The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-12-23
pesoER SPEAKS AGAIN
Says Some Newspapers Msrepresent
Sentiment.

tended by between 80 and 90 mem
hers and was at times wildly enthusi-
astic. President James M. Boutwell,
presided and said that although 1t
had not been thought of in advance
he would call on Mr.. DeBoer for
speech.
Mr.. DeBoer said that few weeks
ago a certain man in Burlington, whol
ly without solicitation, put in day
of his time and secured the names oil
1856 people in that city on paper
which was sent to this city to invite
the speaker to address a meeting in
Burlington.
Then it was found that it would be
necessary TO supply place in which
the address should be given and the
only available place was found to be
The Strong theatre, which would cost
500 for the night. 1t was also found
that there would be other items oil
expense, a total of about $l25.
The speaker went on to say that he
claimed the distinction OF having
spoken to the people of Burlington as
candidate for governor at their IN
vitation and at their expense, some'
thing which to his knowledge mad
never been done before.
He said that some papers ike the
Bristol Herald, White River Junction
Landmark and Ludlow Tribune had
sought through their editorial coli
umns to prove that his coming into
the campaign was criticism OF the
measures used by other candidates
for the office, both successful and
otherwise. He said he understood
that as high as $150,0O0 had been
paid for an election in times of partl-
cular stress. He said he had seen
men sacrifice their business, their
families and their health to win the
offices of the State and had seen
them come to the chair OF the COVER
norship impaired in health and with
injured business. He said that when
Vermont politicians had come to such
state OF affairs he thought it time
for a shift.
Should Create Sentiment.
One of the first duties OF the press,
said the speaker, is to reflect puDllc
sentiment and also to help guide 1t in
the right direction. 1t is also their
higher moral duty to create public
sentiment in a broad-minded manner
This is not being done in this state
he said, but quite the reverse.
He said he had lived in the State
% years prior to the time he was
asked TO become candidate and in
that time no paper in the State had
said a harsh or mean word about nm
or a word OF criticism. He said he
supported the press, but now, because
| Montpelier has seen fit to put him
forward as, candidate for the Office
of governor. the papers of the State
have, in a large measure, assumed
an attitude which is, to say the least
strange He said he was aware OF no
change in himself or in his manner OF
| looking al public matters
He said the papers of the State
ought not TO create sentiment in the
minds of the many against the one
I They must be fair and right. To have
/ it suggested that you are doing a
thing in an undetermined way or us
ing unfair methods is unjust lie
said that papers have said that what
they wanted to find out was whether
or not he had instructed the agents
OF the National Life Insurance com
pany not to work for him.
No Money TO Be Used.
He said he wanted the club to re
spect his wishes and not resort to the
use OF money, control OF the press
artificial canyasses or paid conven
ton
Secretary Gleason referred to tn,
fact that through unfortunate circum
stances, the press, the best medium
of disseminating information regard
ing the campaign, was in a large
measure closed to them. He sale
that if the papers OF the state did no
publish full and free accounts of th'
DeBoer campaign it would not b,
because the club was not ready anC
glad to furnish such information.
Mr. DeBoer has also written a let
ter to the president of the DeBoe
club which the club is sending on
through the state. The letter is a.
follows.
Mr. James NJ Boutwell,.
Montpelier, Vermont
Dear Sir:-Doubtess the fact o
my candidacy as 1t stands require
explicit definition The city. with
out consulting me, saw 1t, so far a
representative group OF men coull
do so, to present my name to the Re
publican Party of Vermont for tn
Office OF governor on its ticket 10
1912. | have agreed to accept tina
designation and will sustain il legi
timately TO the full extent OF m,
power.
! have one thing to advise the clul
organized in my name and in my be
half, for which ! am sincerely CRATE
full; that they violate no law. NJ
principle OF honest politics and In M
manner adopt single practice
against which my position is OF
posed. The use of money the con
troll of the press. the artificial can
vass system and the paid politica
convention constitute the issues &
which We object The people. an
sure, desire TO more nearly and d
rectly elect their own state officer
and of course that means their nom
nation by the people for the purpose
of political parties Selfgovernmeu
is an expensive thing. calling for "a,
) ton, independence and selfsacrlnc
on the part of the voters. hut roveri