The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-07-30
NEW MAN TO FRONT
IN VERMONT FIELD
Mr.. Clement Looms UP as a
Formidable Rival of Mr..
Proctor.
GIVES SENATOR HOT FIGHT
Novel, Features Of the Fist Real Politi-
cal Combat There in Many
Years.

RUTLAND, VT, July 30-For the flrsi
time in so many years that the oldest
inhabitant doesn't remember just when
IL was. Vermont is lndulging in a real
political night and the farmers are sit
ting up and taking notice. Percival W.
Clement, multi-millionaire. is trying
10 grab the Republican machine away
from United States Senator Red1eld
Proctor, also multi-millionaire. and
the Senator, hguratIvely. is clawing the
a!r at the very thought Of any man dis
putting what he has considered his rights
these many years.
The Senator has bOssed the State for
so long that the bOssing is second ma
Jure 10 him. and IL Clement takes the
job away from him he will surely feel
lost. All hands admit that he has been
a pretty good boss, but some Of the
voters have become FESTIVE and they
want a change.
Could Not Be Kept Down.
-Four years ago Clement, who lives in
a beautiful country home at Center
Rutland. announced his candidacy for
governor. but he lost the convention
This, however. did not Jar him. and he
ran on an Independent ticket. He was
defeated BY Gen. J. @. Mccullough OF
Bennington and New York. and al the
next biennial convention contented him
selw with strengthenin~ his position He
was sponsor for the local option liquor
law, and as This has worked pretty well
he entered the field again last spring.
Although Clement missed the election.
he gave the Proctor folk a great scare.
and this wear the Senator put up his
son, Fletcher. Fletcher Is the control
ling spirit of the Vermont Marble Com
pfny. which ellis r77rnla 20 the Gov
ant. and ne has both money and
brains. He IS wiling 20 spend some OF
the former and use the latter 10 keep
the ONCE OF governor In the family.
Clement Is uNt known as a great
snandeT. but he is opening the barrel
No charge Of dishonesty has ever been
pad H9'inst either candidate and the
"saucv slap on ine-wTist' campaign
would make a New York politician laugh
in his sleeve. Clement is lighting the
I'r0croT machine on the ground that the
senator has carried the State in his
watch ~0cket long enough.
Local Option Prohibition.
-Four years ago when local option was
the issue Fletcher Proctor was against
chansios the laws. He vas pro-prohi-
bition and spoke his thoughts fright out
in meetin'." Now. nil thst has changed
and he urges further trial OF the law
which is popular and has worked 10
the advantage of the State in nearly all
sections.
If the expenses Of the State are cut
down the outsider wonders il any
money viii be spent at all, as the an
nual expenditures now could be carried
IN a hand Satchel. There has been Il
great hue end cry that graft exists
IN state departments and an invcstiCu-
tiOn did develop the fact that some one
hooked a few cahbases grown for the
benefit of the inmates of one institution.
There were other petty gratis, but In
the aggregate they amounted 10 little
When Clement was a candidate in 1902
he had the support Of many OF the infiu-
entail citizens OF the State 5ut he lack
cd the labor vote. Now he has lost many
OF the influential citizens. but he has
more labOrers who VIII cast ballots for
him.
In order to strengthen his position
Clement fused with the Democrats. The
PARTY, as every one knows isn't strong,
but with Democrats on the ticket they
viii all vote for Clement and their sup
Port is not 10 be sUeeZcd at Until the
Independents and the Democrats fused.
Proctor had things his own way. but
the movement has worried him a good
deal as is shown by the strenuous cam
Taign he is making. The election comes
in September.
In 1902 the vote was: Mccullough. 81,
A4i Clement, 22,20l.