Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-02
WILL RUN
# LIBERALS Of
VERMONT DESIRE

Orleons, June 29.-The Non-Partisan
Prouty club to-day gave out the follow
Ing letter from the Hon C. A. Prouty:
washington, June "A, 1914.
Non Partisan Prouty Club,
"Orleans, Vt.
"Gentlemen:-1 am in receipt of a letter
from YOU stating that reports are being
circulated in the press and by individuals
that have declared in writing and per-
sonally that | did not desire the position
Of United States senator, that | did not
welcome support to that end and would
not serve If elected. You ask me If these
statements are true
They are not. the only political office
within the gift of the people of my
native State which | have ever desired
Is that of United States senator, and
personally an election to that position
would be most gratifying. / deeply APP
prcCiate the efforts of your members and
my other friends in my behalf all the
more because they have not been
solicited If chosen ! should be glad to
serve to the best of my ability. But !
simply Peel that | cannot at the present
| time, undertake an active campaign and
| that ! ought not therefore to solicit tho
votes Of my fellow citizens. That is what
| attempted to say from the first, but
! my meaning seems to have been mis-
understood in certain quarters In view
| Of what YOU have done andof the situa-
ton which has developed 1t is perhaps
! due to YOU and my other friends In Yer
| mont that | should state somewhat more
fully my position on this subject.
"I7or personal reasons | dislike to OPP
pose Senator Dillingham;; but there are
certain facts which cannot he ignored.
| Throughout his senatorial career .lr.
| Dillingham; has consistently and pcrsis-
tentlv, and without doubt honestly, since
his sympathies all lie in that direction.
acted with that coterie of senators who
have been known as the champions of
special interests. These men were the
bodyguard of Senator Aldricn when hn
was the leader of the United States Sen
ate, and they We're generally against all
propositions for reform which We're sup
posed to unfavorahly effect the interests
which they stood to protect. The meas
ures of railroad regulation, for example
which | have advocated and about which
I especially knew. were bitterly opposed
by all these men until further opposition
These measures We're not radical
Now that they are the law. railroad men
themselves concede their necessity. If
submitted to the voters of Vermont to-
day they would be approved by nine
tenths. 1t is significant that the one
tenth which would not approve them are
solidly behind Mr.. Dillingham;. Some of
them We're for me in 1900 but they are
all against me to-day.
"If Mr.. Dillingham; We're a solitary in
stance it might be well enough to over
look it, but there Is an apparent DISPOSE
ton in many quarters to continue in au-
thority and even to reinstate these men
whom the country has SO emphatically
repudiatcd Just how the Republican
party can expect at this juncture to re-
gain and retain the confidence of this
country if such mon arc to he put for
ward as it's leaders passes my compre-
henson. As we'll put forward Lorimer
himself Nor can l quite see now Gle
State of Vermont can hope To- keep the
prestige which it has so long enjoyed in
the Senate if it sends these men. who,
whatever their ability or personal attrac-
tiveness, are utterly out OF sympathy
with the spirit Of the age. At any rate
a party so administered can be of no
service to those who believe as | do.
"Thc very limited knowledge which
have of the political situation in Yer.
, mont leads me to believe that the dcfca
of Mr. Dillingham; can only he accom-
r plished by an independent movement
which the liberal and progressive elr-
molts If all parties must contribute. The
elimination of the Progressive party from
the Republican party Of Vermont leaves
, the rcaCtlonary element in hopeless con-
troll OF the latter party. While there are
very many who feel as | do, it would be
1t is only by bringing together the lib
q erals of all parties that anything can bC
- done
"If there is to-day room for such
movement in Vermont. If your orPanza
ton is adequate for that purpose and 4
IT you can use q candidate who can do :,
little for himself, I would be glad to cor
. tinuo to stand as such candidate. You as
= sumcd the entire responsibility of putin:
forward my name in the first instanc
and You must assume the responsibility
y of saving whether it shall remain there.
VERY truly yours,
&C. 4. PROUTY."
Prouty club officials stated that the!
were glad to repeat former assurance
that c. a. prouty's name would appea
on the ballot as non-partlsan oandidat
. for United States senator 1t is sal
the non-pa rtsan campaign will be largel
= a task OF acquaintins the voters with tn