Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-04
A QUEST1ON OF vERACiTY.
(Irrom the Manchester journal. !

(Trom the Manchester Journal.)
In our Issue Of March Z. the journal |
propounded SOME questions for Editor
Howe of tho Bennington Banner TO
answer. Mr. Howe has publicly offered
himself to the republican voters Of Yer
mont az a candidate for the high Office
Of lieutena nt.governor The rule has long
been established in this country. and is
we'll understood, that when anyone con-
sents 70 be a candidate for public Office.
lie must be considered as putting his
character in issue. SO far as respects his
fitness and qualifications for the office.
Now, these questions were propounded by
the Journal in good faith and on It's own
responsibility. They were not 'instigated
by little old party bosses nor by self
appointed censors of the Republican
party nor by Two or three men for
selfish reasons or revenge" The Journal
believed at the time. and still adheres to
that belief, that the questions were JUS
| titled by virtue OF the many conflicting
| utterances found in the ditorial columns
of Editor Howe's paper, the Banner, and
review of his record In politics. We
now propose to show whether or not the
journal had reasonable and Justifiable
grounds for taking this position, and are
willing to leave the verdict to the fair
minded and impartial republican voters
Of the State, Mr.. Howe cannot befOg the
issue by getting into the highways and
| hy-ways, nor will his explanations and
qualifications In his answers relieve him
| from responsibility for the main facts.
We give below the eight questions ask
| ed nv the Journal. such portions Of Mr..
Howe's answers showing his denials
Of our alleged charges. and some
extracts from the editorial columns OF the
Banner and Reforfner which are on file,
and will permit these extracts to speal;
for themselves.
| l. Are you a republican, democrat or
socialist?
9 If you claim to be a republican, will
you not kindly name one single republi-
can ticket. either county. state or ma
tionnl Of that party which has received
your hearty support in the last eight
years?
3. Is It not true that you have repeat
eddy attacked the administration OF Presi-
dent Taft In your newspaper and pro-
nounced the same in q late issue as being
a total failure?
4. Also. did you not for time openly
advocate the nomination OF senator
La Toilette?
;. You have announced that you now
favor the candidacy Of Colonel Roosevelt,
so We inquire do you endorse Colonel
Roosevelt platform in full. including the
initiative. referendum and recall Of judi
cial decisions?
C. If you are In fact a democrat why
do you seek nomination at the hands
of the Republican party
!. If you say you are not democrat,
nevert heless is 1t not true that you have
openly endorsed the scheme of revision
of the tariff and the entire program OF
the present democratic majority in Con-
gress?
s. II YOU say YOU are not socialist
vet Is 1t not fact that YOU publicly in
troduced socialist soap box orator II
the streets Of Bennington. endorsed the
views Of this agitator and commended
u the platform OF the socialists In youl
newspaper?
= "UD | have supported tho principles o
! the Republican party and for nearly .
: years have customarily voted for repub
lican candidates at election.
: Regarding this question and Edito
Howes answer thereto the Journal mere
ly requests that the reader keep the an
y swer in view. and especially that portion
about supporting tho principles Of III
" Republican party" while examining tn
u extracts from the Banner editorials whic
" are given below
",g Claiming TO he republican,
have supported every county. State an
u national ticket OF that party, not onl
during the past eight years. but for IN
:" past Is years During that time Their
have been several candidates out OF tn
). hundred and more the several repuh
- lican tickets for whom have not voted
" because deemed them not we'll quali'ie
and I propose to continue This practice /
y the future
= We have no doubt that Mr.. Howe usua
~, Is voted the republican tickets he mer
:" tons. If he SO asserts. hut what the Jou'
- nal had in mind was. did he support II
republican tickets in the last eisht year
in his newspaper. the Bennington Bar
ner? Admitting our ignorance upon II
subject. we might induire IN partietia
IN DID the Banner support the republioa
state ticket. headed by Governor Mea
two years ago? And again. did the Bar
ner support the republican State tick
lit headed by Governor Prouty four yea
ell ago.
IL "(3) 1t Is not true I have not repea
ne eddy attacked the administration OF Pres
r dent Taft and have not pronounced 1t
es total failure"
b. THE Banner does not believe that it
at wise for the Republican party 10 renon'
al nate Taft. that is. II the party has M
be desire to win. President Taft Will r.
rs about strong next year as Hora
II Greeley did in 1872. and stands about q
~ ! same show Of success. Practically eve
III American citizen admires and loves w
n liam H. Taft. the citizen. but - Preside
or of the United States he has been ia
ure from the day he put Richard Be
linger into his cabinet down 10 his me
sage to Congress the other day."-F,ve
ing Banner. Dec. Is. 1911
he corporation lawyers usually ma
" dangerous public servants as Preside
Is Taft ought to know by this time. Knc
II Ballinger Wickersham have proved
'or great trio. and the President can pla
Is the chief failure of his administration
re not at their door. but at hts own jud
ment in selecting such men. '-BanI
d" and Reformer, July %. 1911
nor Whatever the sentiment toward h
sr may be- He Crafp cannot be
as elected. Banner and Reformer. Move
rly her S. 1911.
cir In answer to a question as to wheti
air there was localized anti-Taft sentiment
alt | Nn,,DN,t Editor HOxva snil n the Bl