The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-07-23
CAMPAIGN METHODS
Prominent searshurg Citizen Doesn't
Approve Of Or. Mead

ffFff - 80 N'NNN
Editor Banner:-Now that the
smoke Of the state convention battle
has cleared away, will you allow me
a little space in your paper to discuss
the matter? Last winter Tyler Good
ell of Nottingham was out in a letter
which in my opinion offered some
safe and sane advice and contained
some statements which all who have
taken the freeman's oath would do
we'll TO remember and consider.
| do not think any true Vermont
Republican is very proud Of the Re
publican campaign of 1902 and ! be-
lieye large majority of the people
will agree that the two Republican
candidates stand much lower in the
opinion of Vermont than they did be-
fore that campaign was waged.
voted for Gov. Mccullough because
as between two evils | thought
chose the least.
Two years ago | refused to vote for
Gov. Prouty because | thought he got
his nomination by unfair means and
for the same reason | shall refuse to
vote for DR.. Mead although | shall
vote the rest of the republican ticket
for | can do so conscientously under
my freemans oath, and acting under
that oath, / do not believe that It con-
duces to the good of Vermont or any
other state or municipality, to vote
for a candidate who | believe, or
have reason to believe has fraudu-
lently obtained nomination to Office
The defeat OF such a nominee in a
general election would be a mighty
good and efficient medicine for Yer
mont to administer, and would go far
to effect a radical cure of a disease,
that is weakening the purity and
strength of the Republican party, not
only in Vermont but all over the
country. | am heartily in favor of
trying something like 1.-The new New
Hampshire primary law as being a
step in the right direction, If not a
positive cure for the evils that now
/ exist
Abraham Lincoln said 1t was impos-
sible TO fool all the people all the
time, but If he lived in Vermont at
the present time he would almost be
! justified in thinking that the leaders
| OF the Republican party could fool all
the Republicans all the time. Two
years ago the assembled wisdom OF
| the state(O" God save the mark
saw fit TO increase the legislative ex-
penses % per cent. II was entirely
uncalled for, for no one ever heard
Of a man in Vermont being elected
and forced to serve as representative
/ or senator at three dollars per day
and the deficit in their pocketbook, If
any, is usually caused by the expense
OF buying an election. But that act
( has had one good effect. 1t has open
ed the eyes Of at least a part Of the
/ people TO the fact that instead of an
! exemption from state taxes we have
been paying a state tax indirectly fol-
the last twenty years, that has in
creased IN almost arthmetrical pro
4 gression until the last feather "a
big one properly named salary
grab'D broke the came's back anC
opened the eyes of the people to the
truth. sincerely hope that the next
legislature will have wisdom
enough 10 readiust salaries. cut down
expenses, raise a square direct state
tax for all expenses, abolish indirect
taxation. and let the people see JUS
what they are paying for and if there
is any surplus let 1t be used for gooC
schools and good roads, for that vii
reach all the people.
George J. Bond
Searsburg. July 10, 1910,