The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-02
REPUBS SHOW
 FALLING OFF Early Election Returns from Vermont. PR0UTY ELECTED GOVERNOR His Plurality Will Be Smallest
 Since 1892. Democrats Gain seats in the Legisist- pre-, But small Loss Is shown
 in Votes For State
 Omces.

White River Junction. Vermont, Sept. 1.-The Republicans won the election in Vermont today by carry ing tue State for Lieutenant Governor George H. Prouty. of Newport. for Gov srnor by about 2S.000 votes over James D. Burke, of Burlington. his Democratic opponent. The plurality was the small est on a Presidential year since 1892, when 1t was only 17,D65 and was fol- lowed by a Democratic national vict- ory but it was larger than in 1888 and only slightly less than in 1900.
 There was falling on in four years years of about g per cent in the Republican vote. while the Democratic vote fell off about 2 per cent
 The Independence League appeared for the first time and boiled about 1000 votes. while the prohibition and .sociaIistic vote remained about the same. An unusually large>n number of local contests for members of the leg islature, although bringing out heavy vote and resulting in Democratic gains in the lower branch of the legislature apparently had no bearing on the Ru- bernatorial fight.
 As Vermont Is the first state to vote during the presidential campaign, there was much interest throughout the country in the size of the Republican plurality.
 Complete Control.
 The Republicans retained complete control of both executive and legfsla- tive branches of the government of Vermont in the state election today. the voters endorsing the party ticket for state officers headed by George H. Prouty, of Newport, electing to con. gress from the first district David ). Foster. of Burlington. for another term. and from the second district, Frank Plumley. of Northfield. for the first time and choosing a majority of the state legislature which will elect successor to the late Senator Redfeld Proctor
 At 10:45 P. M. Prouty's plurality was estimated at 28.000. The state ticket elected was as follows:
 Governor, George H. Prouty of New. port; Lieutenant Governor. John A Mead. of Rutland; Secretary of State. Guy W. Bailey, of Essex: Treasurer, Edward H. Deavitt. of Montpelier; Au, ditor, Horace F. Graham, of Crafts bury; Attorney General. John G. Sar- gent, of Ludlow.
 At I0:45 returns had been received from 157 towns and three cities. in- cluding Burlington, out of the 240 towns and six cities of the state. These returns gave for Governor: Prouty. Republican, 30.176; Burke. Democrat. 10.674; Backus. Independence League, 764; Campbell, Prohibitionist, SEQ; Dun bar. Socialist, 305. Some cities and towns in 1904 gave: Bell. Republican. 32.726; Porter. Democrat 1o.s2I.
 Repub. Majority Reduced.
 The Republican maojrity in the House will be considerably reduced. James E. Burke of Burlington. former Iy known as the Blacksmith Mayor" of that city, who headed the Demo- cratic ticket. had only local talent in his support.
 The Democrats were also anxious rel Rarding the strength of the Indepen- dence League movement. a new fac tor in state politics. but the returns from majority of the cities and towns showed that a comparatively small number of voters supported Quinby s. Backus of Brandon. who headed ths new party ticket.
 The prohibition party ran close race with the Independence League while the Socialists were a poor fifth in the contest among the leaders.
 The voters were favored with ex- celient weather throughout the day and despite the fact that the harvest was at hand. they came to the polls in large numbers.
 Late tonight Mir. Burke issued the following statement:
 From the returns of n out of PAS towns received by me. claim that Prouty's majority will be under 5000.
 Although Burlington went Repub- lican on the state ticket 1t was strong ly Democratic when it came to the Representative fight. M. G. Leary. the Democratic candidate for representa- tive, defeating Lawrence Bartley Re- publican, by a majority of s65.
 The next Legislature will stand as follows: Senate. Republicans, 2aA Dem ocrats, 1; House, Republicans, 2iO: Democrats. 30; Independence League. 6. At a late hour tonight Prouty claims his election over Burke by 30, 900 votes.