Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-04-03
A POLITICAL MIX UP.
(Trom the Deerfeid Valley TT,


The withdrawal of DIT. w. Seward webb
from the g,ibernatorial canvass and n.
entrance of Col Fletcher ID. Proctor m
things up in such a hopeless way TIM
will take Vermont politicians several {.
to locate themselves. Last week, G.
McCullough's friends supposed they
only Dr. Webb to contend with. =
week they find themselves in a. hand
hand encounter with Col. Fletcher -
Proctor and 1t looks as though majoiit,
of those who have opposed McCullougr
and espoused the cause of DR.. Webb woul
now support Proctor.
While the friends of Bennington county's
candidate are sorely troubled at ne
changed situation, there Is no present In
dication of any weakening In their ranks
On the other hand. the statement given
out by the Hon. o. NJ. Barber indicates
that the canvass will be conducted on NJ r.
aggressive lines than ever. Col. Proctor
will be charged with the fragrant violation
of pledges and characterized as machine
candidate. Gen. McCullough's many SUI
perior qualifications will be loudly pro
claimed and reasons will be expoundec
tending to show that he is the logca
candidate for the Republican party.
Col Proctor's canvass Will probably be
quite largely waged OH the platform
WANTED, a Nermonter for governor
There Is no question as to his executive
ability or his personal popularity through
out the State. AS speaker of the Yer
mont House of Representatives. he mad
host of friends. Nearly all Of the mem
bers of the legislature Of 1900 came homf
enthusiastic admirers of the Rutland
county candidate and he IS sure to have
powerful following.
Both candidates are men Of exceptiona
ability and either one would make a cred
table governor. 1t is to be regretted that
3 40 many unuIpaSnnt elements ShOu1d br
introduced into this canvass. The Times
Ia confident that Col. Proctor's friends
will be able to show that he did not breal,
faith with anyone in entering the guher-
material canvass and that the alleged deal
with Webb will dissolve in the air. On
the other hand we are not in sympathy
with the slogan. Wanted a Vermonter
for governor" as applied to this case.
Vermontors are all right, but we OF this
generation must not allow ourselves to
grow so bigoted and narrow to boycott
men from other States There arc a
great many crcditable Americans who like
Gen. Mccullough, were not so fortunate
as to be born under the shadow of the
Green Mountains. And so long as the
people Of other commonwealths are rot
disposed to boycott Ncrmonters. We can
not consistently discriminate against their
sons. Gen. Mccullough Is n thorough
American: he has been n resident Of Yer
mont for thirty years and if during that
long period he has not won the full and
unqualified right OF citizenship, what en-
couragenent is there for outsiders to
come to Vermont? with native Yer
morters emigratinE to other States in such
numbers as to render our population prac-
tically stationary Vermont Of all States
can least afford to become exclusive and
clarnish.
The contest now under way will neces-
Ill, -. ID,,t 49, 49,,
fair play on both sides. The Times is
not at present inclined to believe that Col
Proctor broke faith with Gen. Mccullough
In entering the canvass and we are not
yet ready to concede that there WIS any
deal with DIR. Webb. We believe that he
has perfect right to be in the race
and on the other hand Cen McCulorgh
is a good enough Vermonter. The claims
of these two men to the governorshiT
should be discussed on their merits with
as little mud singing and as few appeals
TO blind prejudices as possible.