The San Francisco call., 1908-09-02
Prouty Is Elected Governor
Over Burke, Democrat, Both
Parties Showing Losses
Large Number of Local Candi-
dates Results in BOurbOns
EIecting Legislators
Doodle Dees Register Abort
One Thousand Votes in the
Entire State

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT,
Sept. 1.-The republicans won the
election in Vermont today by carry
:ag the state for Lieutenant Governor
George H. Prouty OF Newport for
governor by about 2S,O0O votes over
lanes Z. Burke of Burlington, his
democratic opponent. The plurality
was the smallest in a presidential year
since 1892, when it was only 1886,
and was followed by a democratic na-
fionsl victory, but It was larger than
IN 1888 and only slightly less than in
$500 There was falling off in four
years Of about s per cent in the repub-
licsn vote, while the democratic vote
fell about per cent.
The independent league appeared for
the first time and polled about 1000
votes. while the prohibition and social
list vote remained about the same
MANY LOCAL CANDIDATES
: An unusually large number of local
candidates for membership of the legls-
lature. although bringing out heavy
"a
in the lower branch of the legislature,
apparently had no bearing on the gu
bernatorial fight.
As Vermont is the first state to vote
during the presidential campaign there
was much interest throughout the coun-
try in The size Of the republican plu-
rality-
- The republicans retained complete
control Of the legislative and executive
branches OF the government Of Yer
mont They elected TO congress from
the first district David J. Foster Of
Burlington for another term. and from
the. second district Frank Plumley of
North field for the FIRST time. and elected
q majority OF the state legislature,
which will select a successor TO the late
: Senator Redheld Proctor.
STATE TICKET ELECTED
n The state ticket elected was as fol-
s.. Governor-George H Prouty of New
=. Lieutenant governor-George A Mead
! OF Rutland.
secretary Of state-G. W. Bailey Of
Treasurer Edwin II. Deavitt Of
Auditor-Horace F. Graham Of Crafts
Attorney general-John c. Sargent of
Ludlow.
At 10.45 returns had been received
from l57 towns and three cities, in
. cluding Burlington, ont OF the 24O
towns and six cities Of the state. These
=. returns gave for governoL-
=. COMPARISON OF VOTES
Prouty, republican. 3o.176; Burke,
democrat. 1854: Rackus. independence
league. 764: Campbell, prohibition, go;
20E
The same cities and towns in 1909
Bell. republican. 1926: Porter, demo-
GRAFT 1O.s21.
J: These hgures indicate republican
loss Of 8 per cent and a democratic loss
Of . per cent. On this basis Prouty s
plurality is estimated at $4,000, com
pared with Bells plurality of ,Sl.557 in
1905
The voters were urged to support the
republican ticket by speakers Of ma
tional importance who stumped the
state during the last two weeks
on the other hand, the democrats
fought the battle alone, James E.
Burke of Burlington. formerly known
as the blacksmith mayor" Of that city
who headed the ticket. having only
+ local talent in his support.
DOODLE DEEs' VOTE SMALL
The democrats We're anxious regard
-sne the strength of the Independence
league movement q new factor in state
politics. but the returns from a major
ify OF the cities and towns showed that
I a comparatively small number of voters
supported Quimby S. Backus of Bran
don who headed the new party ticket
The prohibition party. ran a close
fight with the independence league,
while. the socialists were poor fifth in
the. contest among the leaders.
BURKE BELdTTLES DEFEAT
- Late tonight Burke issued the fol-
lowing statement:
From. the returns Of II out Of 246
+3owns received by me I claim that
Prouty's majority viii be under 1000"
Although Burlington went republican
on the state ticket, it was strongly
. democratic when ii came to the repre-
senttive fight, NJ G. Leary, the demo-
cratic candidate for representative. de-
feating Lawrence BARLEY, republican.
by a majority OF 3e5.
At II 80 .. m. Lieutenant Governor
Prouty stated that he figured his plur-
sIity at 29.8Is over Burke, and believed
that the missing towns would bring the
margin up 70 10000. The governor
elect said:
In view OF the fact that there were
no great state isues to create enthusi-
arm and arouse interest, the result Of
thS election is very gratifying and
shows that the voters are taking great
interest IN the national campaign"
OXYGEN EXPLOSION is FATAL
NIAGARA FALLS, N. z, Sept. L.
John 9. Clifford president Of the United