Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-10
PICKING OUT THE
SESSION LEADERS
Easier in Case Of Minority Par
ties Than in That Of the
Republican.


tween the organization OF the General
Assembly and the commencement Of ac-
tua work. the knowing ones who re-
main here are tryinr to decide who will
be the leaders of the session, with less
satisfactory results than usual. The
Senate contains so many known men of
ability and experience that 1t Is not ex-
pected that any Que or two men will
stand out as leaders In the ordinary
sense
In the House 1t is not easy to select
from the many young and publicly un-
known men those who are likely to as
sumo positions Of leadership. This Is
more true of the majority than Of the
two minorities.
For the progressives 1t Is expected that
T.. p Jose of johnson will by common
consent be given the position of floor
leader. Mr.. Jose comes to the General
Assembly with some prestige. having de-
feated a former ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of
the State. and that when he had been
n resident OF Vermont but a short time
He Is Harvard man. devoted adj
mirer of Roosevelt, worker and a
fighter. He has been a success in the
business and industrial affairs he has
undertaken by sheer force of ability and
pugnaoity. His selection to nominate the
progressive candidate for speaker indi-
Gates the regard in which his progress
sive associates hold him, while the fact
that he was not the caucus candidate
for that place indicates that he prefers
work rather than honor.
E. A. Cook of Lyndon, progressive
candidate for speaker is another
strong man in the ranks of the newer
membership. He has a good local repu
tation as lawyer and his devotion
to the progressive cause is assured.
Arthur NJ. Vaughn of Randolph Is of
enough consequence that he ought to
make himself known before the SEES
sion has been long in motion. T.. C.
Crosby of Brattlehoro Is the business
man of the new movement, accustomed
to dealing with large affairs, and while
he may not make so frequent an APP
pearance in debate as the others men
toned. it is probable that his advice
will be felt in council as much as that
of any of his associates.
| WATSON THE NATURAL. LEADER
Charles ID. Watson of st. Adams
elected without republican opposition.
caucus candidate for speaker. is the
natural leader of the democratic
forces. MIR. Watson has not enough
| pugnacity in his composition to make
an aggressive floor leader If party lines
should he drawn, but he has the con-
| fidence of his own party and of others
in his integrity and sincerity. to such
an extent that. willingly or unwilling
lly, he will be the titular leader of the
democracy.
| John II. Donnelly of Vergennes old =
time democrat and member of the state
committee, would have more influence
in his party caucus If he had not pro-
missed, as the price of his election, to
vote for the republican candidate for
speaker. Mr.. Donnelly's frank state
ment of his position in the caucus of
his party that selected a speakershir
candidate relieved him from any
odium. but his position in that case
has weakened his influence.
Fred C. Martin of Bennington. one OF
the younger members of the party and
a delegate to the national convention, has
the qualities of enthusiasm and ability
of expression. and will be heard from
In no uncertain way ]. p. Smith OF
term. made an excellent impression in
the Legislature OF 1910 and will be n mem
Der of consequence. The Rev. John Yves.
ley Miller. the clergyman from Bethel
who is serving his fourth successive
term. must be regarded with more thar
ordinary consideration.
IL Is easier to select the leading mer
from the two minor parties than from
the majority. Charles A. Plumley. nomi
mated for speaker without opposition. Is
the nominal republican leader but the
floor leader is not yet known. II. d
Ryder of Bellows Falls. who was sug
gested as n candidate for speaker, is
man whose years and experience shoul,
secure for him much consideration J
+. Weeks of Middlebury has been
wcll-knOwn man for many years. He Il
versed in parliamentary procedure ant
has the confidence of those who know
him.
ADAMS SURE OF FOLLOWING
f.. p. Adams of Marlboro. now servin
I his sixth term in the House. while sci
dom heard In debate has gained a larg
degree of confidence In the service h
has given to the State, and while h
cannot he expected to be an active lead
err on the floor he will have such fol
lowing that he will be member who's
support will be well worth having
George C. Wright of Westminster. VIII
was member of the last House, is an
other who made a strong impression an
whose opinions carried weight. Seth
Gage of Weathersfield proved himsel
a man OF capacity two years ago. Their
are large hopes of Redheld Proctor G
Proctor II he inherits the family abilit
as ne does the family features. he wi
be one OF the important members.
Party lines We're drawn in the speake
ship contest. proceeding which ha
become unusual. but this was the r.
- suit largely of progressive activit
. which forced purpose to have an a
. curate count OF strength before the vo
was taken for governor In recent yea
: party lines have been ignored in II
House proceedings. 1t may be that tho
u will be drawn this year. for the san
g reason that they were drawn in II
u speakership contest. But II will be r
u membered that the disgruntled republ
l. cans In the governorship election wei
e to the democrats rather than to Il
progressives, and 1t Is a fair and reaso
y able general assumption that II the pr
&c sressives, who are potential makers
70 trouble shall attempt partisan actio
VI teh democrats will join with the repub
10 cas- rather than with the progressives.