Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-09-07
sRATrLEBoRo, FRIDAY, SEPT, 7, 1905
Machine Still in Running Order.

BY majority which surprised no one
more than the regular republican work
ers themselves Fletcher D. Proctor, the
regular republican candidate for gov
ernor. defeated Percival w. Clement
Tuesday, winning the election by plu'
rality of over $4,000 and carrying every
county except one. The combined
vote of the Independent and democratic
strength was almost 1900 less than the
vote Mr.. Clement received four years
ago when +. w. McGettrick, the
straight democratic nominee, polled
over 1000. In spite of the claims OF
the republican state committee that
Proctor would receive a majority OF
$4,000 and the cry that was made about
a Clement slump the republican manag-
ers were anything but cheerful at the
prospect presented during the two
weeks previous to election day. They
were closing the most strenuous strug-
gle to which they had ever been driven
and the result was in doubt. That the
state "stayed regular by such
large majority astonished them as much
as it did the most optimistic fusionist.
An analysis of Tuesdays vote shows
that the regular republican leaders were
wise when they put their trust in the
small towns. The state highway and
school tax plank in the democratic
platform furnished plenty of material
with which to brighten the voters in
these towns, while Mr.. Clement s dec
laration in favor Of a change in the rep
resentation system Ga system which the
republicans themselves admit is unfair
was worked to the limit as vote-get-
ter for the machine candidate. The re-
suit of this work is shown in the vote.
With only % towns giving him ma.
iority Clement secured over 10000
votes, while Proctor with the remain
der of the 246 towns to his credit got
something over $4,000. The cities of
Rutland, Burlington, st. Adams, Barre
and Montpelier and the towns of Ben.
nington and st. Adams went for Glenn
emit, and in most of the larger towns
throughout the state the Clement vote,
although smaller than four years ago,
was proportionately larger than in the
small towns. In short, the loyalty of
the small towns to the regular republic
can organization overwhelmed the indie
pendent sentiment in the larger towns
and cities. This is not surprising when
one considers the time and money that
were spent in keeping the small towns
in line, but in accomplishing this re-
suit the regular republican party has
placed itself under obligations which
will become more and more difficult of
fulfllment.
Although badly beaten the independ-
emit movement will have good effect
on the government of the state of Yer
mont. The fright which the machine
received will temper its dictatorial pol
icy for time at least. Now that the
election is over the Anticipated methods
of accounting in vogue in our state in
situations will doubtless be remedied,
the scandalous methods of the cattle
commission given an investigation, and
the evils of double taxation, unfair rep
resentation, powerless railroad COM
mission and useless insurance COM
mission abolished. If these improve
ments are brought about they will be
due in large measure to the Independent
movement and its accompanying agita-
tion. But the independent voters of
Vermont must not allow themselves to
be satisfied with the results that are
likely to come of what has already been
done. The machine is still in running |
order but the time is bound to come |
when it will be smashed on the rock of
public sentiment.