Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-08-30
BIC CROWD HEARD
ADDRESS BY Fits
Progressives Failed to Send a
Speaker to Debate with Him
Farmers Holidays In Halifax Ended
with Eloquent Addresses-1aII Game
and Other Features OF Enjoyable Day

Farmers Holidays IN Ha'raS Ehoeo
With Eloquent Addresses-Baii Game
and other Features OF Enjoyable Day
Rarely has so intelligent and repre-
sentative an audience assembled on q
cross road away up in the country as
attended the last of the farmers holi
days this year in Halifax, at Belleview
farm last Saturday. 1t was the largest
crowd and the most profitable day of
the series, and the weather was ideal.
People came from far and near. Those
arriving before noon brought their
lunches and a general picnic was en-
joyed by all. Two games Of ball were
played. Charlie Cox, veteran Of the
diamond, proved himself the star pitch
er OF the day, while Fred Carpenter sur
prised all as a performer behind the
bat
About o'clock people began to gath
er around the platform constructed under
an apple tree laden with golden promise
of abundant fruitage. Sequestered in
the foliage, though plainly visible. were
framed pictures Of President Taft and
Col. Roosevelt.
There was singing of favorite songs,
led by Mrs. Cutting, who came with an
automobile party from West Halifax At
the conclusion of the song service, Hon.
Clarke c. Fits, Judge Worden, Daniel
Lyon, Worden Sumner, Frank B. Stone.
a progressive candidate for representa-
tive Harry e. Clark, Republican candi-
date for representative, and ex-senator
Walbridge took seats on the platform
L. A. Foster. proprietor of the premises,
acted as chairman, and on request an
nounced several political meetings to be
held in different parts of the county
He said that in view of the fact that
some of the speakers could not be pres
ent and on account Of numerous other
attractions, the announced meeting Of
ia NA6
that the Progressives had failed to full
fill their promise to substitute Matthew
Hale of Boston to debate with Mr.. Fits,
providing Col. Colby of New York could
not be present
AS there were present many repre-
sentative men who have to do with leg
islative affairs, the chairmen said the
agriculturst represented the majority of
the votes Of this country and he called
attention to the desire of the more in
telligent farmers for a more rigid en-
forcement of the criminal law, better
highways, a railroad from Wilmington
to Brattleboro, woman suffrage, parcels
post, and an interstate commerce law
prohibiting liquor dealers from shipping
into prohibition territory Intoxicating
drinks for beverage purposes. He main
tanned that it was the duty of the fed
eral government not to permit the con-
stutional rights Of a majority of the
people to be nullified by virtually trans
forming our. transportation companies
into portable saloons. These remarks
were roundly applauded.
Mr.. Fits was presented to the audi
governor. He replied quickly by saying
he was not seeking office as he had had
all he wanted in that direction, but was
trying to do a little good work in the
world by advocating the continuance Of
the Republican party in control of govern.
Il
the failure of the Progressives to sent
a man to debate the issue. He said thi.
was a progressive age. and that he wa!
a progressive, but not the kind tina
progressed from one party to anothe
seeking office. He referred to these hol
days as indicative Of progress amonI
the farmers, and endorsed about ever.
proposition mentioned by the chairman
putting special emphasis upon the fac
that the Republican party in power wa
doing all it could to develop not only tn
big towns, but the small towns also
and he predicted among other things
railroad between Brattleboro and VIII
mington. He said the initiative AM
referendum proposition of the Progress
sive party, II enacted into law, woul
rob the small towns Of their just legte
lative rights. He denied the oft-repeat
ed charge of the Progressive party tina
the Republican National committee prac
ticed dishonesty in seating Taft dele
gates at the Chicago convention. H
said the same rules applied in that con
vention as did in the one that nomi
mated Theodore Roosevelt eight year
before.
Mr. Fits charged that the steel trus
and the Mccormick harvester trust wer
behind Roosevelt In this campaign, an
that while the Progressive party declare
for an eight-hour day law for laborer
all the big trusts behind Roosevelt ez
acted 10 hours or more a day from the
employees. He said Taft was doing a
he could for the parcels post and wa
too great a President and too good
man to be politician. Among oth'
things he said that some Of the news
papers and magazines Of the countr
were abusing Taft because he Is maxim
an effort to require them to pay props
postage on the enormous amount Of az
vertising found in their magazines ar
periodicals, and II Mr.. Taft were sue
cessful in getting this into law tn
financial accrument therefrom would e.
able the government to reduce the LEI
ter postage to one cent, which would
q great beneft to all.
Mr.. Fitts's speech was able and elt
quent and declared by all. regardless
party afflliation, to be the best hear
in this section.
The management wishes to expires
gratitude to all who have helped NAL
these holidays so successful, and for II
favorable editorial comment from II
various newspapers Of the state. 1t
no more than fair to say that notwiti
standing the success of these meeting
they have not been without oppositio
but withal they have wrought gres
blessing to the community.