Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-04-25
FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1902.
THE GOvERNoRsHlP.


The REGISTER does not think it neces- |
sary to say very much more than it has
said concerning the present canvass for
the governorshlp in the Republican
party. 1t believes that large majority
of the Republicans of the State have de-
termined to select as their candidate
next time Gen. Johu G.. Mccullough.
And in doing it they feel confident that
they are making no mistake. They know
that Gen. Mccullough is in every way
worthy of their confidence, and also in
every way fit candidate for governor.
A man both of unblemished character
and distinguished abilities, and, what is
always appreciated by the voters, kindly
nature. Mr.. Fletcher Proctor's name
was mentioned too late to be considered
seriously at this time by the Republican
voters.
Besides, there is a natural feeling
to divide up honors; to choose the
candidates for our higher offices from
different sections and different families,
instead of placing them all in one family.
A lttle,modesty on the part of candidates
themselves in this respect wouldn't be
unpleasant to the voters. They are very
willing to recognize good service any
where, and will Go so heartily. and on
every appropriate occasion. But they
do not like to be dictated to, and will not
be dictated to, whilst all attempts to
insinuate that there is only one family in
the State who are genuine Nermonters
or able to furnish candidates for all the
higher offices is getting rather sickening.
The senior editor of this paper does not
happen to know personally Mr.. Fletcher
Proctor, but we have long known
his father, our distinguished senior
United, States Senator, and recognized
his superior fitness for public offices,
pendence'and probity of character. We
have, too, always heard Mr.. Proctor, Jr.,
highly spoken of, and have no doubt that
he would: generally fairly represent Yer
mont in public affairs, although we do
not think that he did so at all, when
voting against our junior United States
senator, Mr.. Dillingham;, as we under
stand that he did.
We notice another kind OF misstate-
ment that some of the newspapers sup
porting Mr. Proctor have fallen into, of
assuming or affirming that there was
some alliance between the friends of
Gen. Mccullough and Mr.. Clement.
The great majority of the Republican
voters understand perfectly well that
there is not word of truth in this.
Gen. Mccullough from the start has
been. free, land is free now, from all en-.
tanging alliances. For some months the
Culloughland DR.. Webb, until the voters
of the State had largely made up their
minds that one of these gentlemen would
be governor. DR.. Webb Withdrawing,
it was both natural and proper for them
TO unite on Gen. Mccullough, whom all
had admitted from the start TO be emf
nently fitted for the place.
1t was because of these conditions that
the REGISTER said, in first discussing the
situation, that 1t was not a good time for
any new name to be injected into the
canvass. And that remark applied
equally to Mr.. Proctor and Mr.. Clement.
All of these gentlemen are able, upright
men, and good Vermonters, whose
claims for the gOyernOrship at the right
time the voters would willingly con-
slider. iWe do not ourselves believe
that they would fayorably consider
any ones name upon license plat.
form; but otherwise they would very
favorably consider the name of Mr..
Clement as well as that of Mr. Proctor.
But that the majority OF them are not
inclined to consider favorably any new
names at this time is, as we think, I'M
questionably true. There would appear
to be no good reason why they should,
and some very good reasons why they
should not. Above all, an instinct for
fair play prevents it. With all this I'M
usual effort made to defeat him, unmind-
ful whether the blows given are under
the belt or above it, many VermOnters
are disposed to make the canvass for
Gen. Mccullough in an unusual sense
their own, and will, as we believe, tri-
umphantly elect him to be governor,
letting other candidates wait for another
time. Every one knows there is no issue
excepting the man.