The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-02
VERMONT STAYS
WITH THE G. OF.
Returns Show That Little In
tereSt Was Taken in
the Election.
PLURALITY LESS THAN 1904
REPUBLICANS LOSE SOME SEATS
IN THE LEGISLATURE.
PLURALITY LESS THAN 1904

White River Junction. VT, Sept. 1--The
Republicans won the election in Vermont
today by carrying the state for Lieuten-
ant Governor George II. Prouty OF New
port for governor by about 5000 votes
over James f. Burke of burlington, his
Democratic opponent. The plurality was
the smallest in a presidential year since
1892, when 1t was only 1886. and was fol-
lowed by a Democratic national victory.
but IL was larger than In lSSS, and only
slightly less than in 1900. There was
falling off in four years of about per
cent In the Republican vote. while the
Iemocratic vote fell off about per cent
About 200 Hearst Votes.
The Independence league appeared for
the first time ard polled about LOCO votes,
while the Prohibition and Socialist vote
remained about the same.
An unusually large number of local con-
tests for members of the legislature. al
though bringing out heavy vote and re-
sulting in Democratic gains in the lower
branch of the legislature. apparently had
no bearing on the gubernatorial 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 plural
ity.
Retain Control.
The Republicans retained complete con-
branches OF the government of Vermont.
They elected to congress from the First
district David Jones of Burlington for
another term, and from the Second dis
trict Frank Plumley of Mortified. for the
first time and elected a majority OF the
state legislature. which will select a sue
cessor to the late Senator Redfield Proc
tor.
The Men Elected.
The state ticket elected was as follows:
II PrOmfV n
Lieutenant Governor-John a. Mead of
Rutland.
Secretary of State-Guy Bailey of Es-
sex.
Treasurer-Edward H. Deavitt of Mont
pelier.
Auditor-Horace F. Graham of Crafts
bury.
Attorney General-John G. Sargent of
Ludlow.
Comparison of Figures.
At 1876 returns had been received from
157 towns and three cities, including Bur-
lington. out of the 30 towns and six cit
les of the state. These returns gave for
governor:
Prouty Rep). sO176: Burke Oem.l. TO-
s14: BackuS Und.). 764; Campbell (Pro.).
6a0 Dunbar (Socialist, 305.
The same cities and towns in 1904 gave:
Bell CRepD. y. 726: Porter ODem.). 1881.
These figures indicate Republican loss
per cent. On this basis Prouty's plural
ity is estimated at 5000. compared with
Bells plurality of Sl,557 in 1904
Burke Fought Alone.
rhe voters were urged TO support the
ticket by speakers of national Importance.
who stumped the state during the past two
weeks On Ghe other hand. the Democrats
fought the battle alone james Z. Burke or
Burlington. formerly known as the
blacksmith mayor" of that city, who
headed the ticket, had only local talent in
his support.
The Democrats were anxious regarding
the strength of the Independence league
movements. a new factor In state poll
ties. The returns from a majority of the
cities end townssshowed that a compare
lively small number of voters supported
Quimby S Backus of Brandon, who head
cd the new party ticket
The Prohibition party ran close fight
with the Independence league. while the
Socialists were a poor fifth in the con-
test among the leaders.
Late tonight Lieutenant Governor Prou-