News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1908-06-03
UNITED STATES SENar0RSHIP

The Burlington Free Press devotes
nearly column to an editorial headed
"The Senatorial Situation" and in a
manner entirely candid and fair sums up
the matter in the two following para
graphs:
The withdrawal of the Hon. d. !. Fos-
| ter from the senatorial race, which by the
way he shows he had not formally enter
| ed following the announcement of Cover
| nor Fletcher d. Proctor that he would
not be a candidate at this time, would
! seem to have left former Governor Car
roll S. Page so far III the lead as to rem
der his election practically a certainty.
Governor Page has the support of more
| than three-fourths of the newspapers of
the State, his strength is distributed on
| both sides of the mountain and he has
always commanded the fealty of the
smaller towns, i'll PARTICULAR each of
whose representatives have Just as large
vote as the representative of any city
or big town, Moreover it is recognized
that Governor Page as United States
Senator would be an active public ser
want and thoroughly loyal to his constit-
uentS.
1t is recognized at the same time that
there will be powerful interests arrayed
against Governor Page. 1t is held by
some people to be a matter of course that
all other aspirants who may not enter
the field at the coming session OF the Leg
islature will be inclined to want the
chance to be a candidate two years
hence. 1t is pointed out that if Governor
Page were to be elected to the United
States Senate next fall, he would be GER
tain to be reelected for six years at the )
end OF the two years remaining of Senator
PrOctors unexpired term and for still
another term of six years, if he wanted it
and his health warranted his contin-
uance in service for fourteen years, Gov
ernor Pages friends must recognize the
full force of this situation.
We give the Free Press credit for entire
candor in what it says but we can assure
it with equal candor that the withdraw
al of Congressman Foster has practically
settled the entire matter Whether Gov
ernor Proctor could have defeated EX-
Gov. Page is fairly debatable question.
Congressman Foster could have
made contest that would have been
uncomfortably warm for Mr.. Page, had
he early disavowed his intentions to run
for two offices at the same time, may
also be debatable, although we doubt it
very seriously. But with Proctor and
Foster avowedly out of the contest ad-
vices from all parts of the state make it
morally certain that Mr.. Page now has
A practically clear field.
The News and Citizen has sent out in
luiries to prominent men in every town ,
and city in Vermont asking their opin- {
ons as to the drift of public senti-
nent on the Senatorial question in
their respective localities, and the re- :
turns up to Saturday last indicate that
The East side of the state is practically s
solid for Page. OF the entire number of
'eplies received from the East side, which !
gave preferences, GAS in all, 622 were for a
Page, 13 for Foster, Z for Stewart, for
Barber and l for Proctor.
The West side of the state, as every one =
,nows must have been the case, showed
considerable Foster strength the figures i
icing: Page 440, Foster 76, Stewart g. y
Barber l and Proctor /
We do not believe any combination is
low possible that can defeat Governor