The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-11-02
POLITICS
A-SIZZLING
Massachusetts Methods Are to
Be Investigated
SAYS DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
Candidate George w. Anderson for At
torney-General Complains About
Advertisements in interests of
Republican Candidates,

Boston, Nov 2.-The political cam
paign was enlivened to-day by the an
mal announcement that the subject of
political advertisement by circulation
will be laid before the grand jury. In
a statement this forenoon, District At
torney Pelletier declared;
Upon complaint of George w. Ander-
son, nominee for attorney general, am
making an investigation of the adver-
tisements which have been appearing in
the daily press during the present cam
paign and purporting to have been is
sued by the Farr Alpaca company, the
United Shoe Machinery company and the
American Woolen company. / deem the
matter of sufficient Importance to lay
the facts before the grand jury"
The advertisements were published in
the interest of the Republican candi'
dates.
Anderson's Letter.
Candidate Anderson's letter contained
the following:
"To Hon. James NJ. Swift, attorney gem
eral of the commonwealth.
Dear Sir-For weeks the newspapers
of this commonwealth have fairly reeked
with advertisements of the United Shoe
Machinery company and the American
Woolen company, advocating both di-
rectly and indirectly, the defeat Of Gov,
Foss and the rest Of us Democratic
candidates, and the election of Mr..
rockingham, yourself and the other Re-
publican candidates.
Statute of 1908, chapter 4s3, section
|, is as follows: NO business corpora
tion incorporated under the laws of, or
doing business in this commonwealth,
and no officer or agent acting in be-
half of such corporation shall pay or
contribute in order to aid, promote or
prevent the nomination or election Of
any person to public Office or In order
to aid. promote or antagonize the in
terests Of any political party. No per-
son shall solicit or receive such pay
ment or contribution from such corpora
ton
Section provides for Furnishing corr
porations violating this provision by a
fine Of not more than $4,000, and the
directors or agents Of such corporations
by fines Of not more than $4,000 or by
Imprisonment for not more than six
months.
Republican Benefciaries.
Nothing can be clearer than that
this advertising is intended to promote
the election Of Mr.. rockingham, your.
self and the other Republican candidates,
and prevent the election of Gov. Foss.
-, - le =, ~ 4ha ~ bar ns.,s y.,.,, - ea !, al
dates. Ii is, therefore, criminal vio-
lation of our corrupt practices act.
You, Mr.. rockingham, and the other
Republican candidates are the present
beneficiaries OF this criminal advertising
Il is for you, as the chief law enforcing
officer of the commonwealth, to make
answer to the people as to whether you
and the Republican candidates justify
this criminal interference of corporations
in political campaigns.
Yesterdays Springfield Republican re-
ports you as repeating your defense
Of your naction in the Shoe Machin-
cry matter by saying, in substance, that
Gov. Foss should have referred it to
District Attorney Pelletier, who, as you
know, perfectly well, had, under the an
thrust act of 1908, no jurisdiction to act
in the matter unless and until the at
torney general directed him to act
Perhaps District Attorney Pelletier
has jurisdiction in the matter Of this
criminal advertising; at any rate, you
viii be gratified to know that | am
bringing the matter to his attention as
law enforcing officer of the common
wealth who is not afraid to enforce the
law"