Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-26

The result of the State convention is the
result which the FREE PRESS predicted.
This paper has not misled its readers. The
accuracy of it's returns of the elections of
delegates was proved, with a variation of
but a single unit, by the first ballot in the
convention. Its forecasts of the situation
have also been corroborated by the out
come. General Mccullough was undoubt-
eddy the choice of the majority of the
republicans of Vermont. Many of the eau
cuses that were carried against him were
so carried by democratic votes. If these
had been eliminated he would have been
nominated on the first ballot. AS it was,
II was simply impossible that the Proctor
and Clement forces should coalesce; and
the withdrawal Of Col. Proctor's name and
the transfer Of his strength to General
Mccullough was really the only course left
open to Mr. Proctors friends. The with
drawal Of Mr.. Proctor's name was made
in the interest of republican harmony, and
it will be remembered to his credit in years
to come.
The bolt of a portion of the Clement
delegates was not wise nor honorable.
Under no code of political honor can a
man and his friends 20 into a convention,
claiming that his opponents must acquiesce
in his nomination if he has the majority
and expecting that in that event they will
support him at the polls, and then refuse
to abide by the decision of the convention
IL it happens to be unfavorable to him.
General Mccullough has been fairly nom
mated and we now put on record the pre-
diction that he will be elected by hand
some majority. 1t is to be noted that Mr.
Clement could not take with him eighty
seven of his own delegates. More
than a third of them refused &c
bolt, and they represented more thar
halt of the high license republicans
of Vermont The vote for governor two
years ago was Stickney 4s,4il. Senter, demo.
crat, 17,l29, and all others, mostly prohibi
tionists, 1873 Good democrats not II few
will insist on having a regular democratic
Estate ticket, with regular democrat at Its
head, and even If they should be turned
down and Mr.. Clement should be formally
endorsed by the democratic convention
there are many Vermont democrats wht
will never vote for a republican running OF
g. high license platform. On the other hant
the number of republicans who desire /
change of the law, who will vote for a bolt
er depending for success upon democratic
support especially in view of the committa
Of the republican party to a referendum
will be much fewer than Mr.. Clement anC
his advisers, if he has any, suppose. Al
know that the election of "A governor de
cides no legislative question. The question
Of a change in the liquor law will be de
cided by the coming elections Of senator
and representatives, and as the high proba
lbility Is that every voter in Vermont vii
at an early day have an opportunity to vot
directly upon the question of high licens
and local option, there is the less reaso
why any republican should desert his part
standard. The coming campaign may be
probably will be, hot and exciting one
its end will show that the Republican part
of Vermont has not drifted from its moor
lings. and that its record of success for 1t
Irregular nominee in every election sine
the republican party was organized, ha
not been broken.