Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-09
GREEN MOUNTAIN POLITICS
Talk of Fusion in the Vermont
Fight.
Democrats and ProgrcssIves May Unite
against q. o. P.-WOuId Divide Up
senate and House Places and
state Ticket.

NJ f. Hennessy. staff correspondent Of
the Boston Globe, sends his paper the
following story from Montpelier:
It is not hey ond the range of possibility
that this fail will witness union of
democratic and progressive forces in YER
mont and that the Green Mountain State
may go for the fusion ticket.
For months. leaders of the Democratic
and Progressive parties have been sitting
in at the same council table talking over
fusion political plans. and some of them.
It Is claimed, are agreed that it is high
time that the progressive forces were
united and control wrested from the old
guard republicans.
There was talk of a union of the pro-
gressive forces two years ago, but owing
to the failure Of the local party leaders
among the Roosevelt men and the demo-
Gratis to agree on division of the elective
offices, the plan fell through and the three
parties went it alone.
Colonel Roosevelt came into the State,
made a whIrlwind tour OF several Of the
largest cities and towns. and the progress
sivcs gave the republicans the biggest
scare they have had in Vermont since the
party has been in power
Metzgcr the Bull Moose gubernatorlal
| candidate, got 1899; Howe democrat, 2o,-
| Om and Fletcher. republican, 26,237. maxi
| ing a plurality for the latter of 6,236 Not
having received a majority of the votes
cast as provided by the Vermont consti-
tuition, the election Of Fletcher was
thrown into the House.
! A number of members of the Lcgisla-
ture, who, until the meeting Of that body,
We're classcd as progressives suddenly
| shifted and supported the republican Cub
ernatorial candidate and the old guard
was once more firmly seated in the sad
die.
VERMONT ONE OF TWO TAFT
STATES
That was the last time that Vermont
was to elect its governor in September. as
the constitution has been changed and in
the future the gubernatorial election will
be held in November. The change in the
Vermont election date from September to
November leaves Maine the only Septem-
her State in the Union.
Because of the importance of the Office
and it's national significance tho United
States senatorshp in Vermont is likely
to have the center of the political stage.
For the first time the State will elect a
United States senator by direct vote of
the people.
Already there are five names under dis
cussion for the senatorial seat now held
by William p. Dillingham; of this city
After an active political career in the
State, Mr.. Dillingham; was elected Octo-
Der. 1900, to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Justin S. Morrill,
Senator Dillinghams term will expire
March 3, 1915. Mr. Dillingham; is can
didate for recollection. Governor Fletcher
it is thought, will be a candidate. His
political path has not been strewn with
roses and there Is said TO be no love los,
between the Governor and many of his
party leaders
Charles A. Prouty, formerly of the in
sterstate commerce commission, the mar
who stirred UP the animals in the New
York, New Haven & Hartford railroad
cage, is out as a candidate on a non-p
tsan platform.
Mr.. Prouty has set at rest lot of ru
mors by his announcement the other day
of his formal entry into the senatorial
field His political interests are said t.
he in the keeping of his brother, ex-Gov
George II. Prouty. Brother Charles, so /
Is claimed. has been away from the hills
of his native State so long, as a member
: Of the interstate commerce commission
that very few voters In Vermont know
him personally and it is believed tina
this will be the weak spot in his armor.
DILLINGHAM; "ALDRICHS BODY
GUARD"
Candidate Prouty says he has the high
est regard for Senator Dillingham;, bu
! declares in his announcement of his sena
torial ambitions that throughout hi
senatorial career Mr.. Dillingham; ha
! consistently and perslstently and with
? out doubt. honestly-snce his sympathie
, all lie in that direction-acted with tina
Coterie OF senators who have been know
as the champions of special interest:
= These men were the bodyguard of Senate
I Aldrich when he was the leader of tn
United States Senate. and they are gen
orally against all propositions for reforr
: which We're supposed to unfavorably af
J. feet the interests for which they stood"
" How the Republican party expects t
regain and retain the confidence of tn
country If such men are put forward a
e leaders passes his comprehension.
It 'As we'll put forward Lorimer himself,
he says. Nor can I quite see how tn
State OF Vermont can hope to keep tn
Il prestige which 1t has so long enjoyed /
% the Senate If it sends there men whC
a whatever their ability or personal attrac
tivonoss, are utterly out OF sympath
with the spirit Of the age, At any rat
8 a party so administered can he Of no err,
e ice to those who believe as do"
The Rev. Frazer Metzger, the Bu
Moose candidate for governor two veal