The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-06-12
POLITICAL ADVERTISING FROM THE PROUTY BUREAU
OFFICIAL, HOME AND BUSINESS
LIFE OF GEORGE h. PROUTY

,een known to make Saturday night
'eturn from Boston or New York,
where business uncompleted- demand
ID that he go back the following Mon.
lay, In order that the choral service
or Sunday might not be impaired by
lis absence. Mr.. Prouty Ii 32nd de-
gree Mason. and his membership In
Masonic bodies Is with the local lod-
,es.so far as they reach.
In the social life Of Newport, Mr..
Prouty and his most estimable wife
nave always been leaders. AT their
nodernly appointed residence, which
was the homestead OF the late John A.
Prouty Mr.. Prouty's father. a home
ike welcome and generous hospitality
IS always the rule. Indeed, both Mr..
and Mrs. Prouty are more contented
IN sharing their possessions and pleas
ires with their friends than In their
own personal enjoyment of them.
While their home Is unblessed by chill.
iren, II Is the resort OF hosts OF friends
who find therein home life pleasant
TO enjoy and gratifying to share.
Mr.. Proutys Public Career.
Mr.. Prouty first entered public life
as the representative from Newport =
In the legislative session Of 1896. The |
of his selection were |
such as to show his home popularity !
to excellent advantage. Previous to |
the mention Of his name two other |
within the Republican par
ty had made good deal Of Roadway |
and 1t was late In the canvass that GER |
tain friends secured from Mr.. PrOuty !
consent to make him candidate. At !
the same time the Democrats Of New |
port. thinking that they could take
profitable advantage of three-corner-
ed contest In the other party. selected
their strongest man. one who was pop
ular In both parties as their candidate.
The result was Mr.. Prouty's easy cleo
ton over all other contestants. and
that without making any personal ef-
fort In his own behalf. In the House
of Representatives Mr.. Prouty was an
effective member OF the important
committee OF Ways and Means.
Mr.. Prouty's next public service
was performed in the legislature of
1904 as q senator from Orleans Coun.
ty. His nomination and election to
the Office were accomplished with on
ly such unimportant opposition as the
minority party could offer In the presi-
dental year. AS a senator. Mr.. Prou-
ty served as chairman OF the Joint
standing committee on immigration
and Industrial interests. a member of
the general committee OF the senate
and OF the senate committee on banks.
and also as member of the joint
standing committee on game and
fisheries. Reference to the senate
journal Of that year shows that Mr..
Prouty was an exceedingly active
member. He introduced no less than
twenty-six bills including those from
committees Of which he was a men,
Der. II Is noted that most of these
bills In effect became enacted into
statute law.
Among the subjects to which the
bills introduced by Mr.. Prouty relat-
ed may be mentioned those OF divorce,
parole Of prisoners, electric railways,
highway taxes and their distribution,
seizure Of illegal devices for fishing.
licenses for nonresident hunters OF
deer, prohibiting the sale of fire arms
to minors, regulation OF telegraph, tel
ephone lines and electric light lines,
loans OF trust companies to their Of
fcers and directors. provision for the
weekly payment Of wages by corpora.
lions, and the regulation of the speed
OF automobiles and their proper use
OF public highways. As regards the
last named measure which originated
In the House OF Representatives. Mr..
Prouty was virtually It's sponsor in the
Senate and actively interested himself
In Its passage. This was the first real
effective legislation relating to the
regulation Of automobiles, From this
record 1t Is to be concluded that Mr..
Prouty was very active and useful
member of the 1904 Senate, as in a
large measure the elements Of the
bills he favored are now considered
as belonging to the most progressive
Legislation Of recent years.
For the nomination to the Lieuten-
ant Govenorship In 1906 there were
three candidates before the Republi-
can state convention, the late John
II. Merrifield, of Newfane, twice
Speaker OF the House, the Hon.
George +. Leland, of Springfield, and
Mr. Prouty. the subject OF this
sketch. The aforementioned popu-
larity Of Mr.. Merrifield and the wide
lily extended business and fraternal
order friendships Of Mr.. Leland, made
the contest interesting II not uncer-
tain, but Mr.. Prouty secured a hand
some triumph. with the same sort OF
loyalty OF support that has marked
his election to the less important Off.
ices previously held by him. The
state campaign Of 1906 is OF too recent
happening for needful treatment In
this writing. The Shibboleth of
"Proctor and Prouty" representing
the combination OF two Of Vermont
young and aggressive business men
as leaders under conditions involving
an opposition peculiar in Vermont
politics, awoke a response that culmi.
, mated In a triumphant election and
! the installation In the two highest
offices for the first time In the states
: history OF two men qualified as above
mentioned.
. Mr.. Prouty's incumbency as Lieu
, tenant-Governor has been character
istically active as guaged by the usual
conception Of It's duties. AS presid
ing officer OF the Senate his action
and influence was invariably favorable
: to all Legislation designed to advance
every legitimate state interest, anf
! OF which the final enactment TO &c
great an extent made the legislativ.
session OF 1906 one distinctively epoci
marking.
Among the measurers that benefit
9 ted by his helping hand may be men
. toned that giving needed powers I.
8 the Railroad Commission. that In
: creasing corporation taxes, that pro
+ vidlng for skilled supervision Of tn,
: public schools, and that providing 70
special commission to Investigate