The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-07-20
"LIGhTn

-
Under the heading ''Still Looking 7
For Light the Brattleboro Reformer
has the following to say:
Our friends on the Montpelier Jour
nal. ST Adams Messenger and Ben
nington Banner thus FAR have had
to say in reply to our request |
for enlightenment concerning their |
attitude toward DR.. Mead before and
after his nomination for governor. |
They haven't offered a single word in
explanation OF their "'crow-eating act
as someone has frankly termed 1t.
This is matter on which, in our |
opinion, there is need OF much light. |
We think there are a large number |
of independent republicans in Yer |
mont who are really anxious to know
the truth about these charges so free
ly made against Or. Mead's campaign
methods. They want to know wheth-
er those charges were made up out
of whole cloth for the benefit of Dr.
Mead's opponents, or were based upon
facts which 1t now seems expedient to
overlook for the sake of party regu-
larity. If the charges were pure po-
litcal buncombe 1t is outrageously
unfair to Dr. Mead to allow them to
go unrefuted; in fact, we should think
he would be the first man to demand
their retraction, for governorship
nomination is a mere trifle compared
withone's reputation for square deal
ing. On the other hand, If the char
ges we're not groundless how can the
editorial brethren of ST. Adams, Mont
pelier, Bennington and certain other
towns swallow them at one gulp and
lend their support to the man against
whom they were made.
The Reformer may be looking for
light but II so 1t is evidently doing
It blindfolded, which is typical of
certain type of self proclaimed pa
triots who must be always perfect
because they say so themselves
If the Reformer really wants light
It should open its eyes and read.
mark and listen. Possibly in the
course of time 1t might be able to see
and understand without surgical
operation on its intellect II might
in time learn that It is not work of
greatness to imagine something that
isn't true and then use 1t for a text
on which to preach a sermon.
Now the Banner has no objection
to being held up as a horrible exam
pie 1t probably ought to be oftener
than II is but In this case the Refor-
mer has twisted the evidence in order
TO make a story--not Intentionally we
believe but carelessly In speaking
from faulty memory instead of from
the record. At no stage of the cam
paign did the Banner accuse DIR Mead
or his managers OF dishonesty OF
crooked methods. We watched his
campaign in this county as closely
as We could and investigated several
reports Of wrong doing. but found nc
evidence OF bribery or corruption OF
OF the wrong use OF money stronl
enough to warrant actual charges
Consequently The Banner never mad,
any charges.
In accordance with its invariabl,
custom The Banner printed botl
sides OF the controversy during IN,
governorship canvass. II printed
great deal that was said against Or
Mead and also a great deal that wa
said In his favor that the readers o
the paper might be fully Informed a
to the progress OF the canvass. Tn,
Banner Endorsed neither the commen
against Dr. Mead nor In favor of him
We opposed Dr. Mead's nomination
| not on the ground Of corruption an,
| dishonesty but because We believe,
| the state could do better. We favor
| cd the nomination OF MIR Batoheide
| because We thought him the best nj
| ted OF the several men In the helt
| We should do the same thing Il cal
| ed upon to 60 through the camrilg
| again. II is only those who M
| ashamed OF their cause that sire
| from vain regrets at being on III
| losing side. p.O
| SO much for the canvass up TO IN
| nomination. AS to anything tbs
| could be termed orow.eating sine
| we do not reoolloct g. The Banu,
| takes Il for granted that Dr. Mea
| VIII be elected governor and "
| think he will try hard TO make a ere
| table record as governor So mu,
\ We have said aud We certainly b
4 iieyc Il TO be true The Banner mt
q or may not devote any conslderhb
4 effort In his support. Il couldn't m
terlally change the result anyway
Il tried.
A Tho Tanner Is not so welded
party regularity that Il feels col
PEELED to swallow every kind OF bs
- that may be hung on The party hoo
- We believe in the principles OF 4
Republican party. and when they a