The Washington times., 1912-08-28
VERMONTER SAYS
ROOSEVELT WILL
CAPTURE STATE
Many Pledges Expected to
Help Republican to
Governorship.
Continued from First Paee.)


tionally held its caucuses in the after
noon. This spring, knowing the farm
ers were for Roosevelt, the committee
called the caucus at p. M, when the
farmers couldn't attend. The polls
were open nine minutes, in time to
shut out the voters from another viii
lage In the same township, who were
coming by train. This village, Wilder.
was known to be strong for Roose-
welt, and must be shut out 1t was.
The Roosevelt ballots. that had been
printed at Hanover somehow disap-
peared, and the Roosevelt organizer
and leader was kept away by illness;
No Roosevelt ticket was presented
Both Roosevelt and Taft men have
told me the town would, on fair
showing, have been carried easily for
Roosevelt.
Find Sympathizers.
AT Norwich the caucus was to be
on a Saturday. went there on We'd
nesday, having heard that one man,
named Burnham, was for Roosevelt
He thought his farmer neighbors were
also for Roosevelt, and knew one
man in the village, Henry Olds. who
was also for Roosevelt. We looked
StNcEdl OthcIS WIN "tic GU
to be of the same mind; each one ad-
mitted 1t, but explained he didn't be-
lieve anybody else in the township
was for Roosevelt. We got the word
around among them, and of course
each one was encouraged when he
found that there were others who
sympathized with his position.
when the caucus came off the crowd
was nine to one for Roosevelt The
TsaGN gInn Ir1NNV VNeTlN 4
beaten that they didn't put UP candi-
date. Yet in that town, at the begin
ming, all the evidence on the surface
was that we would hardly find Roose-
delegates; the Roosevelt men didn't
know each other. and none of them be-
lieved, till they were introduced to
each other and exchanged condolences,
that there was a chance in fight .
Take my own town of Hartland. I
received word within ten days of the
caucuses that an effort would be made
to get out the Roosevelt strength. and
was asked to help. ] replied that
would do whatver was possible. but
didn't know any Roosevelt men, and
doubted II there were any. / got two or
three people inquiring. and on the day
before the caucus went around myself
and asked people to attend.
Farmers for Roosevelt.
"Our town has for a long time had
small caucuses. but through inquiries I
discovered the farmers were all for
Roosevelt. Out of twenty-five to whom
1 talked. twenty-five declared for him,
and the Others were noncommital we
got fifty-nine men out to the caucus. the
biggest attendance anybody could re-
member at such gathering. TWO
Roosevelt delegates were nominated to
go to both State and Congressional dis
trict conventions. They were asked pub
licly to declare themselves, and said
they were for Roosevelt. Thereupon
they were unanimously elected and then
unanimously instructed for Roosevelt.
II knew of four men in the town who
were really for Taft, but they had
found the sentiment so strong for
Roosevelt that they didn't try to make
fight
Woodstock Is a different sort of
town: there's lot of city and wealthy
people in 1t. 1t turned out big eau
Gus, and Taft carried it by a majority
of five.
I'm this group of towns I have de-
scribcd, there was just one, Wood
stock, in which on anything like a
sair showing, Taft had chance. Yet
by reason or the conditions l have de-
scribed, these towns cast. in the State
convention, eleven votes for Taft and
tour for Roosevelt
Before the State convention, a State
Progressive conference was held, and
reports from all the State were heard
1t developed that just such conditions
as have described had prevailed prac-
tically everywhere. In the entire State
the canvass showed, majority of the
caucus votes was cast for Roosevelt
AS It was. with all the officers, the pol
iticians and the papers for Taft, We
did carry the second Congressional dis
trict, and its delegates voted for Roose'
welt from first to last--as long as thu
Roosevelt delegates were voting at ali
Present to Fletcher.
"As to the State election on mex
Tuesday, practically all the politician
are pledged to Fletcher for governor
He Is supported by many even of th'
Roosevelt men, because they wer'
pledged to him long ago. Undoubtedly
many will vote for him who would b,
glad to see him defeated. The Pro
gressive nominee is Frazer Metzger, {
minister, at Randolph. He's about al
much of q politician as any of tine res
| Of us; we're all amateurs of the rankes
sort. The Democratic candidate II
| Howe.
| Under the Vermont constitution,
! governor must have a popular majoritj
| in order to be elected. II he gets only
Il plurality, the election is thrown int
the legislature. This year. 1t is gen
orally believed Fletcher will get a plu
rality, but not a majority. and tina
| Metzger will come in second. The legis
lature will have to elect the governor
and 1t would seem probable tina
Fletcher would win, because he ha
| been In the field so long and secured
| vast number of pledges.
| When this State election Is out o
the way, and old pledges are dis
charged, Vermont will go for Roose
welt, at the November election, by
decisive plurality. This Is not merel!
my belief; 1t Is the judgment of {
| large majority even of the people wht
| expect Fletcher to be the next gov
ernor. This feeling is 80 strong tina
I may say II is decisive.
"It Is impossible for one who ism
familiar with Vermont politics, to un
derstand how much 1t is a matter o
tradition DIR. Blodsett, of BELOW
Falls, recently made the public state
ment that when he was a college stu
| dent, he was shown a list of the mex
Ave men slated for the governorshIp
| He was aTnaZed and amused, and wrot
down the names. We elect. governor
| for two years. Well, ten years, later
| DIR. Bellows found that his list ha
been absolutely accurate; every man o.
II had been elected, and In the order 4