The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-09-15
DON'T LET 1T DROP.

The Montpelier Journal states the
case fairly and squarely regarding the
charge of dishonesty made against
Charles j. Bell by the Democratic
State committee during the recent
campaign. 1t says. and rightfully;
"This matter ought not to end with
the close of the canvass. Not only is
the good name of Charles j. Bell in
question, but the good fame of YER
mont as we'll. The charge that Mr..
Bell has been defrauding the State
ought to be officially investigated, and
Repu blicans ought to move and pur-
sue the investigation. If the charge
is true, there can be no question as
to the course Mr.. Bell should follow
if it is false-as every candid person,
whether or not he knows Charley Bell
personally, and knowing him most
firmly believes that the charge is ut
terly and UNANIMOUSLY false-the Re-
publican State committee ought to I'M
dertake the prosecution of the libelers
aud bring them to punishment.
There is no escape from the logic of
this Now is the time to find out
whether policy of vilification and
Islander can be pursued with impunity
in Vermont politics. Now is the time
to find out whether political managers
can blackeu mans reputation from
one end of the State to the other and
then, as soon as the election has
passed, go off about other business
and leave their charges hanging in the
air. If Mr.. Bell defrauded the State
of Vermont of any money, then he
should never be permitted to take his
seat as Governor, and the responsible
ity is just as much upon the Demo-
cratic State committee to prevent it
as upon any other citizens. This
| campaign charge should be either
proved or withdrawn and apologized
| for. The time to put an end to this
kind of cheap and nasty politics is
right now. st. Adams Messenger.
The Journal repeats: The Demo.
cratic charge of fraud committed by
Mr.. Bell was different from the Gus
tomary inveighing, by campaign ora
| tors and managers, against an admin
| istration, or party, in general. The
charge of fraud was specific. direct,
and personal, aimed at Mr.. Bell in
dividually. To fasten the charge of
fraud, in drawing from the treasury
some one thousand dollars in per diem
for time he could not have devoted to
official duty, more directly upon Mr..
Bell individually, the State auditor
was extolled for his official accuracy,
alertness and efficiency. when it was
as plain to be seen as church by day.
light that the data on which the
charge of fraud was based were mis-
takes, heedlessly made, in the audi
tors Office The Democratic agent
ignored every possibility of mis-
take; left out of the account every
circumstance that pointed to pos
sibility amounting to dead certainty
that not only was the report wrong,
but also the life and character of Mr..
Bell shut out every probability of there
being anything wrong in his accounts
The publication of the charge of
fraud could have been justified only
by the most direct and conclusive evil
dence that it was true; but way
faring man though fool ought not
to have been deceived by the circum-
stances Of the case.
1.-THE time to put an end to this
kind of cheap and nasty politics is
right now,'' and in tie way the
Journal has indicated.