Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-04-11
FLETCHER D. PROCTOR.
A Tribute to the Man From One Who
Knows Him Intimately.
From the Rutland News.


Referring to the gubernatorial con-
test that Is now attracting SO much
attention here, | wish to say that some
20 years ago, while ] was at work in
the quarries at West Rutland as a
machine helper, the then Colonel Proc
tor of Sutherland Falls occasionally
came to West Rutland to buy marble.
one day while over there he was ac-
companied by his son. Fletcher. the
young man carrying a pail of water
about, washing off stock so that his
rather might discover defects in it.
Being a boy myself and naturally in
qulsltive, | watched the father and son
Tor while and in the most informal
way got acquainted with the young
stranger. He was as plain then as
now, not frill on him and mighty
little nonsense about him. From the
start took fancy to him, and before
parting we were fairly well acquainted.
have known Mr.. Proctor from that
day to this; have been in the employ
OF his father; have been on political
committees with him; have met him
and known him under all sorts of con-
dltions; but have never seen anything
but the brave, strong, manly side to
MS character. IL there is any other
/ SANN certainty uOu KNOW AND
In all OF those years, in spite of the
fact that he was a wealthy manufac-
turer's son, the son of a governor, the
son of a United States Senator and
later on himself the president of the
largest marble concern in the world,
he never let me feel for an instant
that he was any other than an ordi-
nary citizen. | know him to be up-
right and downright; l believe his
word is as good as his bond; he is true
to his friends, good fighter, a man
who strikes hard when hit but who
fights in the open without trick or
subterfuge.
Last summer or fall, in common l
have no doubt with many others, I
urged him to run for governor He
told me at that time that while he
would like the office he would not care
to be governor of Vermont If he had to
secure the nomination or election by
the use Of money, as there would be
no honor in an Office thus obtained.
He said that he had never asked a man
to vote for him and would never do
so. If the people wanted him they
knew where he lived. That am abso-
lutely sure was his position then, and
am absolutely sure that it is his po-
sition now, although | have not had
word in this connection with him for
months. II Mr.. Proctor is nominated
for the governorship, will stake my
little all that 1t is not because of the
use of one dollar in money or the prom
ise of single Office or appointment.
nor would it be because of one single
act on his part that every man in the
state might not know all about
Now just a word, about the "heir-
apparent" 'the son of his father"
etc: Those who know Mr.. Proctor
well, know that he does not need to
bank on his fathers reputation nor on
his ability. He is amply able to stand
alone and on his merits as man. AS
a matter of fact the prominence of
Senator Proctor has been an absolute
detriment to him in a political way.
Many time he has been urged to ac-
cept this position or that, but he has
put a veto on practically every move
of the kind. saying that perhaps it
would not look well for both father
and son to be much in evidence.
Hence, while dozens of young men in
Vermont of less ability and character,
have been honored by the state, he
has been content to look after his own
business interests with those of his
father as well, and to remain quietly
at home with his most interesting
family.
A word about too much Proctor:
do not believe there is a little town
in Vermont, or big one for that mat
ter, that would not have a band out
and gala day if they could secure a
Proctor. The Proctors have made
grass grow where it did not grow be-
fore. They took little broken down
h1tc nj
have made it the foremost of it's kind
on earth. They employ thousands of
men, they pay them every cent they
agree to, just when they agree to, just
as they agree to.
Right here let me say that while
Fletcher Proctor has made a marvel
GUS success of the marble business, it
has not been done at the expense of
his employees; for while he has been
building up this great enterprise he
has furnished hundreds of families
with the best homes that | know of
anywhere in this country in a manu-
featuring town. He has furnished
them store to trade in that is easily
the best one for poor people to trade
in in Rutland county. He has helped
build churches and schools, a hospital,
and has made his home town a most
desirable one to live in. While it is
true that his father, the Senator, en-
gineered this great industry in its in
fancy it is equally true also that
Fletcher Proctor has done vastly more
for it than his father ever did, and
Is fully his equal as an executive Off
Ger and an all around business man.
Mr. Proctor is my principal competi-
tor in business. He hits me rap and
a hard one pretty often in that role.
am Democrat and he Republican;
but I would stultify myself if did
not say that his life exemplifies and
personifies the very truest democracy.
Anyhow, ! do not know of any man,
Democrat or Republican, who so nearly
represents in his life and character my
ideal. | would like to vote for him,
and believe | will have an opportunity.
GEORGE C. UNDERHILL.
Florence, VT, April 7.