Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-01


mistake. They know that Gen. Mccullough
is In every way worthy of their confidence,
and also In every way fit candidate Tor
governor. A man both of unblemisbed
character and distinguished abilities, ana,
what Is always appreciated by the voters,
kindly nature. Mr.. Fletcher PROCTOR
name was mentioned too late to be con-
sidered seriously at this time by the re-
publican voters
Besides, there is a natural feeling TO di-
vide up honors; to choose the candidates
for our higher offices from different sec
lions and different families, instead of
placing them all In one family. little
modesty on the part of candidates them
selves in this respect wouldn't be unpleas-
ant to the voters. They are very willing to
recognize good service anywhere. and Will
do so heartily. and on every appropriate
occasion. But they do not ike to be dc
tated to. and will not be dictated to. whilst
all attempts to insinuate that there is only
one family in the State who are genuine
Vermonters or able to furnish candidates
for all the higher offices is getting rather
sickening. The senior editor of this paper
does not happen to know personally Mr..
Fletcher Proctor. but we have long known
his father. our distinguished senior un,ted
States senator. and recognized his superior
fitness for public offices. both because of
his abilities and independence and probity
of character. We have, too, always heard
Mr.. Proctor Jr., highly spoken OF. and
have no doubt that he would generally
fairly represent Vermont In public affairs.
although we do not think that he did so at
all, when voting against our junior United
States senator, Mr.. Dillingham;, as We un-
derstand that he did.
We notice another kind Of misstatement
that some of the newspapers supporting
Mr.. Proctor have fallen into, of assuming
or affirming that there was some alliance
-. a.. 49, NIzf" ,tn teyta
and Mr.. Clement. The great majority or
the republican voters understand perfectly
well that there is not a word of truth in
this. Gen. Mccullough from the start has
been free. and is free now. from all en-
tangling alliances. For some months the
contest this year was between Gen. McCul-
Tough and Dr. Webb until the voters of
the State had largely made up their minds
that one of these gentlemen would be gov
ernor. DIR. Webb withdrawing IL was both
natural and proper for them to unite on
Gen. Mccullough, who all had admitted
from the start to be eminently fitted for
the place.
1t was because of these conditions that
the Register said, in first discussing the
Esituation, that it was not good time for
any new name to / injected into the cam
vass. And that rem TX applied equally to
Mr.. Proctor and Mr.. Clement. All of these
gentlemen are able upright men. and good
Nermonters. whose claims for the COVER
norship at the right time the voters would
willingly consider. We do not ourselves be-
lieve that they would favorably consider
any ones name upon license platform;
but otherwise they would very favorably
consider the name OF Mr.. Clement as we'll
as that of Mr. Proctor. But that the ma
jority of them are not inclined to consider
favorably any new names at this time Is,
as we think, unQuestionably true. There
n
they should. and some very good reasons
why they should not. Above ALL an in
stinct for fair play prevents II. With all
this unusual effort made to defeat him, I'M
mindful whether the blows given are UNI
der the belt or above it, many Vermontere
are disposed to make the canvass for Gen.
Mccullough in an unusual sense their
own. and will as we believe, triumphantly
elect him to be governor, letting other
candidates wait for another time. Every
one knows there is no issue excepting the
man.
WHO OWNS VERMONT?
(From the Wilmington Times.)
Col Fletcher D. Proctors illtimed on
trance into the governor canvass is unfor-
tunate from every standpoint. He cannot
afford to win at the cost of making SO
many bitter enemies and he cannot afford
to lose. as defeat would sound the DEATH
knell of the Proctor influence in Vermont.
For more than 30 years the people Of Yer
mont have been loyal to the Proctors
When Redfeld Proctor wanted to be
lieut. enant- governor. Vermont acquiesced
When he asked to be elected governor his
request was granted. When he wanted tc
be secretary of war he received unanimous
and enthusiastic support from Vermont re-
publicans and from Gen. j. G. Mccullough
In particular, and when he aspired to the
United States Senate, Gov. Page appointed
him to fill the vacancy caused by the resig
nation Of George +. Edmunds and he work
ed into this important office within the gift
Of the State without a contest. When
Fletcher Proctor became a candidate for
speaker of the Vermont House of Repre-.
sentatives, everybody else stood aside and
gave him free field. So far as we have
been able to ascertain the Proctors have
had everything they asked for in the polti
cal line for the last 30 years.
senator Proctor has stated that while he
continued to represent Vermont in the Uni
ted States Senate. Fletcher would not be
candidate for governor, as it would he
too much for one family to ask Vermont
for the two most important offices within
her gift. At the beginning of the presen,
governor canvass Fletcher Proctor statel
repeatedly that he would not be a candi
date and allowed the lines of battle to bt
drawn with that explicit understanding.
Now that Fletcher Proctor enters the
governor canvass against the tacit pledge
of his father and in violation of his owl
oft-repeated statement that he would nO
he candidate what wonder Is it that the
l'roctors are charged with an inordinat.
greed for office.
| During the next two months it will b,
demonstrated as to whether or not tn,
Proctors own the Republican party of Yer
| mont We shall see whether or not a MAJ
of Gen. McCullough's brilliant qualifca
lions will be compelled to stand aside I,
make room for a smaller man. whose onl,
claims to the Office are the facts that he i!
a native born Vermonter and the son OF
his father.
McCU LLOUGH AND TEMPERANCE.
Those Proctor organs which have beer
so anxious to know Gen. McCullough's pc
sition on the prohibitory law have Learned
more than they bargained for in lette
from him to "A Burlington friend. Gen
Mccullough gives it all the attention tn
subject demands and disposes OF the who'll
matter in this statement:
SHOULD these representatives, fresh from
the peoples hands, adopt any constitution
al measures strengthening or modifyip,
the statute In any regard. were / placed il
position where ] should be called on I,
act. l should approve the measure"
If elected CHIEF executive of the State
he will be guided by the wishes OF the PEG
J pie. II high license law Is enacted he viii
approve it or If any amendments are mad
to the prohibitory law, he will accept tn
verdict and abide by It,
The primary duty of the governor a
, chief executive Is to see that the laws O
ba Ct1,a bod and ,nt TO- t,I,t