Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-08-31
vermont HAS 5
HOT CONTEST
If Big vote.'is POlIed Tuesday
Taft viii Easily Garry
The State
Contest For Governor Is Five
Sided Affair With . Minister
In the Race

Special TO The Tribune.
MONTPELIER, VI, Aug. 3l--The
first of the state elections to be held
this year comes next Thursday, when
Vermont will elect governor ana
othe rstate officers, representatives
in congress and members OF the legis-
lature. Politicians have wont to re.
gard the Vermont election in 9resi-
dental years as the straw which indi.
Gates which way the political wind Is
blowing. II there Is an OutpOuring OF
the Republicans of the state next
Tuesday Taft men will rejoice. II
there is simply sufficient represen.
tation to give a majority not much
in excess of an off year lead the op.
position naturally will find much EN-.
couragement.
Realizing the fight they have ahead
of them this year, the Republicans
have redoubled their efforts TO main
tain the normal Republican plurality.
Because OF the significance which thae
plurality has been shown to have with
respect to the result in November
throughout the country, the Vermont
Republicans have received the assis.
tance of the national organization
to an extent never known before. The
same Is true of the Democrats and
Progressives.
During the present week Colonel
Roosevelt has stumped the Green
Mountain state from end to end. Mum.
erous other effective Progressive cam.
paigners have been heard. The third
party leaders found much to encour.
age them in the results OF the primar-
les early last summer for the s,lec-
ton OF delegates to the Chicago con-
vention. A month before the Dri-
maries it appeared that Taft would
have no opposition so far as the Ver.
mont Republicans were concerned.
And yet when the convention met the
Taft and Roosevelt forces lined up
with about even strength. Ever since
the Chicago convention the Progress
sives have been actively at work
They hope to cut down the Republi-
can plurality to a minimum point.
even IL they do not elect their ticket.
The Republican tit has sent the
Democratic hopes soaring sky-high.
Thomas Fl Grown OF Rutland, the Yer.
mont member Of the Democratic ma
tional committee, has gone on record
with the prediction that the Demo.
Gratis will overthrow the normal Re.
publican plurality sand elect their
state ticket next Tuesday, and that
they will fOlow this up with: VIC
tory 70 rWilosn and Marshall in No.
vember. This prediction Is not only
interesting coming from the national
committeeman, WHO Is on duty at ma.
tional headquarters, but It will make
it easier to tell after the Vermont
election whether the predictions OF
the Democratic managers are based
upon accurate knowledge OF actual
conditions or upon the usual enthus.
iasm and hopes of campaign times.
The contest for governor is five.
sided affair. The Republicans, Demo.
Gratis, Progressives, Prohiblti0nists
and Socialists have each a candi-
late. The Republican candidate for
The governorship is Allen M. Fletcher
prominent in the business life of
The state, and with a creditable re.
cord as a member of the state legisla.
:ure. The head Of the Democratic
,icket is Harlan 3. Howe, an able and
popular young attorney OF st. Johns
)ury. The Progressives are following
Rev. Fraser Metzger. a. Congregation. 4
II minister. .S.
The situation is complicated BY the
candidacy Of G. S. Smith, who was
FAMED by combination Of Prohibi.
ionists and Changers. Smith Aas brcn
It the head OF the State Grange for q
lumber of years and Is extremely
popular He has been making an &C.
i've campaign in the hope OF turning
he state back to prohibition. Some
veil informed politicians predict
hat the Prohibitionists. Changers are
likely to poll a surprisingly heavy
ote next week. s
The Democrats have put forth the n
ariff as the vital issue in the cam.
aign. hey also claim that the Demo-
rats of Vermont have been the pro.
ressive party in the state for years
nd have long ago espoused such DOL.
cies as state tax reform. the regula.
ion of corporations, and the initia-
i've and referendum and other limo.
ations In government supposed to be
ssential to any progressive creed to-
ay. Il 1,s sjs