Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-06-21
STATEMENT BY EX-GOV. PAGE.
He Replies to Ex-Gov. Woodbury. and
Makes a Proposition.
Hyde Park, June Is
To the Editor of the Free Press;

10 the Edltor OF the Free Press:
IX-Gov Woodbury's open letter to me
in the Free Press of June IL did not seem
TO me to demand Il reply, but at the sug-
gestion of friends who think that silence
may be taken as an Acknowledgements OF
the truthfuness Of his assumption, l have
concluded to make the following state
ment of facts
First-It is true, that | have made a
preliminary canvass of the different towns
Of the district to ascertain the sentiment
of the people for or against me, and in
some of the towns | have paid the local
canvasser for his services in so doing.
S"Cond-While | have neither paid nor
authorized to be paid a single dollar for
any dishonorahlc or illegitimate campaign
expense, it is tl7Ie that in a few towns
whore a heated contest has taken place |
have been asked to contribute toward the
strictly legitimate expenses and | have
done 50.
Third-rhe entire amount paid out by
mo for local CanvaSSerS as above stated
ana as my contribution toward local cam
paigu expenses has been less than $500.
Fourth-lt is not true. as the governor
asserts, that Il employ and pay large
number of men in nearly every town of
the State to do political work" for me
assert unquallhedly that in not one half
the towns of the district have | paid even
one man, much less a large number Of
men, a single dollar, and | will send each
one of the public institutions which the
governor names in his letter my check
for 500 if he will disprove this statement.
Is IT honorable for Gov. Woodbury. Ia
aSSall me in u public manner, suggesting
as facts falsehoods of the most malicious
KIND. ana that, too on the eve of a large
number of caucuses and at time when
ii would be impossible for me to season
ably refute his falsehoods?
In Gov WOOdhu,-V'g Lot i'm nd u c
Free Press he uses this language: "A
prominent republican from an adjoining
county just told me that if GOV. Page
would keep his money out of his county
he would not have five delegates from 1t. 81
\ statement like this asserts nothing
and hence cannot be denied / judge that
the governors charges against me have
been prediCated upon this kind of non
sense The public know that it is not true
and 1t shows to what desperate straits
Gov. Woodbury. is driven for something 10
take the place of facts
1t may not be improper for me to state
/ that Gov. Woodhury'S open letter contain.
cd what the public had a right to believe
was his entire proposition to me with ref
cr"ncc 10 the subject therein referred to-
hut as matter of fact the open letter in
the Free Press was promptly followed by
"A telegram and that telegram by "A person
al letter from Gov. Woodbury. In which
he imposed various other conditions whic u
no scll-respccting man could assent to ana
GOV. Woodbury. knew it when he penncd
his letter. Gov. Woodhury's great mcnta
agitation as to my improper political con-
duct ought to deceive no one.
The memorable Page Woodbury. cam.
paign is now ten years Old and the facts
with reference thereto are now quite fully
understood, and | defy Gov. Woodbury. OF
any Of his friends to show where a single
dollar was corrupuy used in that cam
pai"n. either by me or with my consent
have already made the broad offer that
would withdraw from this canvass if 1t
could be shown that had paid or author
lied the payment of single dollar for
beer rum. or votes.
Respectfully yours,
CARROLL S. PAGE