Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-05

MET
March T. 1850 Governor Proctor ws4
called TO the cabnc. 90 President HART
son as secretary NJ war His condu~t %
that high office was characterized hv tho
loftie~t patriotism. and his influence rrr-
neated cvcrr PARTON of his great dooa-t-
n'ent Tic inauguration Of orr present
system Of seacoast Ctfonscs was work
IN which he gave special attention Tic
first OF our modern high power .ins for
coast defense were manufactured aud
mounted during he term If Office and
tho first appropriation to- TO pur, hqsr
OF sites for these d"fnnsos was made
through his urgent Appeals 80 Congress
Although il .. 'ime ~ pcarc Lis
work in the departr1cut for ne general
Improvement and cci encv ~ tho a~,ry
was of lasting rafc. Among other reas.
ures irau-urated by him were tho ator-
ton % the post trader system which had
led to much corruption and dis IA ton
at army posts. the abolition of Sunday
inspections. which had made SUNDAY tho
hardest working day Of the wc.k and
the inauguration ~ the system ~ on
cheney reports and NJ examinations for
promotions, which are still continued
and have proved very effective In stinu.
atinE the officers Of the army to diligcnt
work
One inciden: during his service in tho
war department attracted very general
attention It is the custom to put the
fsC which floats over the war depart.
mont at haf-mast for 20 days on the
death of any former secretary Of war
Jefferson Davis died while Senator Proc
tor was secretary Of war, and the MAYOR
Of New Orleans officially notified him Of
Mr. Daviss death for the evident pur-
pose Of compelling a public EXPRESSION
from the secretary ~ his piirvose Sena-
tor Proctor replied to tho telegram as fol-
lows
War Department.
Washington. Dec. = 1sSa
To tho Hon. James A. Shakespeare May
or of New Orleans La:
Your telegram informing mo Of the
death of Mr.. Davis is received In rv-
framing from any official action thereon
would not, and hope | do not add to the
great sorrow OF his family and many
friends 1t seems to me the right course
and the best ono for all You will am
sure. understand that its adoption is
prompted also by a sincere wish and pur-
pose to act IN that spirit Of peace and
good will which should fill the hearts
OF all our people.
REDFIELD PROCTOR
Secretary Of War
This reply met with universal approval
rom tho northern press and from the
leading papers through the South but by
some Of the minor southern papers he
was bitterly attacked. He was hanged in
efTlcy al Tupeo Miss
PROCTOR AS SENATOR
After nearly three years' scrvi-c in the
wa department he resigned. December =
1891. to accept the appoint ment OF United
States senator from Vermont. In Octo-
her 1892 he was elected to the same no.
sition for the remainder OF the term
ending March T. 1898 and for the fun
term. ending March T. 1880. and in 1925
was reelected for another full term. end
ing March 4. 1906
single incident Will Illustrate his
character and the deep conscientiousrcss
which govern his actions and utteranccs
During the session of Congress in 1875
as in tho preceding session there Was
much earnest discussion concerning af-
fairs in Cuba. where a revolution was in
progress. Among senators. as among the
people ~ large. there existed wide dig
ference Of opinion as to the character
condition and prospects OF The insurgents
and tho treatment Of the people by the
Spanish troops. Recognition IF the indo-
pendence of Cuba was strongly and pe--
sistently opposed It was impossible %
learn thr truth from newspaper reports
or partisan speeches. Under these cir
c1mstances in February. 1SaS Senator
Proctor visited Cuba. going at his own
exp4nf,e and his own responsibility
IN order that he might ne able from per
sonal observation ia speak and act wise
" in reference to this important matter
He spent considerable tinlr on the island
travelled c,Itc extensively. corvcrSs,d with
American consuls, Spanish officers bust
ness men Of various nationalitcs. and
visited hospitals and place. where
concentrates were horded together
March Il 10 gave to the Senate an ar
count Of his observations. This speech
by reason OF its calm and dispassionate
style. rs well as on account OF the IN
question -rn'ri,y and ability Of its au-
thor, was accepted by all parties as a
final and authoritative statement OF the
conditions in Cuba and had n powerful
influence in determining the action 81
the nation with reference 10 thOSr COndi-
tiora. II was translated wholly or in
par; into most Of the languages OF tho
civilized world Senator Hnsr said in a
public address that in his opinion the
resolution Of Congress demanding the
evacuation OF Cuba ny Spain which
brought on the war. werc the result, not
OF the destruction Of the Maine, but of
Senator Proctor's report that a half mil
lion people were being Starved to death
at our very doors" and ex-presidrnt
Harrison in taking the chair at a meeting
Of the Red Cross society at Elbcron, y.
J.. said: That quiet recital made by
Senator Proctor in the United States SEN
ate aroused the nation. / do not think
assembly Of the world in ~ years
speech that so powerfully affected public
sentiment. And yet there was not n Iurid
adjective in the speech
IN NATIONAL CONVENTIONS
Senator Proctor has been three times "A
delegate to the republican national con-
vention, and In 1855 and 1886 at the con.
ventionS that nom mated Harrison and
Mckinley the first time. he was chair
Vermont in the convention of ISIS whore
the chairman announced On every
ballot Vermont casts her eight votes for
benjamin Harrison was q leading fac
tor in determining the result Vermont