Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-04
FIRST DISTRICT RETURNS
SHOW A SAFE MAJORITY
State Chairman Williams Claims Lead of 20 in
Second District for Taft While the Asso-
ciated Press Figures the Delegates at
179 to 1872 with 16 Unpledged.

Republican presidential primaries
were held throughout Vermont on Sat
Grday for the purpose of electirg dele =
eates TO the State and district conven-
lions which will in turn elect eYght
Delegates to the national convention
h. he held in Chicago. Returns re-
Icived ny Chairman +. c. williams OF
the State COMMITTEES show n majority
)ii the state convention for Taft Of 1870
bnd Il lead for Taft is indicated in both
she district conventions although the
margin in the second district conven-
zion IS very small. The Roosevelt
committee, on the other hand claim
majority of eight in the state con-
Fention, with other towns yet to re-
port.
The returns show that the Taft
strength is much more pronounced on
the west side of the State than in the
connecticut valley. Large towns in
TIE first district like Burlington, Col
fhester, st. Adams. Middlebury, YER
Gennes. Rutland, Bennington are for
TAT, while on the east side Roosevelt
carried Newport. st. Jonnsbury, Barre,
Randolph. Springfield and Rocking
ham. which includes Bellows Falls.
The notable exceptions in the sec
cnd district are Montpelier and Brat
tlehoro which Taft carried by decisive
ajorities after heated contests in
both places.
owing to the large number Of unin-
Ftructed delegates there will be room
Tor counter claims by adherents Of
both Taft and Roosevelt but there can
be no doubt from the returns received
HAT Taft will have a substantial
working majority in the State con-
rention well as in the first district,
while in the second district the strug-
gle between the opposing forces Is
likely to be very close.
one Of the remarkab BILE features OF the
results both sides OF the State Is
the way in which the strength Of Taft
and Roosevelt developed IN spots. In Rut-
land. Chttenden and Washington coun-
ties for example the sentiment for Taft
seemed to be overwhelming while in
orange and Orleans counties the Roose-
Welt sentiment greatly predominated. In
Chittenden county Taft carried Burling-
ton, Charlotte, Colchester. Essex Hines
burg, Shelburne, South Burlington. ST.
George. Underhll and Williston. On
the other hand Roosevelt Is credited with
Iiolton, Milton. Huntington, Richmond
and Westford The Jericho delegation Is
understood to be divided, two for Taft
and one for Roosevelt.
GOVERNOR MEAD DOUBTFUL.
In speaking of the result Of Saturdays
vote Governor John A. Mead Of Rutland
stated that he believed that the second
district would elect Roosevelt delegates,
while the first district and State con-
ventions would elect Taft delegates
Il am much pleased with the result on
our side of the mountain" he said But
I'm not n little surprised Mt the vote in
the second district. However, from re-
turns received thus far it Is evident that
the State will be strongly for Taft"
f. c. Williams of Newport, chairman
Of the republican State committee, lines
UP the delegates as follows: State conven-
ton. $50 majority for Taft; first district
100 or Taft; second district l69 pledged
FOR Taft. 40 for Roosevelt. 80 either pledg-
ed or unheard from.
ALI. THREE FOR PRESIDENT
(From the Associated Presso
Montpelier March 31.-Yesterday's
Sepublican caucuses in the cities and
Gowns of the State for delegates to
rhoice OF 421 Taft delegates as against
245 instructed for Roosevelt, accord
sng TO complete returns compiled here
ko-night. Thirty-two delegates will
go unpledged Vermont is entitled to
eight delegates to the national con-
vention. two from each district and
four at large.
The first district will send 24o Taft
delegates TO SO for Roosevelt for the
convention. In the second district
Taft secured 17o and Roosevelt 1872.
Each district has 16 unpledged dele.
gates
THREE TO ONE FOR TAFT.
Rutland, March 3l.-Although the Taft
Delegates elected yesterday in Rutland
county lead those pledged to Roosevelt
three to one, number Of surprises
were sprung in the small towns Several
of these, in which the anti-reciprocity
sentiment is strong. elected Roosevelt
Delegates, bl/ In most cases this was
due to the fact that the workers for
the third-tormer were more energetic
than the Taft men and got out Re
turns received up to tonight show the
President to lead. n to 70. The vote cast
IN most towns was unusually small.
Attorney j C. Jones. the Roosevelt
leader in this vicinity, claims delegates
from Rutland county towns for tho ex-
president as follows: 1ubbardton. 8;
shrewsbury. 9; Mount Holly, .; WalMng-
ford, ! to state and . to district conven-
ton; Mount Tabor, !; Dandy, !; Ira, 2;
Mddletown Springs. 2; Mendon. 2: Pitts
field, .: Clarendon. 3; Sherburne. q Chit
tenden, i town Of Rutland. !.
HOT FIGHT IN WOODSTOCK,
Woodstock, March 31.-By vote Of 22l