Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-04-17

rapcr was the only enc In his party that
uttered u word of opposition to the pro
ribitory law. The growth of the idea Mr..
Clement represents, If there we're nothing
else to complicate the situation, mi9ht be
expected to make him strong candl1ate.
7 he votes cast fer local option in the Leg
of 1900 represented "A popular ma
iority Of more than 10000. Mr.. Clement !
party furnished a considerable portion OF
these while there we're other men. repre-
senting constituencies of varying sizes,
who for personal reast ns did not vote as
they really believed. 1t Is Il fact tfat the
anti prohibiton sertimcnt In the repupli-
can party Is very StlCut and Is GROWING
stronger every year and that much ~ TINS
is due to Clements persistent opposition
In view of this 1t might be expected tna'
he would be u strong candidate
But this peculiar canvass was com
menced and has thus far continued In s'cf
n manner that no issue has been raised
II was n personal fight when Webb was IL
the field. 1t Is q personal fight betweer
Mccullough and Proctor ard even friends
of Clement and his issue look on mis- IN
trance at this time as a persof al matter
IRON pied by his hostility to Proctor Or
this point lhe Burlins ton News. itself fav
orable to local option, says:
" hat then Is Mr.. Clements object in
this campaign? To beat Fletcher Proc
tor. That is the aim 8nd ord of his
dream. 1t is well known that Mr. Glenn
cnt and Senator Proctor have net been
on terms Of the warnest friendship for
snme years. This feeling we have no
doubt, extends to ether members of the
Proctor family. The general opinion,
there fore. will be that Mr.. Clements
candidacy has something more than
remote relation to the ofereroes be-
tween the two far lilies. Mr.. Clement
ana Mr.. Proctor being residents of the
same county the hope will be, Of course.
to divide Rutland cornty's vote in the
convention What effect this division.
II it is division, will have remains to
be seen"
The News fayors the nouinatitn of Proc
tor and doe not regard the CT ,ment can
ddacy as orrortune. saying
But Of TIE wisdom of his course we
do make question. AS one Of the few
newspapers that early care into the To-
cal option field the News objects to Il
local option candidate TT the present
time. Mr.. Clements action prec.p'tatcs
the issue at an urft rtunate tine. His
candidacy will divide the II rces If locHl
q ticn into fla tions At this tire mary
Of the friends of local option are al
ready committed to one or the other of
the candidates and cannot honorably
change. MIR. Clement VII Therefore get
only small part Of Tic zeal local cp
titr vote ard thus by the sIrallncss Ol
his following give the issue black
eye.
"'The opirion Of the Nows Is that Mr..
Clements candidacy Will not seriously
affect the issue between the other two
candidates. but IL will seriously damage
the caus, of local option"
Huw much :ho issue may be affected b
Glen cnt's 'ardldHcY remains t. Re seer
II cannct be expected that he Will rocGiv
the ortirc local option Vote of his orn nai
ty, because many of thos. favO,inC hi
idea are always pledged to one of the wi
err candidates That a small vote for hill
would give tho issue a black eye may J.
true in certain sense but We see no res
son why those opposed to prohibition ca,
not get together in the Legislature an
work and vote for their principles Will
out regard to he guternatorial canC n
they favored.
We do MT lcok tc sec any large vo'
poilod for Clement The situation in h
own party does net warrant the expect
ton. We do not understood that he
seeking a lom,nation from combinatit
OF republicans and democrats. This cd
torial from the Rutland Herald seems
DO conclusive IN that point.
We note a disposition among a certain
type of Vermont papers to entice Percl-
val w Clement upon an independent
platform. The White River Junction
Landmark shows signs Ct worrimert
over the political situation. and 1t does
| not mind saying:
THE rumor that p. w. Clement OF
| Rutland may take notion to run for
| governor as an Independent. ant!-pro-
| hibition candidate. ems to disturb two
sets of politicians the Proctor oontin-
| gent and the democratic machine fol-
| lowers. 1T Is curious that each set pro-
| tests against any such Eruption into
party lines"
The Randolph Herald, which means
Proctor. would evidently feel relieved
| if Mr. Clement should dc that very alb
| surd thinG,-try for a combination.
| Here Is the way the Randolph con-
temporary beokons or the gentleman
from Rutland to political destruction:
"Percival w. Clement is a dark horse
for the guberratorial nomination on a
combination republican. democratic high
license platform. \ very dark horse.
Even the vernal St. Adams Messenger
| could not do better. and that is sayin
a good deal. stool. pigeons have been
used before, but this is a singularly IL
constructed affair
Vet We believe that & contest on Il
prohibition Is ST e will stir Up the dry bone
call fresh attention to the iniquiti,s of Il
law, result in a better state of public OBI
ion, and that Mir Clement. in deciding
be CANDIDATE is actually doing the Sta
a service.