The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-08-29
BLACKMER
VS. HOLDEN
Correspondent Accuses Latter
Of Many Sins.
PAYS MEN SMALL WAGES
Citizen Thinks Mr. Holden Has
Worked Mostly For Him
self.
PAYS MEN SMALL WAGES

Editor OF the Banner After some
reflection the thought has occurred to
my mind that the article in your paper
said 10 have been written 10y james
Livingston and that written by an Tn
mortgaged Republican bear the relat-
ionship Of father to son. Undoubtedly
/ both we're WI ilten for the ono purpose,
| in the interest OF Mr. Holden To the det-
riment OF Mr. Blackmer. This may be
politics but such politics are essenll-
ally wrong. Give every man a fair
deal. Now, the great objection to
young Mr. Blackmer for the state sena
torship is not his lack OF intellectual
capacity or integrity, for anyone who
knows him we'll will admit that he is
one OF the brightest, keenest and clean
est young men ia the state of Vermont,
that be has a Disappointing record
before him.
The one thing against Mr. Blackmer
is his youth and his courage to throw
of the old heavy yoke OF machine rule
in this state. But is youth crimef
Is independence for which our sires
shed their blood on the heights OF Ben
nington a misdemeanor today ON the
free soil OF Vermont
To what are We coming, II men can
not act according to their best judg
ment and independently Of Republican
misrule and hold Office for the better
ment II town, coun'y or slater Have
machine rule and Office become synon-
yms, do they mean one and the same
thing in our statep II not, why throw
dust in the peoples eyes that they may
DOT see the lightY When the miner
finds a nugget OF gold he does not re
pudiate the raw material on account
OF its youth. Neither Mr. Blackmer
nor Mr. Holden has had any experience
IT, our state senate. Why disguise the
fact In favor Of Holden against the
othety Mr. Blackmer has more than
one thing in his favor.
He is as bright man, as apt to
learn and he has the advantage OF
youth. His experience in the senate
would in all probability render longer
and better service to county and state.
Ifnot BacKmer, why not begin TO pre-
pare some other young man for the
halls OF Congress? Washington coun-
ty favored young Dillingham; with Of
ice on every occasion and Chttenden
county took pride In advancing the
bright, young Foster, and what has
been the result? Washington and
Chittenden counties can boast of mag
niicent Proctor marble postolces.
When shall Bennington have her post
office? When Mr Blackmer or some
other bright young man is encouraged
and prepared for Congress, then shall
Bennington have a Barre granite post
Office.
The letter of Independent Democrat
has put Mr. Holden down as public
benefactor to the village OF Benning
ton. The writer seems to have over
shot the mark. Mr. Holden may be a
large benefactor OF Cottage City, but
who has ever heard of his gifts to our
town, county or state? He Is bene-
factor of Bennington in the sense only
that he gives employment in his mill TO
a number OF people, probably two hun
dred. He has always run his mill for
Mr. Holden and not for his employees.
For the employment he gives he re-
ceiyes good and substantial returns.
The wages the laborer gets in return
for the work he does is small remun.
Grafton when compared with the profit
of Mr. Holden who came to Bennington
a poor man, comparatively speaking,
and has rolled up his million since.
In regard to Independent Democrats
idea of Holden's generosity let us not
lose sight of the question Of capital
and labor. Capital that accumulates |
in sixteen years million dollars, and |
labor that cannot in that time buy one |
OF Holden S tenements on Mill street.
can that be called by the misnomer,
public benefaction to Bennington? Let |
US be fair with Mr. Holden and wait till |
wages increase in his mill Let us
wait till the men who earn from 80 cents |
to Sl.35 day are no longer heard |
from on our streets. Before he is pro- |
claimed one of our public benefactors,
let us wait till he has erected some
public monument worthy of our graft
tude, Then, as grateful people, we
shall give him all the honor he de-
serves.
Recently, and without his fault, Mr.
Blackmer has come into the possession
of wealth. His inheritance happens TO
be for the greater part involved in in
terests outside of the state from which
he cannot disengage himself on short
notice without financial loss. He is
by no means to blame for the situa-
ton. We form committees to solicit
capitalists to our town. county and