Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-04-07


of the contest meant the creation of
much personal feeling, and to promote |
harmony in the party, withdrew.
Mr.. Smith and his friends were very
much pleased, and said some very
nice things about General Mccullough
and made some promises which | am
glad to say some of them have kept,
but when the time seemed to most
fair minded men to be ripe to honor
Bennington county and the state as
we'll, and elevate to the governors
chair a man against whom not one
word has ever been said except that
he did not happen to be born in Yer
mont, we find EX-Gov. Smith and
some of his close friends and his pa
per, the Messenger, advocating DR..
Webb, and urging his candidacy
strenuously.
At that time they seemed to think
| that a man who has been a resident
of Vermont very short time as COM
pared with that of General McCul-
| Tough, would make an excellent gov
ernor. But a short time ago there
came a change, possibly because it
was found that the people were bound
to have General Mccullough at this
time, and something must be done.
Last fall Fletcher Proctor was asked
by a good many men from all sections
of the state if he would be a candidate
for governor, and at that time he said
he would not. General McCullough's
friends have understood that. he was
favorable to him. | was told last
week by prominent man who has
been supporter of DIR. Webb, that
he (Proctor) favored DR.. webb.
What the truth is as to his position
l do not know. But from his spoken
words, his letters and his actions dur
ing the canvass, his friends had a
right to suppose that he would not be
a candidate.
1t is reported that a few weeks ago,
Gov. Smith and Ex-Lieut. Gov
Fisk went to New York and met Dr.
Webb, and that Fletcher Proctor and
E. r. Morse also went there. DR..
Webb very soon left for California,
and the Messenger and three other pa
pers on this side of the state called
simultaneously for Proctor to save
the state, what from [ know not, I'M
-ho+ iolo+ bo
strong administration which would
not be ruled by any clique of politi-
clans.
Almost at once it was announced
that Mr.. Proctor would be candidate,
and as soon as he was fairly in the
field, the Messenger withdrew DIR.
Webb, and said some nice, ind efinite,
things which might be construed by
the unthinking to mean that in four
years they would bring him up again.
In view of the fact that those who
are actively advocating the candidacy
of Mr.. Proctor now claim that he has
only responded to the call of the peo-
pie, it is inter esting to learn that in
some cases before the papers amour
cling his candidacy arrived, letters
were received from him asking for
support. He must have felt the ne
cessity not only of answering the call
of the people, but of at once calling
back.
1t would seem as though Gov
Smith and his friends should be the
, first to recognize the propriety of al
this time giving General Mccullough
, loyal support, and it is difficult to dis
cover any good reason why they dc
not.
Fletcher Proctor is a young man
t and there is no doubt that the state
: will properly recognize his ability
but l think he is i'll advised both as tc
his own interests, and as to the inter-
t ests of the party. If he had con.
scented to become candidate last fall
E there could not be the charge of baC
faith which is now laid at his door.
In view of all the facts and circum-
7 stances which have led General Nc
! Cullough to become a candidate 70,
governor, bearing in mind the gener-
ally admitted fact of his eminent fit
1 ness for the position, and that his
|. friends have conducted an open, hon
r orable campaign, and won it al
:. against DR.. Webb, will that sense O
: fair play which exists SO strongly il
I Vermonters, turn him aside now will
, no better reason than the one single
, one that he was not born in Vermont
:, and has lived here only 20 years?
| think not I think | know enough
of the people of this state to feel sur,
that their sense of justice will not al
2 low it.
F. G. WILLIAM
Newport, VT, Mar. 25th, 1902.