Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-13
YERMONT'S VERDICT
How the Result Is fnterpreted at
Home and in Other States.
A Magnificent Victory for Proctor md
for Decency in NermOnt-Cleiuent
10 Discussed Outside rs n Political
Freak-A Turning Tide. -,


The hardest fought and most strenuous
campaign la the history Of Vermont poll
tics closed Tuesday with a magnificent
triumph for decency and honesty In polti-
cal methods. The verdict Of the people
of this State Is u complete refutation OF
the ~grourdless charges maze against the
wealth and It's administrators by
p. w. Clement and his followers. vt no
time in the past six months has the out
come Of the contest been In doubt, and
st is q splendid testimonial OF the good
sense of Vermonters that they put the
stamp of disapproval upon its band of
defamers and detractors SO completely
ind with ~suchPgreat force.
The News here wishes to express It's ad-
miration for =. w. Clement. He started
his campaign for the governorship with
no valid issue. He was simply possessed
Of a bottomless barrel of wealth and mas
terly executive ability to marshal his
forces. His heart was full of vengeful-
ness. and his campaign was solely based
upon critic1sfn-and yet he commanded
the SURFACES of one-third the electors Of
Vermont.
Every charge against the Republican
party, every allegation Of dlshonor and
graft and malfeasance IN office against the
public officials, was punctured and pune
tured again and proven untrue; and yet
with MAGNIFICENT persistency and effront-
cry Mr.. Clement and his managers re-
sterated tnV,r disproven and discounted
CHARGES, and m the face of the returns
made one-third OF tho electors of the
State swallow them. There be few men
an Vermont or any other state, with not
q leg to stand on, who would make this
magnificent showing.
The victory Of the Republican party In
Vermont is more than n partisan victory.
1t is the a~scendency of right. truth and
decency. The victory was accomplished
In large measure by the cooperation Of
the more decent elements in the Demo-
cratic party and of those who have no
strong partisan leanirgs.
Far be 1t from the News or any other
newsmp per or individual who has taken
active part in this strenuous campaign to
be overbearing or arrogant IN this hour
pf a great victory. Let us rather accept
the situation in the spirit in which the
contest has been consistently waged. We
have all fought hard-but we have fought
fair. No foul blows have been struck, and
there Is nothing that has been said or
done in the heat of conflict for which we
feel regretful at this time. The truth has
been told-and under the same circum-
stances the same kind Of n fight would
be made again and again. If necessary,
20 preserve the good name and reputa-
lion Of this State against those who would
drag it in the mire.
p. w. Clement and his able managers
nave by no means been an unmixed evil.
They have put the Republican party OF
Vermont on the defensive and have com
PEELED it to prove to the people of this
State and to the people OF the whole
nation that it's administration of STATE
Affairs and State institutions has beer
conservative and honest: that the major
lty of its people are virtuous; that it'
public policy has been conservatively pro
gressive. Mr.. Clement has been tho spu'
on the flank of a magnificent steed. NJ
matter how sound and trustworthy anc
speedy a horse may be, 1t will give a bet
ter account of itself with the spur prick
Ing It's flank.
Vermont is assured of a splendid admin
istration to succeed the splendid admin
istratioG Of Governor Bell. Fletcher d
Proctor, the governor-elect, has proved II
every citizen OF Vernon that he is thor
ughly upright and thoroughly democratic
his ability TO manage the largest affair
Is unouestioned; his honor is unsullied
and az governor of Vermont he will Sc
to 1t, insofar as an executive is able, tina
the affairs and institutions and the I'm
ances of this commonwealth are honestl,
and economically handled, with referenc
10 the greatest good for the greatest mum
Der. He will be the peoples governor
'Rnd unless We are mistaKen. his admin
'stration will be one of the most satisfac