Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-31
THE GOyERNORSHIP QUESTION.

The determination Of z. w. Clement to
independent tl-ket demonstrates conClu-
svelv that he has lost whatever hope he
may have had Of securing the gubcrna-
torial prize. When the Bennington idea
was launched Of the place which bears It's
name. after conference in Rutland in
which the petitioner and the pettionee
were parties, everybody knew that Glenn
ent had given Up hope of beating Fletcher
ID. Proctor in he State republican con-
venton and would have TO look elsewhere
for his support. He had gone to the ex-
IRENE length of supporting in 1901 the re.
publican orga, izaton which he had de-
nourced az the machine in 1902, and
which he is again denouncing in a similar
manner in 1906. but the republicans were
pra ctically' sold In their opposition to
his candidacy, and SO the desperate BEN
nington Idea" was incuba,ed, with fatal
effect politically to both the hatcher and
the hatchee.
The declaration of T. W. Clement. re-
printed in another column. stating that
he will accept the nomination OF Edward
j. Hall, who could not even take a
government census OF bennington straight,
and other citizens If that community
and people Of Vermont in general not
named, demonstrates conclusively that he
no longer haS ghost Of hope of secur-
ing the guheuatorial election. and his sole
possible.
| II is no secret that Clement men have
been laborinR irceesantly for months try
ing to effect a fusion with the democrat tic
party. They FIRST sought to induce Mayor
for lieutenant governor with Clement at
the head OF the ticket, and every sort of
argument was brought to bear 10 secure
this result, Mayor Burke was Shrewd
Ienough TO know that If he became the can
didatc of his party for governor. ii would
make him the titular leader Of his party
victory in the presidential election of 1905,
he might be In 4 position to dspcn g
federal patronage IN Vermont ana so he
persisted In his refusal to fly AZ tall
to the Clement kite. Later the Clement
,fgL.a 1,a4r Ton,
Pape Of Barre, with the hope that he
might he induced 70 take second place on
he headed off in that way, but this scheme
did not serve 10 eliminate Burke as a
possible factor in the governorshp fight
and his persistence IN standing for the
democratic nominatiou for the governor
ship has compelled Clement to enter the
field with the certainty that there will be
at least three STATE tickets in the field
and with the possibility that the labor mer
will have another ticket of their own
since they have already announced tha
they can not support Clement
Clement has thus stood to lose ,,her
going or coming If he had succeeded il
inducing Mayor Burke 20 take secont
place on his ticket with the hope tina
labor men would vote for it, Clemen
would have neutralized whatever dra wins
power Burke had among laborers, an'
many democrats would have voted 70
Proctor, as between two candidates 70
governor VINO were not OF their party
Now that Clement has decided to go /
alone, his only hope Of ultimate success
Is in throwing the election into the Legis
! lature. but he has made 1t possible tor tn
republicans to meet two or more ticket
, and every new move increases the de
moralizaticn Of the forces opposed It
. Proctor
1T can truthfully be said that the Glenn
ent manag gers have bungled from the Yer,
: beginning of their campaign and promis
TO continue to bungle to the end of tn
contest. There Is no possible way in wnicl
the Clement managers can retrace thei
steps and the more they founder the deep
er they sink In the mire In which the