Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-03-21
The Weeks DEVELOPMENTS.

There was a sudden and unexpected
change in the gubernatorial situation
on Tuesday. when 1t was announced
that DR.. w. Seward Webb had with.
drawn from the canvass. It is under
stood that DR.. Webb's determination
was communicated to ex-Gov. f. C.
Smith of st. Adams, and the announce
ment was made through the Messenger
of that place, which said editorially:
THE Messenger is able to announce on
the highest authority that Dr. w Seward
Webb will not be candidate for the Re
publican nomination for governor before
the state convention this summer. Not
withstanding the Encouragement that his
canvass has receive. Ia every section OF
the state. and Notwithstanding the hearty
assura noes of influential Republicans that
his prospects for success are Frightening
every day. Doctor Webb has become CON
WINGED that. however much without war
rant. the idea is fixed in the popular mind
that the contest between Gen. McCuI-
lough and himself is contest
between two Nermonters whose New
York associations are so important
and prominent more or less
conspicuously To connect them with ar
fairs in the Empire state and tend to con-
firm the popular impression that they
are more Interested in the Empire state
than they are in Vermont While he
naturally deeply regrets that this mis-
taken idea of the identity and character
Of his citizenship should have gained
such ground as II has. nevertheless he is
determined that so far as he concerned.
II shall not be said of him that he blindIv
affronted the manifest sentiment of those
among whom he has sought citizenship
and friends. lie has decided, therefore.
to offer to his fellow citizens of Vermont
at this time an unmistakable pledge and
guaranty of the honesty of his intentions
and the sincerity of his desire to be reck-
oned among the foremost of them in
eagerness to promote the will of its peo-
pie, and to this end. retires from this
contest"
DR.. Webbs withdrawal was evi.
IDENTIFY a complete surprise to every
body in the field except possibly to a
few personal friends on the inside. II
is not known what reasons there may
have been for his withdrawal beyond
those stated. DR.. Webb's recent ac.
QUESTION of a majority of the stock of
the Rutland railroad, and his taking
over of that system with all that It
means in the way of development has
doubtless added greatly to his business
responsibilities. 1t is intimated that
his health is not robust. Beyond all.
it may be fairly doubted whether he
found the outlook and methods of the
gubernatorial campaign altogether
agreeable and satisfactory. He may
have thought the play not worth the
candle.
Webb's withdrawal was followed by
a statement from o. NJ. Barber of Ben
nington, Gen. McCullough's recognized |
campaign manager, in which Mr.. Bar
ber intimated his belief that DIR. Webb |
had found the tide running strongly |
against him, and that there may have |
been a trade or understanding between |
Webb and Proctor or their friends. |
Mr.. Barber said that Gen. Mccullough |
was in the field to stay to the end and |
expressed confidence in his strength |
with the people and in the success of |
his candidacy.
1t is settled that Fletcher Proctor
will be candidate, and that he will |
make a straight contest with Gen. Nc
Cullough for the nomination. 1t is |
due Mr.. Proctor to say at the outset
that there is absolutely no truth in
the charge or insinuation that there
has been any kind of an understanding
or trade between him and DR.. Webb
or between the friends of the two. Mr..
Proctor was entirely sincere in decid-
ing last fall or early in the winter that
he would not enter the canvass. His
only reason for allowing the use of his
name now is that so much dissatisfac-
ton developed with the situation as
between Mccullough and Webb, and
because the demand that he should
to be a candidate became i'm
perative. This demand was no less
strong from men who favored McCul-
ough than from those who preferred