St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-04-06
PRESS COMMENT.
Money In Vermont Politics.

uG CdI1pdlSu III YER
mont grows interesting. NJ. ]. Hapgood
Of Peru wrote to Lieut-Gov. Mead and
Mr.. Fleetwood, proposing that each of
the candidates pledge himself to file with
the secretary OF state, after the state con-
vention, a sworn and itemiZed statement
of the expenses incurred by him and his
agents in connection with the canvass
'having in view the assurance to the
public that no undue mercenary transac-
tons were connected Herewith, as has
been so strongly suspected with many of
the successful candidates. of previous
years. To this suggestion Mr. Fleet
wood gave Immediate and hearty agree
ment. DR.. Mead was twice addressed on
this matter, and finally made reply in
what he calls an "open letter" that ought
to convince the voters that he is one of
the things to be reformed. The lieutenant
governors evasive production is worth
giving in full
81 have the pleasure to be in receipt of
your letters of March IA and 10. As it
seems to me your suggestions do not
amount, even in your own mind, to any
clear or well-defned scheme or PROPOSE
ton, and especially does this seem true
in view of the fact that you limit the op-
Grafton OF such ideas as you do breach,
to the governorship, to the exclusion of
candidates for other positions, thereby
not only rejecting upon past and present
candidates and executives, but as well
upon the highest Office within the gift of
our people. Moreover, you seem to go
upon the theory that unrestricted money
campaigns are permissible, provided the
candidates simply file. after nominations
have been made, statementsi of expenses.
do not so understand and such a. no.
ton is at variance with my ideas on the
subject as l am not in favor of such cam
paigns for the governorship or any other
Office, either with or without statements,
sworn or otherwise. feel that the main
subject matter of your communication is
peculiarly within the proper province of
legislative action, and as you are per-
haps aware, we have statutes, wrought
out in the wisdom of the representatives
of the people, along this line"
This lodging is not even artful, and If
this candidate maintains Literary bu-
reau," as is freely charged, it is lacking
in ordinary ability. Mr.. Smith, the Bur
hngton banker, who has been mentioned
as possible candidate, cordially ap-
proves of the Hapgood idea. All is cal
culated to give the impression that DIR.
Mead is conducting the wrong kind OF
canvass, and this point of view is rein
forced by the following paragraph in the
Burlington Free Press
eff a sworn statement of campaign ex-
penses in the governor contest is made,
certain expenditures authorized by car
pet Dagger workers in Chittenden coun-
ty shortly after the dairymens meeting
will need to be carefully audited, or else
repudiated and not paid. The republi-
cans of Chittenden county are pretty
thorough believers in home rule and
resent the presumption of outsiders, who
would dictate to them whom to support.
Even the Rutland Herald, which is a
Mead organ is constrained to sug-
gest that Candidate Mead ought to
think better of it and offer to account for
his campaign outgoes, even while it filings
at the other aspirants for the republican
nomination. Having answered the at
tacks of Hapgood, Fleetwood & Co. in
manner which their unimportance might
dictate, the Herald feels that he might