Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-30
Fully 5000 People Greet Fletcher
d. Proctor at Benning-
ton.
MEETING IN OPEN AIR
Republican Candidate for Governor De.
Followed by Congressman FOs-
ter who Made Great 1m-
preston.
preston.

Bennington, Aug. Gone Of the grand
est receptions ever accorded a guberna-
torial candidate in Vermont, was that
given Fletcher d. Proctor last evening
at this home of the Bennington idea
The O%vations to Mr.. Proctor, both when
he was introduced and at the close of
his speech, were strong, emphatic and of
IL character to warm the heart of any
man. The great audience of fully three
thousand people. which packed the Put
nam House square to its capacity, was
studiOusly attentive and respectful. and
heartily applauded the many strong
points as they came thick and fast from
the speakers lips. That the Bloomington
idea" was a delusion and rapidly hecom-
ing faint illusion. is conceded, and that
the swiftly rising tide of Proctor senti-
m"nt, which has already c~ngulfed the
fusion raft, will bury Clement and
Clemcntism beneath a sea of votes, is the
opinion here. as elsewhere, of many i'm
partial students of political affairs.
Mr.. Proctor and party arrived in town
shortly after noon and after lunching at
the bennington club. went to the Put
nam House, where he was busy all the
afternoon, meeting and greeting the large
number of his admirers and staunch sup
porters. Among his callers were ex-Gov-
crnor McCullough and the Hon. o. NJ.
Barber, who were with him for some
time.
The rally, which was held at eight
O'Clock in the evening. surpassed all pre-
Vious affairs of its kind, both in point
of numbers, attendance and enthusiasm.
one of the features was the visit of the
North Pownal- Proctor club. which came
over % strong in a barge drawn by four
big white lprSuS md yayl,- Jnrpra tod
with nags. Their arrival was announced
by three ripping cheers for Proctor. which
were in kind by the assemblagc.
The Bennington band marched down the
street playing an inspiring air and the
square rapidly filled up. simultaneously
with the arrival of the speakers and dis
tinsuished guests at the speakers stand.
! great cheers went UP from the crowd and
!, the street suddenly became brilliantly
Illuminated with n fine display of fire.
works. which continued for several min
utes while the band played. Seated with
the speakers on the platform were ex-
Gov. j. G.. Mccullough. the Hon. f. d.
Bennett. Gen. w. +. Putnam, the Hon.
j. s. Holden. c. n. Powers. William T..
Hawks. Edmund I.aTrancisc, l.. F.. Alb
bolt and w. b. Sheldon Of Bennington
and A. b. Gardner and Or. L. L. Potter
of North Pownal.
The Hon. o. NJ. Barber oficiated as pre-.
siding officer and in his opening remarks
said that the Republican party was pri-
lmarily a party of business and always full
filled its obligations. and that It woulG
= give the people OF bennington and else.
where all It agreed too. as it always hat
8 in the past. He introduced Mr.. Proctor
as the next governor, and there was grea'
applause as the candidate arose to speak
Mr.. Proctor expressed his thanks fol
the splendid welcome from such a mag
, nificent audience, and at once plunge,
= into a broad and comprehensive discussion
. OF the affairs and issues of the Stat
and its government. He said that MI
element had never given an ~instanc,
where a dollar had ever been impropcrl,
l diverted from the State treasury. Tina
3 no State official has ever been indicted il
Vermont and much less convicted of EN-
bezzlcment or misappropriation of funds
Certainly no State has a cleaner recor,
and he doubted If any state was as clean
He called attention to the fact that III
10 cent tax which Mr.. Clement a
II chairman Of the finance committee of tn
Senate of 1900, had reported favorabl
and supported. cost the town of Ben
II nington S7,278 IS. He reminded his nearer
OF tlc IdCl mat IT lney CeSITeu 10 x
back to the old method of caring for tn
insane. by placing the burden of the eX
II pensc on the town, 1t would cost Bennine
ton 81, 3l5, for the number Of it's pauper
now supported by the State.
" MI. Proctor's speech was his best e.
fort thus far. was strong. logical, abb
and convincing and was frequently ar
m plauded.
" The Hon. u. j. Foster said that one {
- the great issues as pointed out by NJ
~ Proctor was the question of increase
III State expenses, and in a splendid speec
pointed out the reasons for the natur,
increases. which had followed with II
phenomenal growth and development
the State. He made Il great impressic
n on his audience when he showed up tn;
Vermont's expenditures for the past te
to years were but six millions and a hal
whereas New Hampshire. our adjoinir
es sister state, similar in every way, hi
paid out over twice as much, or in rour
g numbers. 3l3, 0oO.o ola.
lie called attention to the splendid final
u, clal condition of the State and how 81
had been keeping step and abreast OF Il
:. times In the onward march Of progress
% OF how a deficit of half a million of dc
=, lars had been paid off in the past fe
Az years, and besides this. the State had S
Z aside $4,000 for the support and mai
~ tenance of public schools. lie remind'
his hearers that Clement knew nothing
10 State affairs or institutions, except on
in four years, as he looked out from h
as private car; that the States prison al
the House of Correction were makil
D. money for the State and last year we
paying cash into the State treasury; tn
Instead of these institutions being run
grafters, the results showed that the
management was by competent and no
est officials, and no other and that
State In tho Union could mako the shO'
ne ing that we did. Mr., Fosters stateme
that the post Vermont was h!tched to W
one Of progress, Industry and prosperi'
was warmly applauded. He closed with
splendid tribute to the State and natl
and asked for a record breaking vote
the grand old party on September 4.
e. B. FLINN'S REMARKS.
The Hon. e. 3. Finn of Springfield,
troduced as Vermont's best Irish orat
and spell binder. added to his repu'
ton an n public speaker, by
splendid address, interrupted w
many witticinms and good stories
said that curiosity led him across t
mountains to pay a visit to the cradle
- Al,a ttA.,ut-ta., tVnn ~ 1ut hA tniYnA 4