Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-04-03

has failed to materializa The larger share
of DR.. Wehb's people have naturally en-
dOrsed Proctor as expected, but enough
Webb people have Joined the McCullough
crowd to more than Offset Gen. McCul-
llolphs deserters At this stage of the
game 1t is folly to prophesy who will win
and idle talk to say that either candidate
has any great advantage over the other in
point of support but it is evident to any
one with an ear for music that one of the
liz eliest fights of recent years is certaip to
ensuc unless one of the candidates with
draws. lii Yiew of the fact that Gen. Nc
Icullough withdrew four years ago for the
sole purpose Of avoiding a similar con-
tinsoncy 10 this. il is hardly to be expected
that he viii pull out this time and Mr..
Proctor'S friends aver that IL il will be a
fight to the finish contest, so far as they
are concerned.
The chief arguments in favor of Mr..
ProCtor's candidacy by his newspaper sup
portcrs are: First. ne is "A native born
Vermonter and thoroughly identified wi II
the interests of the State. Second, the de-
mand for his entry into the canvass was
so spontaneous and overwhelming that he
felt under obligations to become a cand-
date. The only objection to Cen Mccall
Tough mentioned Is that he is not not a
native born Nermonter and does not spend
his time exclusively in Vermont
So far as we have observed. Gen. Nc
ICullouehs nomination is being urged prin-
cpally upon the eminent qualifications of
the man. His friends contend that he is
one of the ahlest most public spirited and
hest known men in the state and that Yer
mont would Ice honored by the choice OF "A
governor Of such eminent ability. Further
| than this ii is argued that bennington
county has not had governor for many
decades and the demands OF the county
are entitled to some recognition. 1t is also
argued that Vermont cannot afford to boy
colt man of unQuestionable ability simply
| because he was so unfortunate as to hdt .
| been born in some other State. Several
reasons are enumerated why Mr.. Proctor
should not be elected. 1t is charged that
he broke faith with Gen. Mccullough in
entering the contest and il Is pointed out
that Vermont is and has been doing about
the fair thing by the Proctor family and
that the young Mr.. Proctor could have
afforded to have kept out of this contest
especially In view of his repeated state
ments to the effect that he would not be
candidate.
Fletcher Proctor will of course have the
backing of his father, Senator Redheld
Proctor, in addition to the numerous
friends made during the session of the last
Legislature and many other enthusiast,
admirers. And it is conceded that the
Proctor influence Is the strongest of any
political organization ever built up in the
State.
Gen Mccullough will have the spontane-
Gus and enthusiastic support of a host of
friends who urged him to enter the can
vass from every county and town In IT,,
State and the ProCtors will find in McCul-
Tough a man well worthy OF their steel.
Such in brief is the situation TO-DAY.
Things may happen to completely chang
the complexion of things before anoth, r
week, but in the light OF present develop
ments it certainly looks as though Gen.
IMcCullough was the logical candidate of
the Republican party and If the only thing
to be said against HIM Is that he was not
born in Vermont, there is certainly no
good reason why he should not be nom
mated, whether the Proctors approve OF 1t
or not.