The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-09-07
THE VERMONT ELECTION.

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Vermont is the first state to hold
a state and congressional election in
presidential years, and the results of
the contest always afford an interest
ing field for Interpretation and pre-
diction as to their bearing on the
national election to occur in the fol-
lowing November. The subject is
one of particular interest this year
because of the intersection of a
third element, the Progressive or
Bull Moose party, which has not fig
ured in previous contests.
The normal Republican majority
in presidential years in Vermont is
about $4,000 votes When that total
is exceeded it is regarded as fair
bases for favorable auguries of Re
publican usccess in the national cleo
ton. When the Republican majority
falls below $4,000 the hopes of
the Democracy are CORRESPONDENCE
raised Regarded from this stand
point the outcome of last Tuesdays
battle of ballots in the Green Noun
tain state must be construed as fore
casting Democratic victory and Re
publican defeat in November, though
enthusiastic Republicans and Pro
gressiyes will of course find sundry
reasons and pretexts for arguing to
the contrary and extracting comfort
for their respective parties from the
Vermont figures and conditions.
The results of Tuesdays voting in
Vermont are summarized from the
Associated Press report as follows:
Total vote for governor IS ,033, which
is the largest cast in a state election
since 1904. There were five candi-
dates for the office. Allen M.
Fletcher, Republican, polled 26,259
votes; Harlan B. Howe, Democrat,
20,350; Rev. Frazer Metzger, Pro
gressive, 1880; Clement F. Smith,
Prohibitionist, 1913; Ferd. w. Suffer,
Socialist, 1881.
The Republican plurality over the
Democratic candidate for governor is
only 5000 votes, against a majority
over all opposition Of 26,817 four
years ago, and a majority of Is, 1888
two years ago. There was no cleo
ton Of governor by the people last
Tuesday, but the Republican candi-
date will be chosen next month by
the legislature, in which the Republi-
cans will have large majority OF
sixty-odd members on joint ballot.
The Republicans reelected both
their congressman, Frank L. Green
and Frank Plumley, carrying eleven
of the fourteen counties and 1877 OF
the 246 cities and towns
The Democrats carried two coun-
ties and thirty-eight towns and
polled the largest vote they have cast
since 1880.
The Progressives prevented the
choice of the Republican governor
by the people and carried one county
and tWenty-one towns. 1t is evident
that the Progressive vote was drawn
almost wholly from the Republicans,
and there is no reason to doubt that
this will be the case in all parts OF
The country, with the possible excep-
ton of a few Of the southern states
where a comparatively negligible
number of Democrats with independ-
ent tendencies, like our own John
". Parker, for instance, vii, follow
tie fES rules VI COL Roosevelt ID his
samsonian assault upon the Republi-
can temple.
An election is to be held in Maine
on Monday next, the 9th instant, and
this contest is looked forward to
with even more interest than was
the one in Vermont The Democrats
are in the saddle in Maine, having
control of the state government, but
there is no Progressive tickle in the
field and the Republicans are hope
full of carrying the state and electing
at least three of the four. members
of congress. On the other hand, the
Democrats have made thorough
canvass, aided by a number of speak
ers of national reputation from other
parts Of the country, and express
confidence in their ability to score
a victory.