Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-27
THE NEW SITUATION.
Hrom the Manchester Journal

Urom the Manchester Journal)
The public were surprised the past week,
first, by the announcement that Fletcher
Proctor will be an active candidate for
governor, and next by the withdrawal of
DR.. Webb. The reason assigned for the
first change is that so many men in the
State had declared that they can not con-
scientiously support either of the other
candidates because they are not genuine
Nermonters and had urged him so strongly
to stand that Mr. Proctor felt constrained
to yield to their wishes. The reason given
for Webb's withdrawal is that he recog-
MES the same feeling in the State and that
he is too good a Nermonter not to tax
notice of it and take himself out of the
way. in other words to yield to public
opinion.
That this feeling does exist is true and.
in our opinion, is very unfortunate for the
State If man from another State makes
his residence here. invests his money here
and does all he can to build up our inter-
csts he ought not to be turned down sim
ply because he did not happen to be born
here. 1t is "A hidebound policy and very
different from the other States, which well
come such men and are ready to honor
them with any position to which they may
be entitled by their character and ability.
ermont has come to be recognized as 4
good State to move out of as soon as one
has arrived at tho age of discretion. Now
lif man with brains and capital has the
courage to move into the State with a dis
position to deNelope our resources 1t is a
mighty poor policy TO say that, as far as
honors are concerned, he is not on equal
footing with born Nermonters, but this is
Just what they do say.
We understand that General Mccullough
will remain in the field and fight ii cut
with Proctor, but he labors under the
same disadvantage, though he is personal
~ popular all over the State and will make
a very fine governor If elected.
There Is no question that Proctor is alsC
a man OF ability and is quite likely to he
governor sometime ii not this year. He
IS young man and can afford to wait. ant
no doubt would have declined to be Il can
didate had it not been for the feeling il
| the state we have referred to.
1t comes as "A surprise to both the Other
men that Froctot should enter the field
as it was understood by all that he woulC
| not be candidate. Some go so far as e
say that he promised not to be a caudi
date, but we doubt this statement II h
had made square promise To that eltco
we think ne would have stood to It. but
however ii may be, there will be consider
able feeling against him by friends of tn
| other candidates because he comes into
the field at this late day. How 1t will ter
| inmate can be better told next May.
Those Nermonters who could not brni
| themselves to support Webb or McCul
| Tough for governor because II would b.
| 'truckling to the money power have Sc
| lected for their candidate a man who car
draw his check for pretty round sum
| The Proctors are counted among the few
| very wealthy men in the State. Added Il
this is the great influence. politically. o
| the father. We have no idea that Senator
| Proctor will engage actively in the cam
| pnien and he would be glad tn keen on
| of il entirely but the influence of his pc
| sition will be felt to great extent Thi
is unavoidable and to be regretted, for III
son could make a good canvass on hi
own merits.