St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-06-08

Certainly a candidate who countenances
such down right Misrepresentation is
crying for help the worst way. In the
days before Roosevelt brought the
message of peace, love and unity to all
men, such stuff as this from the Mead
press bureau would have been designated
as skunk journalism Mortified News.
Death to Campaign Corruption.
In spite of all that has been written
and said in relation to the provisions
of the law concerning the use of money
in connection with governorship cam
paigns some people and some news
papers continue to inquire why it is not
all right for men to use money in gain
ing a nomination. A sensitive moral
sense ought to answer this question for
every individual but fortunately or un-
fortunately, as the case may be, Vermont
has law expressly dealing with this
subject, so there need be no uncertainty
or guesswork in relation to just what
can be legally done by candidate for
governor. The law says distinctly that:
. No person shall in order to aid or
promote his own nomination or the
nomination of another person, as can
didate for public Office. by caucus con-
vention or nomination paper, directly or
indirectly, himself or through another
person, or by or through a committee,
give, pay, expend or contribute, or
promise to give, pay, expend or contri-
butte any money or other valuable thing
except for personal expenses"
The law also states just what are to
be regarded as personal expenses, so
there is no possibility of mistake in re-
lation to the meaning or intent of the
law anywhere.
Now if any candidate for governor has
spent money beyond his own personal
expenses, or if any man working for a
candidate for governor has in this way
paid out money to another for services,
both are liable to prosecution, and if
guilty to the payment of a fine of from
500 up TO $4,000 or any sum the
court may deem to be demanded by the
case under consideration.
In the present temper of public opinion
not only in Vermont but also through
out the country it is safe to say that an
effort will be made to enforce this law in
connection with the present governor
ship campaign. Ex-Governor Rollins of
New Hampshire has just found that the
law is reaching people in high places, and
if any candidate for governor in Vermont
thinks to evade the law and escape, he
is counting without a host of people
burlington Free Press.
Why Unp1edged7
1.-The White River Junction Landmark
has just come out in favor of the nomi-
nation OF Hon. F. 6. Fleetwood for the
governorship. A considerable number,
including some of the strongest papers in
the state, are still supporting the de-
mand for unpledged delegates. '-[ Bur-
lngton Free Press.
The Messenger thinks it understands
the sentiment fathering the proposition
to send unpledged delegates to the Re-
publican state convention and to a large
extent it shares in the motive behind it
that is to say. it believes that if there
is anything like serious uncertainty of
choice between the candidates now
in the field it were certainly the better
part to send delegations of honest men
that may be depended upon to do their
duty as they see it when the time comes.
But there is another side to it. The
one man that has made the fight against
Doctor Mead and his campaign methods
and that has stood the brunt of the op-
position criticism thus far is Frederick q.
Fleetwood of Morrisville. He has
good right to say to the anti-Mead
element, to the men that are just as
anxious to persuade the state not to en-
dorse the Mead campaign and its
methods, that those that are not for
him are against him.
The Messenger believes that the can
vass of Mr.. Fleetwood should commend
itself to the majority of Republicans on
the merits of the man himself and that
he is entitled to support in his own right.
He has dared and faced the consequences.
He is entitled to win and the men, whose
victory he has gained ought to stay by
him in it.
This paper sincerely hopes that St.
Adams and other towns where Doctor
Mead is not first in favor will send Fleet
wood delegations to the Montpelier con-
vention and fight this fight, not under
letters of marque and reprisal, but under
true colors with the candidates flag
nailed to the mast.
The Messenger is for FLEETWOOD
Albans Messenger.