Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-03-28
dlindham County 9eformer
VT. FRIDAY, MAR. 20, 1902
The Gubernatorial Canvass Thus Far,

What ex-Gov. j. W. Stewart sarcas
tically calls the carefully prearrangec
plan'' to introduce Fletcher ID. Proc
people because of pre-eminent fitness
for governor, does not seem to have
very great results yet The popping
was done with the unison of corks at
summer resort or Vermont polltl-
clan temperance gathering but there it
has stopped. The three excellent papers
that gracefully did the bar tender
act still stand there, and couple 9th
ers that were in the Webb line are
gazing round in a rather dazed way,
but so far as we have observed, that is
all, while there are full dozen jour
nalistic brethren that are shouting
their best for Mccullough Counting
them by newspaper directory ratings
those supporting Proctor have IL, POO
circulation and those definite y in the
field for Mccullough 32,276 circula-
tion. But that does not tell the story
by any means, for there are just two
dozen Republican papers in the state
with reported circulation aggregating
80, 99S that have not declared them
selves yet, though four or five of them
indicate "leanings - There is big
chance for visiting statesmen and
reports from every part of the state in
dictate that it is being utilized. One
way is the publication of interviews
with leading men notably in Orange
and Washington counties-aS well as
letters from them. This is certainly
good tactics, for so far as it has gone
it seems to indicate that about every
body is for Mccullough. Mr.. Morse
of Rutland who is doing the visiting
for Proctor, says this is not so. and
tells of floods of letters that are com
ing to Proctor pledging support; but
he does not name names, as the other
side seems to have the confidence to do.
1t is asserted that Proctor will in
due time be shown in writing to have
promised not to be a candidate this
year. But promises to be binding in
law have to be for consideration or
"value received as it reads in notes,
Just what the consideration was in
this case is only vaguely indicated in
hints about the succession four years
hence, and as there were three men
among whom to divide two terms-apd |
all well able to pay for what they
have--a plea in abatement will lie
in our Republican political ethics.
The precedent argument-that
is, that the man who retires or is
licked in one canvass shall have the
reversion to the office four years hence
lis also being worked for all it is
wort but the trouble is that it would
be divided or disputed heritage, for
only one can have the Office now and
two would be left for 1906. Why
shouldn't there be "deal'i to avoid
such disturbance to the internal peace?
Even if it does involve horrible and
unprecedented thought in the view of
the esteemed contemporaries the build :
ing up of a new political machine
in the state?
But as no one expects arguments
to cut any figure in the contest it is
useless to waste breath on them 1t is
other things that decide Vermont Re
publican contests in this day and gen
Grafton. r
The most interesting development q
thus far is in a suggestion that Percy
W. Clement of Rutland may appear as
a high license candidate. OF course
such a candidacy inside the party would
have no practical result. The men t
who 'set EN- up for caucuses and Fl
conventions are too unanimously pro d
the voters who register u
their DEGREES for the party at the V
polls are too impossible to bring out to fl
the primaries, and the plumber that t he U
present law contains in its 'enforce- r
ment' for the politicians is too nee "
essary as a party cement, to leave any p
chance for even so aggressive chap as IL
Mr.. Clement. The only way the pres a,
CIT law CdH ever De ONtTlHTOWD Is by al
the way it has been overthrow in all IL
the other states when it has been re- W,
placed by a more rational and practi- h,
cable system, by a revolution in party b.
control. But such movement as is IN
III eatened in Clements behalf would III
lave large educational value, would
end to Obstinate the moral terror under nj
which many of our more honest and oil
thoughtful men are laboring and would
lelp along the day surely coming, when in
majority of Vermonters will vote the 81
Democratic ticket once or more to ne
ring about this among many other su
eeded results. The way for Mr. If
Element to make himself useful is to
o fight his fight inside his party, not tn
S bolter in hopes of Democratic su
Import Mr. Clement is now said to ac
re in California.
Meanwhile there is a voice from the mi
'ast that Vermonters may we'll heed he
n the eve of a party canvass that is m'
dmittedly to be little better than an tn
uction. 1t is that of the Father of pc
he Revolution, the first politician
f the world as Quincy well called
i'm, Sam Adams, who wrote: CT
Whatever kind of men may be de- wi
ominated enemies to their country. ST.
prtaiDlV he is n very iniudiciouS thi