Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-27
WHAT OUR NEIGH BORIS SAY.
Handsome Tribute to Gen. McCul-
.ough's Strength by Rutland
Contemporary.
ftv,o,,, ,lo putlnCd Npws
(From the Rutland Ncws)

(From the Rutland News)
The eovernorship contest in Vermont has
rapidly shifted its lines within few days.
A week ago the sentiment as between Dr.
w. Seward Webb and Gen. John u. Nc
Cullough, the two candidates, was DOUBT
less in favor of the Bennington nan. Ihen
tho friends and spportcrs OF FLETCHER ID.
Proctor projected Kim into the contest.
" lille the entrance CT this third candidate
was not unexpected and was practically
fcroshadowed in the News many weeks
ago, the friends of the bennington canul-
date, at least, were profcssedly taken Ivy
surprise and considerably stirred up over
the new factor in the roblcm. Then yes
tcrday. as stated IL, The Evening News
ID st night, DR.. Webb withdrew. The CON
test has now narrow ed down to one be-
tween General Mccullough and Mr. Proc
tor, end it is safe to say the lines of battle
viii stay there until the convention de-
Cides tho matter.
1t had been hoped that DR.. Webb would
remain in the contest tC the end. The
triangular contest would have been well
worth seeirG and participating in. And
this is not saying that the contest between
the two remaining candidates Will not he
warm enough tc sui: the most telicose. 1t
viii be Il battle royal General Mccullough
has been such "A prominent nguTe in state
| politics. has been SO long i'm waiting for
known and widely recognized, and his po-
| litical supporters have done such valiant
service in different sections OF tt" state,
! that it will be difficult to defeat him. We
are almost prepared to soy That Mr. Proc
tor is the only man in Vermont that at this
/ late day can do the trick.
on the reasons for DR.. WCbb's withdraw
al there will be several constructions. Ii
is well known that the doctor is IN ex-
ceedingly modest and an exceedingly SEN
sitive man. There is no doubt that he has
felt deeply the intimaticns that have been
made in some quarters that ne would not
| be considered for the honor were it not FOR
his wealth ana his commanding position in
business. These statements find no war
rant in fact and have been thoughtlcss and
heartlcss. Dr. Webb has all the ability
requisite for coed governor of Vermont
end that is sufficient to cover the point
AS matter of fact. the doctor has been
! unwilling from the start to make u fight
for the posotor. If the people wan: ed
him, he was Milling and anxious to affair
Inc honor. Doubtless. discerning a hard
and close fight ahead with the chances in
| favor of defeat, he has withdrawn. The
ST. Adams Messenger puts this construc-
ton upon the withdrawal: "ile has lie
cidcd to offer to his fellow citizens of Yer
mont at this time an unmistakabe pledge
and guaranty of the honesty of his intcn-
I tons end the sincerity of his desire to be
reckoned among the foremost OF them II
eagerness TO promote the win of its people
and. to this end, retires from this contest.
As to the new lineup betv cen Genera
Mccullough and Mr.. Pre- ctor- TIE comm.
few ecks will reveal the outcome. OF
Course. Rutland county will be solid foi
Mr.. Proctor. 1t will do what it can to com
pass his nomination, From the pccscu
view point. the Rutland county man vii
receive the bulk of the Webb support
practically all the support not hitherto On
listed for Gen-rai Mccullough, and som
} IF the support given to the loluin"tol
man as against his late ShelLurnc com
: petitCr lat which will prefer Mi Proctor
now that he is a candidate. IF this is th'
way the support will be divided Tho
chances of Mr.. Proctor's success ought /,
be as good as his friends coull wish
: GEN. MCULLOUGHS ABILITY.
(From the Mortified News)
AS a matter of fact General McCul
louehs superior ability is conceded from
= every quarter. The claim that he is no
enough of a Nermonter or that he is to-
r wealthy to be a governor of this state i
simply Il superficial view of the matter
For nearly 30 years he has been u resden
of this State and during all that time IA
been an active participant in national
State and local politics, even to being pres
ent year after year to participate in tn
town meetings of Bennington. That h
was not born in Vermont is no substantial
argument against his candidacy AS
matter of fact General Mccullough ha
, been a voter in Vermont more years tina
many men now prominent IN public AFFAIR
, in the State. Again no one would under
take to say that the wealth of eX-GoVS
Page Woodbury. and Smith and othe
chief executives in the Tast, had mad
them any less efficient in the discharge O
-, the duties of the Office. When these mat
. tiers are candidly considered by the repul
- lican voters, as we believe they will be he
, tween now and convention time which
: Iyet several months away, the decision Wi
- undoubtedly be largely in favor of placin
- the hrainN, eloquent and cOnSerVatiN" Ben
nngton county man in nomination for tn
next governor of Vermont.
o JUDGE STANTON IN TIE FIELD
y (From the Mortified News)
t. The St Adams Messengers political le
a ter from Washington county, in the cditio
y of saturday, indicates that its WRIT
r travels around in a pretty small circle. TT
= most glaring inaccuracy was the statemel
that Judge Zed S. Stanton of RoXbur!
will not be in the running for ieutenan
governor when actual vote getting begr
but VIII withdraw as gracefully as poss
u hle and seek reelection as State SEM
!, tor. The statement is entirely unwa
X ranted. The fitness of Judge Stanton f'
u l;eutcnant- governor is everywhere roco'
a nizrd and his support is such as to mai
- it certain that his chances are equal,
u say the least, to those of any other ASP
rant Judge Stanton is candidate f
'c the Lieutenant governorship, subject to Il
T. approval of the voters OF the republic
Is party, and is in the race to stay to Il
" finish,
49, THE GOVERNORSHIP.
IS From the Burlington News)
~ Doctor Webb has formally drawn o
~, Of the goVernorship canvass This su
C den and startling change in the conte
=, rcvolutionizes the situation. Fletcher
- Proctor has come in and DR.. Webb h
10 gone out. and the contest will still ha
=, only two sides. The one takes the pla
of the other. And more, Col Proctor n
many good friends in all parts OF e.
state tie has large following tn
would support him in preference to al
-, other man. And he will receive hear
W support from thousands who have II
vet aligned themselves and other tho
" sands who have been Claimed-and pc
in "A