The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-08-25
The Foss Fiasco.

II is not clear what extent Gov Foss
has sought TO play the joker. Yet the
role which many win now assign him is
the goat---in spite OF the amiability with
which he had apparently selected that
part for Others. Notwithstanding the
governors explanations to our Boston
correspondent, printed on another page,
II is difficult to put more than one in
depreciation upon his characteristic co.
quetry with the chances for the Repub-
lican nomination. 1t is that the thing
looked easy with only Col. Benton in
the lists, but that when Congressman
Gardner threw his hat into the ring the
governor saw that it would be sitter
going and pulled out, not directly and
frankly, but with the shuttle of man
whose bluff has been called.
That Gov. Foss would have won the
Republican nomination over Col Benton
does not now seem impossible in view
of the discomfort which increased within
the party so long as Col. Benton ap-
peared to be the only active candidate.
Where such choice would have
left--deposited might be better--the re-
mains OF the Republican party is a mat
ter for idle speculation. The present
fact is that the governor is out of the
race for the nomination, and the degree
to which Mr.. Gardeners entry must be
taken as the cause of his withdrawal
becomes at once a plume in Mr.. Gard
ner's cap, and gives him large adj
vantage. These developments make it
the more regrettable that Mr.. Mccall
did not have the disposition for a fight.
The primaries are still weeks away
but il becomes foregone conclusion
that Mr.. Gardner will be the Republi-
can nominee. What little Col. Benton
gained by having laid his lines months
before Mr. Gardeners entry should easily
be negatived by Mr.. Gardeners ability
as campaigner and the support which
has at once been tended him by the
party leaders. Moreover, If Mr.. Gardner
is vulnerable at some spots, he is strong
at others; he has public record with
some excellent things in tin short he
has talking points" while Col Benton
hasn't. 1t is difficult to see how there
can be the semblanee of contest. The
lineup is thus assured as Gardner,
Walsh and Bird.
Coupled with the announcement that
the governor will not enter the Repub-
liean primaries is the typieally Fossian
intimation that he may run as an indie
pendent candidate. Here is trial bal
loon sent out to see if any kindly breeze
caresses it. As long as other topics fail
there will be discussion of such possi-
bility, but having only within week
his fellow Republicans" and
with three opponents as strong as Gard
ner, Walsh and Bird, the chances are lit
tie likely to be tempting for such
performance as an independent eandi-
dacy would involve.
1t is true enough that Gov. Foss has
had a. personal following, though how
much of it has survived the shilly-shal-
lying of the last few months is a ques-
ton. But Congressman Gardner should
make a decidedly more effective cam
paigner than was Joseph Walker last
year; Lieut.-Gov. Walsh is liked and
and, though his abilities as
a campaign leader are yet to be tested
he has the Democratic organization be-
hind him; Mr.. Bird has the respect and
admiration of many who
have not formally joined the Progressive
party. If Gov. Foss is to run as an
he must do il not on per-
sonality, but on an issue. Where is the
ssueg Can his old horse, Reciprocity. ~
be ridden to victory at this time!
Hardly Springfield Republican.