The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-10-17
CALLS PRoUrY A LIAR
Dillingham; Opens Campaign For
Reelection

Reelection
Stowe, Oct. 14.-Senator W. p Dill
bingham opened his campaign for re
election here last night in an address
in which he vigorously attacked
Prouty, directly charging him with
falsehood and Misrepresentation
Senator Dillingham's remarks were
as follows:
About a year ago | informally an
nounced my candidacy for reelection
Suggestions OF Mr.. Prouty's possible
candidacy also appeared end he was
quoted in a Vermont paper as saying
that if he did become candidate il
would be as Republican.
Mr.. Prouty was perfectly free tC
enter tho contest in the Republican
party and Republicans were free tc
support him, but in February politi
cal machinery was set in motion to
run him as a NOn-Partisan.
1t has been stated that Mr.. Prouty
did not seek the Republican nominal
ton because of the absence of pri-
mary system, the inference being
that the will of the people could not
find free expression under the con
vention method. The Republican
party is not at fault because The
primary was not utilized in making
nominations. The voters decided in
favor of the system in March and, in
the absence OF a primary law, the Re
publican organization sought the CO.
operation OF the Democratic and Pro
gressive parties in giving the people
an informal primary in which to eX-
press their preference for candidates.
Both parties declined and the caucus
and convention, system of making
nominations necessarily followed
The excuse, therefore, lacks force,
for a Non-Partisan Prouty club had
been organized and was active be-
fore the people passed upon the pri-
mary question, and Mr.. prouty was
definitely allied with organizations
opposing the Republican party long
before the public knew whether the
legislature would be called in spec
ial session to enact primary legisla-
ton. A more reasonable reason for
not seeking the Republican nomina-
ton is found in Mr. Prouty's letter OF
June oath to the Non-Partisan Prouty
club in which he expressed the belief
that Mr.. Dillingham; could not be de-
feated in the Republican party.
If | have been untrue to the inter
ests of Vermont, while Mr.. Prouty is
the embodiment of virtue and ability,
why did he not seek the support of
the Republican party? Why form
non.partisan clubs? Why not Repub-
lican clubs? 1t is claimed that he
was afraid of the Republican ma
chine. What machine? lie knows
and his supporters know that there
is no Republican machine in Vermont
and they know that ! am not and
never have been allied with politi.
cal machine.
No systematic preconvention cam
paign was made in my behalf but in
"A state convention, composed largely
of unpledged candidates, ! was unani-
mously nominated.
II has been insinuaied that a Re
publican state convention. under the
caucus system, would be so controlled
10y outside corporate interests that
Mr.. Prouty, as the alleged enemy OF
such interests, would have been de-
foated in IL, contra y to the will Of
the people. Such destinations are a
base Islander on the people Of Yer
mont and more especially on the
delegates in the recent Republican,
convention, which was admittedly
one of the most representative bodies
OF Vermontors ever assembled
The truth is that Mr.. p.outy knew
that he could not win in the Rcpub-
lican patty and in spite OF his life
long affiliations with that party he
sought to reach the goal of his am
bition by appealing to all its oppon-
ents. He personally sought the sup
port of the ProgressivCs, and as
matter of necessity appealed TO Col
Roosevelt. concerning whom only
two years before no had said in
public address: 1T is only when You
find man who would rather kill a
rhinocc-os than give a hungry man
a dinner that you find man who
wants > third term" Following this
pilgrimage. he returned with a certi-
hcate of good character from Col.
Roosevelt and appeared before the
examining board of Vermont Progress
siyes ut Burlington where it is said
he answered all questions satisfac-
toriiy and was accepted as their can
didate. He received and accepted
tho Prohibition nomination and an
nounces a position on the liquor
question which is threadbare with
age without committing himself on
the real issue under discussion 10y
the fees of the liquor traffic Mr..
Prouty'sf friends. including one who
is referred to in his preconvenuon
expenses as being in his employ.
the nomination OF the Demo
cratic party. which was refused in
but later granted by the