Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-03-12
SEN. pRocroA.s SUCCESSOR.


(From the Burlington Free Press.)
The absorbing and paramount question
in Vermont politics during the next few
weeks, if not for months to come, will be
the selection of a successor to the late
Hon. Redfeld Proctor as one of YER
mont's United States senators. The first
consideration that will appeal to all
public-spirited citizens OF our state in
this connection is the necessity of ele-
waiting to this important Office a man who
will maintain the proud position OF our
commonwealth in the Senate and hold
the prestige gained for Vermont in the
national councils. All other factors in
the situation will in the end be over
Swallowed by this one consideration, and
we hold that the subject should be given
the NEST careful consideration and the
widest possible public discussion, for
where public opinion has full and free
play and expression the popular voice sell
dom makes a disastrous mistake. We
therefore reproduce in another column
what is being said on this subject from
various standponts, and shall endeavcr
| 10 fulfill in this connection the full func-
tions of a newspaper.
At the present time the whole matter
of filling the Office of United States sena-
tor temporarily is in the hands OF Gov
ernor Fletcher ID. Proctor, who is
authorized to appoint man to fill the
vacancy until the legislature elects
senator to complete the term OF Senator
/ Proctor, which would have expired in
| March, 1911. 1t has been suggested that
Governor Proctor might call the present
/ legislature in session for the election of
/ United States senator as has just been
done in South Carolina, and thus avoid
bitter contest over the succession which
would be prolonged from the present time
until the legislature would naturally
elect senator in October. Some expense
would attend the calling of special
session of the legislature, but campaign
like that which would surely result over
the position during the coming seven
months would cost the people lot of
time and trouble and indirect expense.
There is some doubt about the Legality Of
a special session, some lawyers holding
that the election of senator must take
place at regular session of the legisla-
ture.
1t has also been suggested that mas
much as Congress is likely to adjourn in
the near future, and the legislature will
meet in regular session in October, the
governor might allow the position to
remain vacant. The objection to this
course which would naturally be raised is
that there is no valid reason why our
state should be deprived of representation
in the upper branch OF Congress, when
there are SO many men who could
creditably and well fill the vacancy until
the legislature meets.
Governor Proctor might appoint one
of the men who have been known as can
didates for the succession whenever a
vacancy should occur; but it is held that
this would give the appointee an undue
advantage in an appeal to the representa-
tives of the people in connection with an
election in October. Nor would the
adoption of this method of solving the
problem ohviate a long and bitter
struggle over the question OF final success
sion.
IL special session of the legislature is
not called, there seems to be a growing
feeling that the governor is likely to
name for the senatorship some citizen
of recognized ability to serve temper
arily, as was done in the case of the
succession to Senator Morrill,, when
Governor f. c. Smith named Judge
Ross to fill the vacancy. The name
most frequently mentioned in this con-
nection is that of Former Governor
John w. Stewart, though Chief Judge
John w. Rowell of the supreme court,
Former Governor John q. Mccullough
\ and Former Congressman III. III. Powers
have figured conspicuously in general
discussion of the subject.
II one of these gentlemen or some
other citizen not a candidate for the
senatorship is appointed to serve tenn
porarily, then there will Immediately
ensue q spirited canvass over the success
sion. 1t has been known for a con-
siderable period that when the time came
Congressman ID. J. Foster of this city
would be q candidate to succeed Sena-
tor Proctor, and he has q host of sup
porters. Former Governor Carroll ).
Page has also been regarded as good
senatorial timber, and it is recognized
that he would make q strong candidate.
As will be seen from the press comments
reproduced elsewher the election of Gov
ernor Proctor is also being strongly
urged as one that would be q credit to
the state, although he has not stated that
he would like to go to the Senate at
this time. Other names are also mem
toned, but until the governor makes
known the course he is to adopt, it is not
necessary to discuss personal qualifica-