Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-01-19
Mr.. CLEMENTS BIG TASK
TO STRUGGLE AGAINST FIRMLY
INTRENcHEp PROCTOR POWER.
Rutland Candidate Preparing to Begin
Fight for Governorship-Promises TO
Make a Lively Struggle-organized
Labor May Help Him in the Contest

| Make Lively otrubBo
Labor May Help Him in the Contest
Taking a leaf from the experience Oh
the democratic party in 1904, Perciva'
w. Clement, in his quest for a nomina'
ton for governor, is to adopt stu
novel method in this state, says inc
Montpelier correspondent of the spring
field Republican under date OF Jan. 10,
Howard w. Hndley, recently engaged
as political editor of Mr.. Clement s
newspaper, and who, it is supposed, wiil
have an important part in the direction
of Mr.. Clement s campaign mas peeh
making contracts with the newspapers
of the state for advertising space to be
used for the publication of political
matter favorable to Clement and oppos'
ing Proctor and the party machine
Aside from his own paper Mr.. Clement
has no Newspaper supporters in the state,
His cause was championed by several
papers in 1902, but the support was
given to the local option idea rather
| than to Mr.. Clement personally. ms
wear he is not identified with any spe'
cial issue and he must pay for such pub
LEFTY as he secures.
Mr.. Clement is not personally popu-
lar. Engaged in large business enter
prises. he has never mingled much with
the people at large. He is disposed to
be reserved and by many is considered
cold blooded. In his campaign of 1902
he seized the favorable moment when
the people had not only become disgust
ed with prohibition, but indignant AT
some of the occurrences under the ola
law, TO declare himself the champion OF
local option. He was strongly support
ed by the press and the people, not be-
cause of his personal popularity but be-
cause he was able TO assume the leader
shin of a well defined and growing ele-
ment of his party. This year he has no
such opportunity. The important mat
ter on which he evidently intends to
base his campaign is demand for econ.
omy and reform in the management
of state institutions. 1t is well known
fact that some of the institutions OF the
state have been improperly conducted,
and that economy might be effected IN
their management, but Mr.. Clement can
have no monopoly of the demand for re-
form and improvement. A commission
appointed by Gov Bell, composed of
two republicans and one democrat, has
been engaged for nearly year In a
thorough investigation Of the public IN
stitutions and ii is not to be doubted
that when its report is made the repub-
lican leaders and the republican party
. in pf
legislation as may be necessary to ac-
complish the reforms recommended by
the commission. To do otherwise
would be the veriest political folly. Mr..
Clement cannot 60 further than they
will in demanding reforms.
However, in about two weeks he will
commence his campaign and from that
time until the nominating convention
matters will be as lively as Mr.. Clement
can make them Not only does he de-
sire to be governor but to overthrow the
power of Proctor TO accomplish that
might not be a difficult task for some
men, though Proctor appears to be firm
" intrenched in political power. This
is because he is feared as much as for
any reason. Redfeld Proctor has been
creditable representative of the state
at Washington, but people do not take
kindly to the idea of making the office
of senator hereditary There is an i'm.
preston that the Proctor plan is to pass
the office he now holds on to his son,
who is this year seeking nomination
for governor The senator has an
nounced that he will not be candidate
for another term. The report sent
out from Washington that he intended
to resign before the close of his pres
ent term, though afterward denied, is
believed to have a considerable basis of
fact. The theory is that he intends to
have Fletcher d., his son, elected govern
or this year and a man favorable to him
in 1908. Then he will resign and the
governor will appoint his son as his sue
cessor So the cry of "too much Proc
tor" heard in 1909, is again repeated,
though not very often in public.
Proctor has power to reward and pun
ish, so there is an unwillingness to op-
pose him unless there is good prospect
of success. He has strengthened his !
position by the way he has placed fede-
raj appointments among Vermonters,
Curtis S. Emery of Chelsea, who few |
years ago abandoned his candidacy for |
speakership of the house that Fletcher
D. Proctor might have the place, is made |
of the district of Memphrema |
cog. Although a change is made in
both the customs districts James l.. |
Martin of Brattleboro remains as Uni
ted States district attorney, because |
MS only opponent was Alexander Dun
lett of st. Johnsbury and Mr.. Dunnett
was Clement supporter in 1902.
There is, however. one well defined
phase of warfare on Fletcher d. Proctor
hat may bear fruit and of which Glenn
mt will certainly take such advantage
Is he can. The organized labor inter
,sts of the state have commenced open
opposition and declare their purpose to
prevent Proctor from securing a single
abor vote. This opposition springs
argely from the course of Fletcher d.
Proctor in the house and senate, where
lie has opposed the weekly payment bill
avored by the union labor men. There
re other reasons that lead up to this
opposition. The Proctors have never
,een popular with the labor interests.
Wages are low at the works of the Yer
mont marble company and hours are
ong, while payments are only made
monthly and the men are practically
bliged to trade at the company store
he store has now been made a profit
haring enterprise to a certain extent,
nut the dislike of trading there has not
een eliminated. The company maintains
hospital for the benefit of its employees
tnI
len S Christian association building,
ut it is the old story of Pullman and
Their similar paternal enterprises. The
len would rather draw the wages other
yorkmen get and spend their money in