Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-06-28
Mr.. NEWTON's "DEFENCE."


Editor Phpnir-Sir Last week The
Phoenix processes to give an account of
held with me, the subject mat
ter being the use of space in that paper for
grange department. 1t says that | acted
entirely on my own personal responsibility.
This is untrue The matter had been dis
cussed in the grange Many prominent
members were consulted and sanctioned
the plan. In his account of the interview
Mr.. French mixes little truth with great
deal of fiction He seems to be uncertain
whether ! made request or a demand
will say for his benefit that | made a re
quest. and as | well know, in a respectful
manner ! said to him that some of the
Patrons had been talking up the matter of
getting some one of the county papers to
let us have a column for grange news
that the grange was strong IN Wlndham
county and growing fast and my opinion
was that such column would be help 10
the grange and the paper. In manner
that impressed Inc with the feeling that he
was annoyed by the request, he answered
that the farmers had a column already. |
replied that this is not Just what we would
like: we wanted column under the head
grange news To this he answered that he
had no room for a grange department,
and | remarked that Mr.. Davenport will
give us room" He then said he did not
know Just what we wanted. ! took from
my pocket "a copy of the American Grange
Bulletin, and turning TO the New England
department said, something like that.
He glanced at the paper and said he did not
like my idea did not ask or expect that
he would surrender the control of the space
I ~.
would edit it, | did say that grangers
would send in their reports and items of
news. asked him to do Just what he now
proposes to do If, as he says, he explain
ed why he could not let us have the space,
and mentioned the Grand Army man, the
minister and others, l did not hear him, and
the first | knew of any such statement was
when | read it in the paper.
Again, suppose that l did say that l
wished to push the grange. If it is the
good thing The Phoenix says 1t is, if its pur-
| pose is to arouse, TO educate and uphft the
| farmers and their families, what better
work could Mr. Newton or Mr. French, or
any other man, be doing than to push the
grange And TO what better use could
space in paper be given The action of
| Evening Star grange in passing the reso-
luton complained of by The Phoenix was
| a call for an expression of opinion and was
as harmless as the Vermont railroad com
mission. 1t was in no sense a boycott and
was not so considered at the time. But the
resolution passed by the county grange
does not suit the fastdious taste of the ed
itor of The Phoenix. IT, as he claims, he
is friendly to the grange, why should he be
offended. The resolution is made to sus
tain those papers that are friendly to the
| NlnN -g.Er
| news sent have been printed. This is moi
true, as can be shown. He says he report
ed Col. Brigham's address. Is that any
proof that he was friendly or otherwise
Suppose Robert q. Ingersoll should deliver
an address in Brattleboro and the editor o
The Phoenix should report it would tina
be proof that French is an inlidel or friend
w to inhdelity He cites the Maple Sugal
Exchange. Now it is well known that the
idea of an Exchange was brought out il
the Reformer by Q. H. Davenport month";
before the master of the state grang
brought the subject before that body; no
is the fact that Mr.. French has done some
thing to help the Exchange any proof tina
he and the originator of the plan, Mr.. Dav
export, have been holding continual love
feast.
One thing more. What possible motiv
could | have in picking quarrel with Tn
Phoenix 1t is a Republican paper an,
probably nine tenths of the Patrons of tn
state are Republicans Does it stand t
reason that any person who has the goo
of the order at heart as ! certainly have
would prefer the illwill of any paper to it
goodwill The idea is preposterous.
looks to me as though The Phoenix ha
found its mistake in refusing a REASONABLE
nd If m ma
fashion, thinks that by the use of little sof
soap on the grange and large amount q
lie ON the public, it may be able to slop on
of the hole in which it finds itself Nh
French speaks about personal dictatior
The intimation that the county grange, or
in fact, any grange, is subject TO the dicta
ton of any man, or set of men, is a direC
and deliberate insult to each and ever
member of the order, and one that the Pa
irons of the county will be quick 70 resent
And now, Mr.. Editor, will close by say
ing that had any other course seemed ope
TO me | should not have asked for the pull
location of this letter. But | was attack e
publicly and feel that must make a publ
statement in justice to myself, | do thi
4, remembering the advice given me by Nj
b. French, not TO deny a word of his stat
a ment also the threat implied in his r.
mark that ] could not afford to be publish
ed through the county and state,
Yours respectfully, j. c, NEWTON,
We personally asked Mr. Newton TO NAL
> his threatened statement through The Pho
nix, and are glad he has seen fit TO do $
u His defence for his course toward The Pho
u nix is denial of the truth of our accoul
!, of what took place at the interview
u month ago He came 10 our Office last Sa
J urday morning saying that he had been a
tackled, aud denying the truth of our stat
Il ment from beginning to end. OF this Y
have only 10 say that we made our stat
, ment as printed last week with great ca
y and moderation, and it was an absolute
correct account of the substance of o
conversation with him about IA grange c,
umn. We have no personal quarrel wi
}, Mr.. Newton, and his own statement mu
/, stand or fall for what it is worth.
e We never told him that I'VE had no roo
s. for the grange, % aud he did not explain
e us how the matter for the grange colun
e was TO be furnished or that it was 10
J. edited by US. The only natural inferen
e was that he wanted a column To I'LL as he
r some other grange man saw fit.
"a The statement or implication that gran
Is news or grange matter of any kind IA