The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-07-08
FRANK B. HOWE, Editor and Publisher
The Situation in Vermont.

The Springfield, Mass, Republican
refers to q. s. Stanton as man of
wealth, along with Mr.. Prouty, in dis
cussing the campaign for the Republi-
can nomination which closed last
week. The Republican ought to be
more specific so that the fact could
be communicated to the Roxbury ass
essors. The fact is that Zed's barrel
is not the size of an ordinary nail key
and it came through the canvass UNI
scathed.-Montpelier Argus.
The fact is that in campaign like
that which took place in Vermont this
year money cut little or no figure.
This money talk of the losing contin-
gent is merely the wall of the defeat
ed that always arises over departed
hopes. If Prouty had been the poorer
man the cry would have been raised
Just the same only some other excuse
would have been invoked.
Stanton is not so poor but that he
could have spent just as much money
as Prouty did and never have felt 1t,
and II he had been too poor he had
friends who would have provided the
funds. He and his friends thought,
however, that an appeal to the voters
as poor man would be more effec-
tive than to use the comparatively
small sum OF money necessary for
Legitimate organization. The appeal
worked pretty well but not quite well
enough to land Uncle Zed.
In the opinion of the Banner
the Stanton campaign stripped
of its various masks and dis
guises, was contest Of the outs
to see If they could down the
Proctor crowd. The sections from
which the candidates came stood 10y
ally by the mand gave each of them
about $50 votes for starter. In the
other sections it was the Proctor
crowd backing the Proctor theories
and getting a good deal of impetus
from the record of Governor Prrector's
administration against all those who
seek some oIIher leadership in Yer
Ipclt.
The Proctor crowd won but their
margin was so small that they cannot
feel any too secure and If they had
had a strong candidate like De Boer
AGAINST them they would have lost.
Also had the Proctor crowd had a
stronger man like Fits as their can
ldidate they would have had a walk
over as against Stanton.
On the whole the Banner believes
that the campaign and its outcome
are rather encouraging to the honest
and public spirited voter interested
solely in the welfare of the state, as
lit indicates that there is no machine
lin Vermont powerful enough to dc
tate nominations or control elections.
The Proctor crowd is strong but won
only because the opposing candidate
was weak and not we'll known ON the
west side of the state. The anti-Proc'
tor crowd is strong and formidable
enough to keep all the others guess
ling. The Page crowd is the most &C
tive and united of any in the state
though it remains to be seen whether
it will hang together after its main
object is accomplished. The Clement
crowd is considerable enough to DC
an important force in all contests
even II it cannot do much alone
/ Above all the independent vote no'
the Clement faction) is always grow
ing and in any campaign will be the
decisive factor in any contest IL
which the voters are really aroused
We hear a good deal about bosses
and bossism in Vermont but Vermont
Is probably the most thoroughly un
bossed state in the union, for which
let us be thankful and resolved t'
keen II SO. A candidate for high OF
fee in Vermont has got to snow
cause. or. at least, If good cause II
shown. the voters may be relied on u
settle his case on its merits.