Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-06-16
QUESTIONABLE POLITICS.

Ever since this campaign began,
there have been charges or intim "a
tions more or less explicit of polite a l
"clubs" maintained in the diff erent
wards in Burlington in furtherance of
McCullough's canvass, where the vot
ers are expected to gather nightly,
and where free cigars and free beer
are furnished. Elk Governor Wood
bnry made pointed reference to these
clubs last week in letter which the
Burlington Free Press refused to print,
but which was printed in the Burling
ton NelUs and the st. Adams Messenger.
Last Friday night the Burlington Neaos
printed list of six Of these clubs,
stating their location by street and
number, where it was openly charged
that free beer was part of the enter
tainment. In safe cases the weekly
allotment of beer by kegs was given.
The ST. Adams Messenger printed
similar report, with strong editorial
comment thereon. McCullough's sup
porter's followed these publications
with a declaration that they were un-
true-qualifed, however, by saying
that if beer was furnished it was done
without the knowledge of General
Mccullough or his managers. The
answer to the Free Press was an attack
on the Ne,Us, with general observa-
tions on the ''falsity'' of the charges,
but coupled with the statement that
General Mccullough cannot be made
responsible for the individual acts of
his supporters" This, evidently, was
wanted to have made, for on Monday
it took up the matter editurially in
the plainest and most explicit way.
This is what it said:
sThat the Free Press may see what
our charges we're we reprint them to-
day. 1t is known to hundreds of citi-
zens of Burlington that these charges
are absolutely true. There can be no
successful denial of them. The NeaUs
has names of principals and witnesses
in this matter. 1t has thus far with
held them from publication, but if it
becomes necessary we will print
them. The facts are so we'll known
in this city, however, that we do not
believe the Free Press will call for
names. 1t is true that beer has been
used in great quantities in this gov
ernorship campaign to corrupt the
the suffrage. 1t is true that no such
extensive and demoraliZing campaign
of beer has ever been seen in this city.
1t is true that the free use of
beer has been subject of common
talk in this city for months, and no
citizen with ordinary eyes and ears
can have failed to get at least second
hand knowledge of it. 1t is true that
this river of free beer has not been
or Clement. 1t is true, notwith-
standing denials, that some of this
beer was drunk in the so-called club
rooms, while much more has been
| drunk III r0SOrUS lOCdISQ near Un0ul
In either case it was always and unan-
imously understood that the beer
was furnished by somebody in the
interests of General Mccullough 8
campaign-that they were drinking
General McCullough's beer"
In the same issue of the NeaDs, ex-
Governor Woodbury. said in a letter
printed over his own signature and
referring to these Mccullough beer
clubs: During the last four months
there has been furnished the OPP
: ponents of the prohibitory law more
material for arguments against it and
in favor of license law than in any
other corresponding length of tine
since have lived in Burlington"
There can be no doubt hereafter az
to the kind of campaign which has
been managed in Burlington in Gen
eral McCullough's behalf Brattle
boro Phoenir.