Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-04-15
Political Facts and Rumors.

The somewhat quiescent condition
of the Vermont political pot has been
disturbed this week by the announce
ment of the candidacy of Lieutenant
governor Zed Stanton of Roxbury for
the republican nomination for COVER
nor This formal announcement Is
made by the Mortified News, the
Waterbury Record and the Barre
Telegram, all Washington county pa
pers. 1t is no news; Stanton's candi-
dacy has been known since the meet
ing of the Fish and Game league. Mr..
Clement has not made any announce
ment, but it is generally thought that
he will be candidate and that in that
event James L. Martin will fight
him tooth and nail.
Briefly Mr. Stanton's friends claim
that he ought to be the nominee be-
cause he is a strong personality; MI
Clements supporters urge the I'M
portance of a positive platform with
a man to push 1t; Mr.. Martins ex-
cuse for running is the salvation OF
the party machine and the downfall
of Clement. AS a vital factor in the
contest Mr.. Bell seems to be a back
number already.
Men who think highly of Mr.. stan
ton are inclined to doubt whether he
is possessed of more than the ordin-
airy qualities of an ordinary lawyer
in sufficient degree to Justify his Sc
lection for the highest office in the
state. The fact that he was made
lieutenant governor two years ago Is
sufficient to indicate that his own
party did not consider him as guber-
material timber, for of late years pro-
motion to the governorship has been
tacitly prohibited The fact that the
leaders Of the party insist that Mar
tin be candidate also indicates that
Stanton's ability is in doubt. 1t is
true that he has filed many minor Of
fees acceptably, but town representa-
tive, states attorney. senator, and the
like are offices to which any lawyer
may aspire in his turn, with fair
chance of success. The weakest point
in Mr.. Stanton's claim, however. is
that he stands for nothing. He wants
the office because he wants the office.
That's all. AS to issues. apparently
there aren't any.
James l.. Martin will be a candi-
date against his own personal wishes
IL he decides to become a candidate.
He has been successful enough to be
able to refuse a nomination which de- :
mands the sacrifice Of other interests.
His candidacy Will be for purely polit- |
lcal reasons and will thus fail to re- ,
ceive much Of the support which I'M {
der ordinary conditions would come !
to him. The voters Of Vermont are t
not so vitality interested in the propo- [
,ition anything to beat Clement" as c
are the party managers to whom a
Clements success means ruin to the r
Machine. H
Clements platform is strong in ig h
loring his personal ambition and de- t
,laring for some active work in the o
inc of new legislation. The Clement fl
men are confident of success, owing to t.
heir experience of two years ago. W
They are keeping as quiet as possible t.
n order to head off Mr., Martin. A g
light between these two will make v
ONE real politics in the old state in a
he two months remaining before the C,
invention. fc
The situation, however, like the
uotations on the stock market, is
subject to change without notice"
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