many thousands OF votes, and II he
does not win in the legislature. It VIII
have cost him the governorship.
SOME OF THE SURPRISES.
The most surprising fact o. the whole
election is the fact that Mr.. Clement.
the inde pendent candidate, not only car
ried Rutland, his own home, by ma
jortty OF 1850 over all others-a majority
Unprecedented In Rutland elections
but he also. carried Bennington. the home
town OF General Mccullough, by safe
majority. He carried st. Albans. the
home OF the Democratic candidate Felix
w. McGettrick. and the town Of Proctor.
the home of Fletcher ID. Proctor. who
earlier I'm the race was a candidate for
governor. and OF Senator Redfeld Proc
tor He won out In Proctor. I'm spite of
the fact that practically all the voters of
the town are employed by the two Proc
tors, who were working for tho success
OF the regular Republican ticket. No
body expected Mr.. Clement TO combat In
either Bennington or Proctor, while ST.
Adams and Rutland were conceded to
him by very small majorities
POPULARITY OF THE CAUSE.
Mr.. Clements big majority In his home
city IL all the more remarkable when the
fact is considered that never before IN
the city's history has II failed to roll up
a majority exceeding 1900 for the regular
Republican nominee. Mr. Clement not
only succeeded I'm wtping out this nor
maliy large Republican majority. but
added 10 It a majority of 1900 and more
for himself.
This, in spite OF the fact that Mr.. Gle
ment is far from being popular man In
this city He has made many enemies I'm
this part of the state, and the labor
unions are against him, Cstensibly on ac-
count OF his record In labor matters wnen
president OF the Rutland railroad. But
the fact remains that. however. ouch the
unions are supposed to be against Mr..
Clement. nevertheless when the laboring
men went into the booths on election day
they voted for him by hundreds, so great
Il the popularity OF the cause he repre-
sents.
Mr.. Clement had been expected to get
enormous majorities In Burlington. Barre.
Montpelier and Brattleboro. but In each
case he failed by n good figure to come
up to expec ations He just about Offset
this loss however. by making a better
showing among the Hill towns In Benning-
ton and Rutland counties than was antici-
pated.
ABOUT LEGISLATURE.
Now that the election Is over. no gov
ernor has been chosen, public Interest
Is centered upon the legislature which
will meet at Montpelier early In October,
and which will have the usual responsible
ity Of electing a governor. IL looks at the
present time as though General McCul-
Tough would have the better chance OF
election by this body. unless Mr.. Clement
can change the views OF large mum
Der OF senators and representatives on
the governorship matter.
There are 30 senators and 24s repre-
sentdiives In the legislature. Heretofore
there have rarely been any but Repubi-
can senators This year there are II Re
publicans. four Clement local optionists
and hre Democrats. OF the 2i6 towns
which are usually represented In the
lower house only 20s have as yet made