Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-05-17
They Elinch Face to Face. !"

scented by the Page papers At a distance
the spectator might assume that they
were executing "A heel and toe figure but
as matter OF fact the political sands
over which they have been journeying
these many weeks have become so hot
that they are obliged to hold up first one
foot and then the other to avoid scorch-
ing
1t will be remembered that the congress
sional contest in the First district opened
in both districts of Vermont, the opening
guns having been fired by the Page paper
battery on the east side Of the mountain,
whose bombardment was supplemented Ivy
a lesser number of Page papers on the
west side The centre Of fire from the
Page battery was Congressman Powers,
and hint as TO the manipulation Of the
wires connecting the different pieces Of
the battery is furnished by the fact that
all the democratic papers in our district
Joined in the fusillade. apparently uncon-
scious utterly OF their homogeneous posi-
ton as we'll as of the fact that their
course in reproducing the same cut and
dried statements as their republican col
leagues tended to show that they were a
part of one and the same literary bureau.
The Page papers began by attempting
to show that Congressman Powers had
hardly political friend on earth, and
that as a consequence he was able to ac-
complish little or nothing. Later they
felt constrained by the existence of an
overwhelming sentiment in favor of Pow
ers IN the State convention to attempt to
explain the situation by the statement
that he had packed that body, overlooking
the fact that this idea was precluded by
the high character and prominence of the
great majority of the delegates present
therein, The fact that they have failed
completely to break the force OF the
declaration of so many leading men as
well as members of the rank and file for
Powers. has naturally made the Page
papers desperate and they have not al
lowed a week to go by without making
futile attempts TO discredit him.
When Congressman Powers refused TO
notice these attacks beyond the announce
ment that at the proper time he would
meet the attack Of Mr. Page before his
constituents face to face" the Page pa
pers began to set these words to campo gn
music and with lamb-like simplicity they
kept up the demand for the fulfilment Of
this promise until they discovered what
face to face" meant for their faVorte.
When eX-Gov Page declined TO meet the
voters of the First district face 10 face"
in joint debate with Judge Powers. and
learned that there were some things which
might be said to his disadvantage they
Immediately changed their tune
The Page papers are now Nsibly dis
turbed lest Congressman Powers neglect
his important duties in Washington for
the purpose of deVoting a few days to
face to face" talk with his constituents.
They have suddenly discovered that his
services a the national capital are worth
some thing, and that in spite of the close
ness with which no has confined himself
to Congress it will not do for him to get
away for a brief period to meet the at
tacks made upon him. After calling re-
peatedly for Judge Powers in the ''lace
to face" drama, they are not able TO be-
lieVe that he can think of such thing.
They think it would not be dignihed or
creditable and nowords are strong enough
in the attempt to dlssuade him from dc .
livering a few speeches. As one of the
contemporaries says, "While the rumOr is
quito authentic, it can hardly he credit
ed
Now if The Page papers had not been
over-anNious in their desire to discredit
Judge Powers they might have saved
themselves much tribulation The present
session of Congress is expected to end
about the first of June and inasmuch as
the First district republican convention
will not he held until June y there is like
~ to he ample opportunity for Congress
man Powers TO make addresses in the
different counties, If he SO desires with
out conflicting with his duties in Congress.
If he concludes that the attacks made up
on him have proved 10 be boomerangs for
the man responsible for them, and that
they require no further answering, his ST.
lence will have been fully justified by the
present efforts of the Pa" ers to dis
suade him from taking the stump.
ms ltduS up W dilOlilti inconsistency
on the part OF the Page papers. They are
saying that the friends of Judge Powers
sought to have the district convention held
a week or so earlier than the date select
ed, when the national convention would
have been in progress, whereas as mat
ter Of fact the selection of the later date
will increase the opportunity for him to
speak to his constituents if he so desires
without leaving Congress, where he is so
/ urgently needed now, even in the estima-
/ ton Of the papers charging him with be-
! ing of no use at the national capital. But
| having charged the Powers men with
seeking to secure an earlier date for the
their dilemma will be for the Page papers
! TO hold that Powers conspired with his
congressional colleagues to adjourn early
in June and thus neglect the business Of
the country in order that he might be able
to meet the Page charges face to face. 80
The voters Of the First District will
overlook the attempts of the Page papers
OF the east side to dictate as to the Sc
| lection OF a candidate for congressman in
| the First district, however. and excuse
| their inconsistencies even, II the men from
the Second who are working here in the
interests of ex-GoV. Page are Nthdra wn.
We do not want men 10 come over the