Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-07-13
A Subscriber Takes Exception.

Editor Of The PhUniX-
Dear sir:-I have been a subscriber to
your valuable paper for many years and
have taken much pleasure in reading it
and have received much valuable in
formation for which l have felt grateful,
also the many courtesies shown me, and
as yet have never taken any exceptions
to anything written therein, but in your
last Issue there appeared an article on
the first page which did not meet with
my approval and l doubt II It did with
people in general.
1t stated that in looking over the list
in the local directory We find the make
up of the Clement delegation from this
town OF the following complexion: Two
blacksmiths, livery. stable employe, law
yer, fish dealer, ex-bartender lunch room
proprietor, shoe repairer, cigar salesman,
hack driver, barber, etc. The article
winds up by saying that the Clement
ticket from here to the Republican state
convention four years ago was made up
OF prominent and professional men, with
large interests, but we find none OF them
under the Clement banner this year.
Now l consider these remarks about
our fellow townsmen an insult to them
and to every workingman in the state Of
Vermont and do not see how any in
telligent man could belittle himself to
write them even to gain political point.
We want business and professional men,
and must have them, 70 make any town
or city prosperous, and isn't it equally
true of the other class? For instance, If
only the business and professional men
should subscribe for your paper, how long
would you be able to run that branch OF
business? Not long, I assure you, and
what would apply to your business
would apply TO every other. Therefore,
the one is indispensable to the other and
together shoulder to shoulder we should
work hard to promote the best interest
of every community.
A. W. RoEL.
Mr.. Roel has placed upon the article
which he criticizes a construction en-
tirely foreign to its intent and spirit, and
one which, 1t seems to us, is wholly un-
warranted, even though the point which
was intended in our paragraph may have
been obscurely made. Not a word was
said in disparagement of any trade or oc-
cupation. In naming the occupations of
the Clement delegates to Burlington the
only object of The Phoenix was to show
that the large business interests were not
represented, as was the case four years
ago, and that men whose names are not
in the local directory were delegates.
Mr.. Roel must know very well from his
long acquaintance with The Phoenix
that this paper does not counten-
ance in any way, and has no SYM
pathy or patience with class distinctions.
A man who earns an honest living by
digging in the ditch may be a better man.
a more desirable associate. and better
citizen than the millionaire, the savant,
the graat captain Of industry or the proud
holder of titles. He certainly is II he
possesses more honesty and more courage,
and leads life of greater purity and
helpfulness and consideration for others.
Regardless OF our occupations all of us
are workingmen except a comparatively
small number and as long as our work is
honorable and useful there is no difference
| between us on this score.
/ with regard to the Clement delegation
the fact remains that it was not chosen
in a caucus, but was appointed by some
lieutenant of the Rutland politician. that
the local mercantile, manufacturing and
! financial interests were not represented
upon it, and that the car fare of the del
egates was paid by or in the Clement in
terest. How large the local delegation
would have been and how large the Glenn
ent convention would have been without
the attraction of free transportation are
questions which are problematical.
If in our paragraph Of last week there
had been any intended disparagement
Of any trade or occupation Mr.. Roers
criticism would be deserved and we
should accept it as just. But, as already
said our purpose-and our only purpose
was to show that our larger business in
terests were not represented in the Glenn
ent delegation of this year, and that
these interests are not in sympathy with
the present Clement movement II, by
implication, any other idea was conveyed
1t was entirely foreign to the thought in
mind