Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-07-06
NOTES ON THE RESULT.


was admittedly the first paper in YER
mont to declare for DR.. Mead for
governor, the outcome of the Republi-
can state convention at Montpelier
last week is particularly gratifying to
this paper. He won the nomination for
governor against the greatest odds.
The machine, if Vermont can be said
to have a political machine, has
opposed him. Proctor and Prouty
have both been opposed to his nomi-
nation, as has also nearly every person
in the state who holds his office by
virtue of the administration, present
or past. DR.. Mead has been nominated
by the people through his own effort,
and will take the governors chair
another fall entirely free from
promises, trades or alliances that will
hinder him from a free and fearless
administration in every particular.
The campaign has been remarkable
one. DR.. Mead has been bitterly
attacked and often misr epresented.
Many of the insinuations against him
could not in any manner help any other
candidate and instead of in any way
building up the public confidence in
general has had exactly the reverse
effect. That the insinuations have
been unfounded is conclusively proven
by the fact that although repeatedly
asked and urged to do so no one has
proven a single charge of any kind.
In one instance a newspaper reported
that a certain man in Addison county
had "barrels of evidence" but two
days later this same paper rep orted
that this same man was Offering $1,000
to any person bringing him evidence.
The $1,000 has not been paid to any
one. If there is foundation for these
insinuations then the paper or person
knowing whereof the charge is made
is bound morally to expose. If the
insinuation is without foundation then
the paper or person making it may be
held in contempt.
No one, however, pretends to claim
that DIR. Mead's nomination has not
cost him considerable cash-he has had
a,political bureau, and headquarters and
has used considerable advertising space
in the papers of the state. Proctor
and Prouty also spent considerable
sums of money in legitimate channels
to secure the nomination. Probably
each spent as great an amount as
DR.. Mead has spent, and spent it in
much the same manner. All of the
candidates against Dr. Mead spent con-
siderable money in their campaigns and
we venture that for the votes received
M. j. Hapgood spent more money than
any other man in the field, yet he was
the most bitter against DR.. Mead, and
was opposed to making the Mead en-
dorsement unanimous, while F. G.
Fleetwood with 100 times the support
that Mr.. Hapgood had was willing.
While the spending of considerable
sums of money by gubernatorial candi-
dates is and has been necessary in
Vermont, it is not the ideal political
situation and the Monitor certainly
hopes that the agitation and discussion
in this campaign and the enactment OF
laws making it necessary for candi
dates to make public their campaign
expenses, will help remedy the
situation.
1t is interesting to note the pre-con
vention estimates of the candidate
and their actual strength on the foo
of the convention. Batchelder claim ec
80 and received 80, his estimate fallin,
short 10 per cent. Fleetwood claimet
325 and received 259, his estimat
falling short 20 per cent. Mead
claimed 1893 and received 339, his est
mate falling short 10 per cent.
On June % the Monitor said: 9TH
Monitor, knowing the enthusiasm wit
which candidates reckon support
would not be surprised to find DR.. Mea
lacking few votes to carry the nomi
nation on the first ballot" In tn
same editorial the Monitor said CIV
see no possible miscarriage of tn
nomination or Or. Mead after tn
break, if it does not come on the frs
ballot. 1t will surely be DR.. Mead. ,
There is nothing particularly to boa!
about in so correct a preconventio
statement except that it was GOO
guess compared with that of sewers
Fleetwood papers that said "FleetwoC
will win," and a number of Mes
papers that said, "Mead will win
the first ballot" and the general ia
that if Mead did not get in on IL
first ballot he would not get in at a
DR.. Mead's forces stayed with hir
They were the true blue kind.
Again the Monitor must say that
is highly pleased at the outcome al