News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-07-08
PROUTY IN FIELD
Will Accept Support of the
People and Serve Them if
Elected. Stands for Rights
of the People as Against
Especial interests"
Washington, June "a, 1914.
Non-Partisan Prouty Club.
"OrleanS VI

"Gentlemen:-I am in receipt of /;
letter from you stating that reports
are being circulated in the press anC
by individuals that | have declared
in writing and personally that | die
not desire the position of United
States senator, that | did not wei
come support to that end and would
not serve. if these statements are
true.
They are not. The only politica
office within the gift of the people oil
my native State which | have ever
desired is that of the United States
senator, and personally an election
to that position would be most graft.
flying. | deeply appreciate the efforts
of your members and my other
friends in behalf, all the more be-
cause they have not been solicited.
II chosen | should be glad to serve
to the best of my ability. But |
simply feel that | cannot, at the pre-
sent time, undertake any active cam
paign and that ought not therefore
to solicit the votes of my fellow
citizens. That is what | attempted
to say from the first, but my mean
ing seems to have been misunder-
stood in certain quarters. In view
of what you have done and of the
situation which has developed it is
perhaps due to you and my other
friends in Vermont that should state
somewhat more fully my position on
this subject.
"For personal reasons | dislike to
oppose Senator Dillingham;; but there
are certain facts which can not be ig-
nored. Throughout his senatorial
career Mr.. Dillingham; has constant
ly and persistently, 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 Aldrich
when he was the leader of the United
States Senate, and they were gener-
ally against all propositions for
reform which were supposed to I'M
favorably effect the interests which
they stood to protect. The mea-
sures of railroad regulation, for
example, which | have advocated
and about which | especially knew,
were bitterly opposed by all these
men until further opposition would
have been political suicide.
These measures were not radical.
Now that they are the law, railroad
men themselves concede their neces-
sty. If submitted to the voters of
Vermont today they would be ap-
proved by nine-tenths. 1t is signifi-
cant that the one-tenth which do not
approve them are solidly behind Mr..
Dillingham;. Some of them were for
me in 1900, but they are all against
me today.
eff Mr.. Dillingham; were a
solitary instance, it might be well
enough to overlook it, but there is
an apparent disposition in many
quarters to continue in authority and
even to reinstate these men whom
the country has so emphaticaIly re-
pudicated.
Just how the Republican party |
can expect at this juncture to re-
gain and retain the confidence of |
this country if such men are to be
put forward as it's leaders passes my
comprehension. AS well put for
ward Lorimer himself. Nor can |
quite see how the 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 attractive
ness, are utterly out of sympathy
with the spirit of the age. At any
rate party so administered can be
Of no service to those who believe
as | do.
THE very limited knowledge
which | have of the political situa-
ton in Vermont leads me to believe
hat the defeat of Mr.. Dillingham;
IAN only be accomplished by an
movement to which the
LIBERAL and progressive elements of
all parties must contribute. The
of the Progressive party
rom the republican party OF Yer
mont leaves the reactionary element
n hopeless control of the latter
,arty. While there are very many
Who feel as | do, it would be folly to
undertake contest in that party.
t is only by bringing together the
liberals of all parties that anything
an be done.
If there is to-day room for such
movement in Vermont, if your
is adequate for that
and if you can use candi-
ate who can do so little for him.
elf, | would be glad to continne to
tand as such candidate. You as
umed the entire responsibility of
utting forward my name in the
rst instance and you must assume
he responsibility of saying whether
shall remain there