The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-08-09
POLITICS AT
FIRST HAND
How Situation in Vermont
Looks al Close Range.
IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
Local Complications in Various
Towns Likely to Have Strong
Bearing on Result.
IN WASHINGTON COUNTY

Montpelier, Aug. 7.-Washington
County Is the hardest county In the
eastern half Of Vermont on which TO
form political opinion In the present
campaign. II is the most populous
county on this side OF the state, an d
probably has more new voters every
two years than all the other eastern
counties combined. Moreover, II has
larger Independent vote and it Is the
least strongly welded in the matter of
party affiliations. The Democrats too,
here are more numerous than In any
other eastern county, and the union
labor vote is larger and steadily In
creasing.
-Four years ago, Washington Coun.
ty gave Clement over $500 votes and
McGettrick over 300, or 1900 for the
two candidates. Mccullough got only
1900 In the county. II will thus be
seen that II Clement can hold anywhere
near the Republican vote that he polled
In 1902, and at the same time get the
bulk of the Democratic vote, he can
carry the County easily. OF course at
that time he had the strength Of the
local option issue which Is now a mat
ter OF history and will not help him
much this year except in the way OF
friends 1t made for him in his previous
campaign. His new issues seem to
have been slower In getting before the
people here, than elsewhere, and /
think that the campaign OF the next
four weeks is likely to make more
changes in Washington than in the
more conservative counties.
In this county Clement has against
him some OF the most astute politi-
clans in the state, and they have been
shrewd enough to win back into the
party ranks u good share OF the lead
ers OF the Clement movement In Wash.
ington county four years ago. There
has been no talk of "renegades, " or
broken faith, and in some instances it
has been made an object to them to
get back in line and on record for the
party organization, and today the
Clement strength in this county seems
% be peculiarly devoid of leadership
among the republicans, though the
democratic organization is stronger
and more aggressive probably than
,ver before.
The fusion ticket in this county is to
III imtents and purposes democratic, as
he independent party republicans
lave the small end of it and are not
IS infuentially represented as in most
II the other counties. The effect of
his is to weaken the chances OF the
jlement county ticket, and it does not
lppear to stand much show of election
ven in Barre, where Clement and Pape
re particularly strong. | have been
informed repeatedly that a large pro.
PORTION Of the Clement and Pape vote
VII go to the stiaight republican
ounty ticket. A Barre man leads
10Th the republican and fusion county
lckets. c. w. Melcher, candidate for
enator on the fusion ticket, is the
OF one Barre bank, and f.
!. Rowland, who leads the senatorial
icket on the republican side, is cash
or of the other Barre National bank.
'hus between the two tickets in the lar
est town Of the county, there is not
My Clement and Proctor and the re-
ublican and democratic issue, butthere
also bank and business rivalry
arm enough TO create considerable
,eling.
Four years ago, Barre voted more
ian two to enc for Clement, and il
ape can hold the labor vote for the
cad of his ticket Barre is likely to be
verwhelming in the same direction
lis year. Here in Montpelier, how
yer, Clement Is not as strong as he
as in 1902. In the Mad river valley
WINS, including Warren, Waitsfeld and
oretown, the farmers are said to be
rowing considerable inclination to-
ard Clement, and the republican or.
is putting in some work
ere. In fact am inclined to believe
at all through the state the Rutland
.ndidate is making little better
lowing in the rural districts than he
d before. The talk Of increased
ate expenses is just the kind to scare
g average farmer who has about ali
9 tax burden he can stagger under
ready, and many of them say openly.
at while they don't understand how
ement can help them any, they
9 perfectly willing he should try.
The talk of ''too much Proctor" is
so quite potent In this section. where
9 leaven of union labor is constantly
'rking. 1t is not that they love
ement more, but Proctor less. The
publican campaign committee has
)m five to ten rallies week s, he'd
I'd in this county from now until the
d OF the campaign, which shows
at they are somewhat worried over
situation. On the whole, | do not
how Proctor can expect majority
Ia .saFw 49,.