The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-02-19
The Herald HIt-Hear 1t soueal.

The following libelous personal at |
tack on the editor of the Banner is
from the Rutland Herald and is typical |
Of that papers customary method |
when it finds itself worsted in an ar
in branching off into billings
gate and muckerism:
Elsewhere in these columns appears |
bitter and unprovoked attack on the |
Herald and its principal owner, Per
ciyal w. Clement, which was publish
ed in the Bennington Banner last
week. In this article, the animus is
somewhat marked and must be traced
to its inspiration, General ]. |
G. Mccullough of North Bennington.
The Herald is not exactly sure what
is meant by "Clementism." II ii
means return to sound business prin-
ciples and economic simplicity in our
state financial system, the Herald and
Mr.. Clement are always interested. If
it involves a mere race for some pub
lie Office, the proposition is devoid OF
any interest whatever.
The Banner has seen fit to assail
the motives of the Herald and to make
a personal attack upon it's principal
proprietor. 1t is proper, therefore, to
remember that the Bennington Banner
and Reformer, according to the gener-
al understanding, were purchased with
General McCullough's money and
transferred to the present proprietor
upon such terms as were agreeable
and convenient, as reward for pol
itical services. 1t is then perhaps not
the Banners high sense of public duty
that dictates the article, but the pos
sible desire of General Mccullough to
punish Mr.. Clement for causing him
serious expense and inconvenience in
1902.
General Mccullough who bought the
governorship of Vermont at the re-
puted price of a quarter of a million,
naturally resents certain articles
which have appeared in the state
press Of late, expressing the peoples
thorough disgust with the recent fail
ure Of the republican party to carry |
out its promises and calling on Mr..
Clement to lead them.
The reason for this may be that no |
politician willingly pays out $500 |
in real money. The local option cam
paign of 1902, led by Mr. Clement, and |
based on genuine revolt against dis
honest politics, compelled the alleged |
hacker of the Banner to pur-
chase his election at price entirely
disproportionate to the questionable
honor involved
1T is just possible then, that private
revenge, rather than public policy die
lated the article, and its bitterness
Is a somewhat startling comment on
he uneasy apprehension that seems
% pervade the republican machine Of
Vermont today
The editor of the Banner is not
writing as a public censor, but merely
rs tool of the man who set him up
n business perhaps, and the renas-
cent malice of that distinguished hero
If a quarter million dollar campaign
If disgraceful corruption may be res.
lonsible for the above mentioned at
ack If so it ought to be discounted
accordingly.
The Herald has no excuse to make
or its attitude on any public question.
Almost every considerable reform
which the state has consummated in
he past few years was previously and
urged in these columns.
Many attempted reforms have been
advocated by this paper, and the fail
ire of the present administration to
AIRY them out has brought the party
organization of Vermont into serious
Iisrepute. Such desperate and mall
cious attacks as the one under dis
ussion merely indicate the perturbed
nd panic situation in the state ma
hine today.
The Herald opposed the Church
,aint bill in its original form because
t was proscriptive and confiscatory.
rhis paper stood alone in demanding
amendment of its obnoxious features.
When properly revised the Herald
withdrew all opposition to the bill
The Herald did not waste columns
IN opposing the interchangeable mile
age bill 1t merely quoted reasons
why It was improper and cited a court |
decision which confirmed them. The
legislature found the reasons suflic-
lent. The Herald occasionally called |
for fair play for the corporations OF
the state and protested against wick
ed and needless public expense, all the
bills of which were to be paid by said
corporations.
In these days when the stock in
trade of every chean demagogue is
assailing the corporal 'ons, It is prop
er that both sides should be fairly
presented, Never, in word sugges-
tion or endorsement, has the Herald
countenanced legislation that was