Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-07-29

The st. Johnsbury Caledonian, by re-
fusing to support Doctor Mead for gov
ernor seems to have the honorable dis
tinction of emphasizing a protest
against condoning and endorsing cam
paign methods that are in direct viola
ton and defiance of an express statute
governing this subject. 1t does, how
ever, as we understand it, endorse the
platform and all the other nominations
made at the state Republican conven
ton, giving as its reasons therefor that
the methods employed in obtaining
these nominations were in entire con-
formity with the requirements of law.
In other words, taking the position that
it cannot consistently and conscientious
ly support candidate for governor who
has openly and flagrantly treated with
contempt the law governing the methods
to be employed and the expenditure of
money to be made by any candidate
seeking this high office.
From the standpoint of any Repub-
lican, who has the best interests of his
party and the state at heart, we think
The Caledonian's position is unassai-
able. 1t has been matter of surprise
beyond measure to note the position
taken by those leading Vermont dailies,
which have done splendid work for
purer politics and which unsparingly
condemned Doctor Mead's methods be-
fore the convention, and in fact of
whom it may be said that their arraign-
ment of his practices was so powerful,
assisted by quite number of the Ver-
mont weeklies, that a strong public
sentiment has unquestionably been
created in condemnation of Doctor
Mead's methods. How can the law
observing electorate, seeing these pa
pers now endorsing Doctor Mead, feel
otherwise than that, having been pre-
pared to ask for bread, they are given
stone.
The charges made by the anti-Mead
press as to the unlawful use of money
were either true or malicious misrepre-
sensations. If they were true, the Re-
publican press assumes serious respons-
Utility in endorsing these methods, be-
cause if Doctor Mead was law violator
before the convention, he is none the
less one after that date.
What travesty, in the light of the
knowledge which prevails regarding his
methods, to have Doctor Mead elected
on platform demanding the publicity
of campaign expenditures, when he alb
solutely refused to meet his opponents
in an open-handed manner and satisfy
the people whether the charges made
against him were warranted or not
1t seems to The Standard that the
condition confronting the Republicans
of Vermont at the present time is a
serious one and one that cannot be
turned aside on the ground of party
regularity, because it goes beyond that
and becomes question of good govern
ment.
The great portion of the Republican
press of Vermont have commended
without stint the policies of Theodore
Roosevelt, the great fight Governor
Hughes has made for civic righteous
ness in New York, and the heroic and
sterling qualities of President Taft in
his dealing with violators of the law.
How can these same papers, when the
question presents itself right at home,
condOne and endorse, under the banner
of party regularity, which is so often
the refuge and weapon of law violators,
those methods which they condemn else
where?
Although The Caledonian's protest
at the present time is like unto a voice
crying in the wilderness, The Standard
believes it is right, and endorses its
position in not urging the election OF
John A. Mead, although approving the
platform and the remainder of the par
ty ticket.