Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-10-14

Massachusetts claim he is sure of New Englands eghy-one
votes in the next republican national convention"
1t would be interesting to know just who has had the
temerty to promise the support of Vermont republicans to
the distinguished senator from Massachusetts, 1t may be
the people of the Green Mountain State will give the Bay
State senator their support when the time He GER
tany has excellent qualities and would unqueson-
ably make efficient president We doubt however, in
view of public utterances whether Vermont will tie itself up
so as to prevent it from supporting Hughes there is any
possibility of securing him presidential candidate
Experience has demonstrated that it is dam
gous in the extreme to try to mortgage advance OF the
verdict of the voters themselves the support of the Vermont
republicans for particular candidate for the presidency
That scheme tried in 1896 and result every coere
who try to repeat the experiment will need to- Remember
Mckinley
If there was ever popular idol in New England since
the days of james Blaine who had right to expect the
support of "Sod New England for the republican nomna
ton for the presidency United States great big
joval brilliant Thomas Reed of Maine He assured
the support of every in New England except
Vermont and sectional ties and geographical considera-
lions could count for they should manfesty have
counted for the famous speaker of the House under these
circumstances.
If there who by right of political leader
ship could speak for Vermont republicans regarding choice
for president it the late United States Senator Refed
Proctor He certainly had color of right to speak thus when
backed in his support of New England Favorite Son. by
Vermons distinguished congressman at that time the Hon.
William w. Grout Of Barton and the Hon. H. Henry Powers
of Morrsve who naturally partial to Reed member
of the House.
Senator Proctor had gained prestige for the little State
by rising in his place the republican national convention
in 1888 and naming winner by declaring repeatedly
ballots Vermont casts her eight BENJAMIN
Harrison AS result of that Senator Proctor OBJ
tanned the additional prestige for Vermont representation
in the cabinet of President Harrison and Fort Ethan Allen
is Of the monuments to his service secretary of
Surely if the "New England" cry favorite son of
this section supported by members of congressional dele
CATION like Proctor and Grou and Powers could prevail
would mean Vermonts support of popular idol like Reed
William had he heart
of not few of the rank and file of the republicans of Ver
mont, however, partly has Charles E. Hughes this
present When members of the congressional deega
ton went to the State convention firm in their belief that
the State would instruct it's delegation to the national
ton for Reed tremendous surprise in store for them
Over night as it were, "the boys had determined they
would not submit to the dcaton of the congressional dele
CATION They counted noses and found they had good
working force In the small hours of the night after
ing the Clans the leaders of the Mckinley notified
Senator Proctor that they proposed to send McKn
ley delegation to the national convention The senator with
that keen twinkle of the which characteristic him
III such an emergency admitted that "the boys
have started formidable revolt. He did it wise
for the delegation to dictate He submitted with becoming
grace sending telegram to Mckinley after the convention
announcing the verdict of Vermont for Oho favore son
and against the New England candidate
The support of Vermont would not have nominated
Reed necessarily at that early period in the campaign
was claimed by Reeds supporters that little courage
on the part of his supporters in Vermont would have won
him solid New England delegation and given him fighting
chance.
The loss Vermont was regarded by Speaker Reed as
sounding the death kne Of his presidential hopes ap
pear from the following autograph letter. hitherto
published which permitted to print and which he
sent in reply to setting forth the situation in Vermont:
My dear Sir:
am greatly obliged to the kind spirit which dictated
your letter and regret to feel that there much
think what is correct. The battle lost in Ver
mont and il it by lack of courage it is great pity and
yet some things there looked from distance
However, probably right and yet is hard choice
to believe either
Thanking you most sincerely for your kind considera-
tion am Very truly yours,
T. B. REED.
That tho outcome Of the most noteworthy attempt
made to deliver the support of Vermont in advance
New England candidate Senator Weeks is strong man.
yet doubt if he enjoys the place the popular
long held by Speaker Reed Certainly his is not
familiar to people that of "Tom Reed and he
could not possibly awaken the enthusiasm which would be
aroused by the possibility Of the nomination of Hughes
This is not saying that Vermont republicans may not
deem it wise to support Weeks Hughes has made it mani
TEST he possibly nomination.