The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-03-24
VERMONT POLITICS
Affairs in This State From a Demo.
cratic View

! the NEW 1UThs lilcS ouuuAy uSdi III
a Montpelier date line and supposed
to have been written by Vernon
newspaperman who is also q Demo
crat. The article is as follows
1.-THE political situation in Yer
| mont Is one of the most puzzling in
many years. The two great underly
ing conflicts are between the progress
sive and republican parties and be-
| tween the ultra-conservative and the
progressive winds of the republican
party.
"The progressive party was launch
ed in Vermont with great enthusiasm
and Col Roosevelt himself took an
active part in outlining its policies.
1t was through bis orders that state
ticket was placed in the field at the
late election, and the new party
polled nearly as many votes as did
the republican party, long dominant
in tile state. Since the coloneps de-
par.ure for South america, howeve",
strife has arisen in the progressive
ranks.
There is war between the national
organization, of which c. II. Thomp-
son Of Montpelier, the national com
mittee man, is the head, and the
state organization. of which NJ. l.. AZ
eltine of Montpelier. ex-candidate Or
lieutenant-g on the progress
siye ticket, is the leader. Thompson
has been soliciting funds for cam
paign purposes, and, asserting that
he did not turn these over to the
state organization. Aseltine has is
sued orders that no more subscrip.
tions be paid to him, but to the state
organization. AS result of the con-
troversy, the Advance, the progress
sive paper, is suffering, and Editor
Stone and Business Manager Town
send have resigned. The party will
continue to issue the paper, but great
~ reduced in size.
Further signs of dissension are
manifested over the matter of party
policy in the next election. One
wing Is in favor of indorsing +. G.
Fleetwood of Morrlsville for COVER
nor on the republican ticket and c.
A. Prouty, ex-lnter-state Commerce
Commissioner, for United States SEN
ator. The other wing would indorse
the democratic nominee for governor
and place Rev. Fraser Metzger in
nomination for senator. Mr.. Metz
ger was the progressive candidate
for governor in the last election.
In the congressional fight in the
second district there are many candi-
dates to succeed Frank Plumley, who
has declined to serve another term.
The progressiyes who have entered
the race are Judge E. W. Gibson of
Brattleboro and L. A. Cook of Lyn-
donville. The latter was progress
sive leader of the House in the last
Legislature. For the republicans
Porter II. Dale of Island Pond and
John W. Gordon of Barre have an
nounced their candidacy. Horace +.
Graham of Craftsbury, state auditor,
is also prominently mentioned.
In the first district there does not
seem 20 be any likelihood of serious
opposition to the incumbent. Col.
Frank / Greene although the progress
sives hint that they have a strong
man whom they may run.
THE republican organization in
the state is completely demoralized.
Several papers, including the st. AL
bans Messenger. owned by +. c.
Smith, president of the Central Yer
mont railway, have called for the
resignation of the members of the
state committee. Chairman F. c.
Williams of Newport and II. 3. Bald
win of Orange county have complied,
and about half the others have an
nounced their intention of doing so.
The other half however, absolutely
refuse
"The most serious problem con-
fronting the republican party is re-
garding the candidate for governor.
State Highway Commissioner. c. w.
Gates of Franklin is prominently
mentioned. but large number of
say they would like to
support F. G. Fleetwood. He was
q candidate for the nomination for
governor on the republican ticket in
1910 and was barely defeated. He
has shown more or less sympathy /
with the progressive movement, and |
voted for Roosevelt in 1912. He has |
also large republican backing.
Others who are being considered |
are Lieut.. Gov. f. L. Howe and Sec |
rotary of State Guy w. Bailey. The |
will not support them,
on the ground that these candidates !
led the progressives to believe they /
were with them and then deserted |
them. Howe is aggressive, and |
champions all the progressive Fepub-
lican measures such as the develop !
ment of water power, provision for
rural credits and other plans for the |
OF the farmers. He is
easily the mos. radical Of the aspi- |
rants, and would be the most object /
ionable TO the railroad interests. |
Bailey would like the office. but also
cherishes a desire to go to Congress.
The democrats have a strong pos !
slbility for governor in Harland B. |
Howe OF ST. Johnsbury. who was a
candidate in 1912 His arreienuaut