The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-04-30
EXPENDED MONEY FOR BURKE.
e. S. Harris of Democratic State Com
mittee Answers Ex-Mayor's Inquiries.

mittee Answers Ex-Mayor's Inquiries.
Chairman f. S. Harris of the Demo
cratic state committee writes the fol-
lowing letter to the Bennington Ban
ner in reply to j. f. Burke's letter re-
Gently printed in The Times and other
state papers;
Editor of The Banner:-I notice in
The Banner of April 10th quer., to
cur Democratic town committee from
j. E. Burke of Burlington, in regard
to certain funds that came into my
hands as chairman of the state com
mittee. Inasmuch as this query was
printed with the evident intention to
create an impression in the minds OF
the Democrats of Bennington, that |
had received funds for the town commit
tee and had not turned the same over
to them, | thought best to answer the
same, although it is not the policy
of the state committee, or myself, to
enter into newspaper controversy OF
this kind, as the party organization Is
amply able to look after these matters.
Mr. Burke could have gotten the cor
rect information from me, had he SO
desired, without taking up space in The
same valuable information that he re-
ceved through Homer A. Lyons, as chair
man of our town committee, and that
Is. that there was none OF the 5000 re-
ceyed by me, turned over to the town
committee of Bennington, or to any
other of the town committees OF the
BAG towns in Vermont, which | would
have as much right to do as to turn it
over to the Bennington town commit
tee.
The money was sent to me for the
purpose OF paying expenses of Demo
cratic state headquarters for the cam
paigD Of 1908, and was expended with
other moneys received, in sending out
oi circular letters, telephone,
telegraph, for stenographers, etc, in the
interests OF the candidates for state
offices OF which Mr. Burke was at the
head, and for no other purpose.
In regard to the 500 which he also
asks about, which Mr. Gleason, the
treasurer of the committee sent me,
presume he means the campaign OF
1910, as Mr. Gleason was not treasurer
in 1905 The money was sent me by
Mr. Gleason in 1910 was to pay bills
OF the same nature as in 1908. In this
We had less funds but achieved
greater results than in 1908 for reasons
best known to the voters OF Vermont.
Homer A. Lyons is right in saying that
no moneys have ever been turned over
from the state committee to the town
and any other town in the
state can say the same thing as far as
| have any knowledge.
A state committee to raise money for
a state campaign must depend largely
upon the county committees, and they
in turn on the funds. But this inquiry
il seems was intended to convey the
that ! should have taken the
funds sent to pay the bills for three
months maintenance of state headquar
tiers. to the Democratic town committee
Of Bennington TO carry on our local cam
oaign and elect local candidates
The town committees to my knowl
,dgc have never raised any funds for
the state committee, to assist in a
state campaign. II So perhaps have
not been informed in regard TO it.
The expenses incurred by me at head
quarters have been on orders Of the state
committee and in most instances the
.unds were paid out before being re-
-eived, and in one or two instances there |
las been a balance that has never been
-ceeived.
The whole controversy seems to have |
risen from pitiful ignorance Of the |
management OF party affairs or with a
deliberate intention of misleading the |
Democratic voters Of the town and |
tate.
| presume that if this large amount
had been properly expended, |
We could have elected Mr.. Burke gov
rnor of Vermont in 1905.
f. S. Harris.