The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-09-23
SENTIMENT CHANGES
Over 400 Present ut Dinner at Hotel
Champlain and Great Enthusiasm
Aroused by Speakers.
Especial to the Journal.)

Especial to the Journal)
Burlington, Sept 1.-THE Fish and
Game League banquet held at Hotel
Champlain at Bluff Point, N. Y, to-
day. was a pleasant and successful
event and was attended by about 400
people. While the League itself is
absolutely non partisan, these sum-
mer meetings have come to be consid
cred as rallying place for men in
terested in State politics and the
meeting today offered an excellent OPP
portunity for an exchange Of views
in the question of the Republican
nomination for the 1910 Governor
ship.
Out of the political discussion of
today an opinion stands out clearly
that they have developed strong
and steadily increasing sentiment in
favor of the nomination Of Charles
William Gates, of Franklin, at pres
ent State Highway Commissioner.
There is very friendly feeling for f.
G. Fleetwood, of Morrisville, and he
seems to be second in the running,
with Lieut.. Gov. John A. Mead, third
Apparently DR.. Meads candidacy is
weaker today than it was before this
meeting and the tide seems to be set
ting away from him and towards
Gates, while DIN Merrill has made
no announcement, the belief is free
ly expressed that he will not be a
candidate for Governor.
The steamer "Ticonderoga" left
Burlington about 1870 this after
noon, the Vergennes band furnish
ing music on the way over. The
large dining room of the Hotel
Champlain was filled with the mem
bers of the League and guests. At the
head of the table the guests were
seated in the following order, at the
right, President Maxwell Evarts,
Vice President James S. Sherman,
Governor G. H. Prouty, Senator C. S.
Page, ex-Congressman j. c. Sibley,
President John M. Thomas and
Speaker T. G. Cheney, at the left of
President Evarts were seated Justice
Brewer, Congressman d. j. Foster,
eX-Gov. F. d. Proctor, George II. AL
len, Lieut. Gov. John A. Mead and eX-
Gov. c.. j. Bell.
Before the dinner was served,
President Evarts extended welcome
and offered as toast, ITO the United
States of America, and her prosper
ity; may Vermont and each and
every one of us have a share in il"
After the singing of America, an ex-
cellent dinner was served Some
business was transacted between the
courses of the dinner and President
Evarts suggested that meeting of
the League be held every summer, in
stead of holding a meeting at Mont
pelier during sessions of the Legisla-
ture and that legislative committee
be appointed to look after the inter-
ests of the League. The suggestion
was adopted. Mr.. Evarts then an
nounced that Gov. Prouty asked the
Leagle to Lake Memphremagog next
summer for clambake, the invita-
ton being received with hearty ap-
plause. Popular songs were sung be-
tween courses.
Mr.. Evarts spoke of the duty and
work of the League, referring to YER
mont industries that needed to be
conserved. He declared that YER
mont was the most beautiful spot on
the North American continent and
the natural place for fish and game
He referred to the partitionof the
Black River with dye mills so that
no fish could live in the streams and
to the disposing of the beautiful Cav
endish gorge by New Hampshire cor
poration. He said the purpose of the
League was to create public senti-
ment for the preservation of our
natural resources. He said the new
law requiring hunters to take out Ii
censes would bring an income of 700
or 500 dollars. The company then
joined in singing For He Is Jolly
Good Fellow"
In introducing the first regular
speaker, Mr.. Evarts said that Yer
mont was pround of her grand sons
and asserted that the National admin
istration gets it's good qualities from
Vermont, the ancestors of President
Taft and Vice President Sherman be-
ing Vermonters, those of President
Taft from the east side and those of
Sherman from the west side.
The Vice President was given an
ovation, the audience cheering him
ccurs every month, that he had
been unable to get any trace of him.
rom time to time at these meet