Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-28
portland Evening Expressl

| tfUGlidDU Evening EApitSSJ
II. L. Copeland of Holden, an in
structing and inspecting deputy of the
Maine State Grange, in communica-
ton takes up the letter written by
| himself early in September to Senator
! Obadiah Gardner, which was the
theme of Senator Gardeners defense
/ before the Maine State Grange at its
annual meeting last week in this City,
relative to his attitude toward par
cells post. In his letter Mr.. Copeland
asserts his own conviction that the
Maine State Grange was out of order
| in allowing the matter to be brought
/ up al that time, as the rules of the
order do not allow personal, political
or venomous talk" at its sessions.
/ The letter in question which fur
nished the subject of much of Senator
| Gardeners remarks before the State
| Grange quoted members of the order
| as asking the question, according to
the writer, what had become of the
money contributed by the members of
the Grange to aid the cause of parcels
post? The Grange members were ASH
ed to contribute $4,000 for the aid of
the work, and Mr.. Copeland states that
counting of funds contributed and that
no implication was intended against
| the Senator.
Mr. Copeland's letter asserts that
mo gentleman or honorable man
would call another liar at a public
meeting, especially of a fraternal
nature, in the others absence, even if
he had positive proof to that effect,
and the writer challenges Mr.. Gardner
to "cite one statement in said letter
which can be called falsehood.' Mr..
Copeland quotes a letter recently
written by himself to Senator Gard
ner, in which he demands that the
Senator prefer charges against him,
these charges to be in accord with
accusation made at the State Grange,
that they may be proven or the writ
er's name cleared of the foul charge
before the patrons
Mr.. Copelands letter follows:
Holden, Me-. Dec. %, 1912.
Mr.. Editor:
Unable to attend the recent session
of the Maine State Grange at Portland
on account of sickness in my family, l
have noted from the press reports of
that session that | was the subject of
very severe criticism, to say the least
at the hands of Senator Gardner, re-
lating to an open letter written by my
self and published in the Kennebec
Journal of Sept. 5.
He characterizes the letter as an
"ousra geous falsehood" Such an ac-
cusation as this coming at such time
and place no self-respecting man could
allow tn pass unchallenged. In the
first place, ] believe it to have been
entirely out of order. AS we interpret
the Digest no personal, political or
Venemous talk is allowable.
If the Maine State Grange at its an
nual meeting is to be clearing house
of political scraps among its members
and for promoting the interests of
those seeking political Office by resolu-
tions, etc, its days of usefulness as
a fraternal order are numbered.
Does it not seem a little strange
that the senator should wait nearly
four months before replying to that
letter?
l have seen no reply through the
press, nor has he written me PERSONAL
ly.
The senator in his remarks does not
read the letter to the audience, but
misquotes a small part of it, saving
that / stated there that u would like
to have him explain what had become
Of the $4,000 contributed by the
Changers of the State to the fund for
parcels post legislation, when in fact
that part of the letter relating to this
subject reads