Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-09-06
REGRETS METzoER's CONDUCT.
Clarke c. Fits Considered Publication
Of Part Of Personal Letter a Lack Of
First Principles Of Courtesy.

Of Part Of Personal Letter Lack of
First Principles Of Courtesy.
Editor. of The Phoenix
Reverend Fraser Metzger the Pro-
gressve candidate for governor, has
seen fit to make public a short quota
ton from a long letter l wrote him on
the Goth of last April. He did this on
the last day of the campaign when
there was no opportunity to adequately
get a reply before the people. He did
this, as is apparent in an attempt to
hurt the Republican candidate for gov
ernor and to secure votes for himself.
He has had my letter since the goth of
April 1t was not fair nor honorable that
he undertake the last day of the cam
paign to make a quotation from that
letter, even if his sense of fairness per-
mittej him to do it at all. He should
have done it long ago when there was
a fair opportunity to reply.
On April 18th last Mr.. Metzger, with
whom l have been on personally friend
ly relations for some time, wrote me
personal letter. The first paragraph of
that letter is as follows:
II am rather sorely in need of
some very plain and honest advice
and l know of no man who is in
better position to give 1t than your
self. The difficulty under which 1
am laboring at the present time is
politics."
He then states his idea that he may
like to run for Congress against Mr..
Plumley, at length discusses the matter
and asks my honest opinion as to his
chances and the advisability of his en-
tering the field, etc. And his letter con-
cludes:
II must apologize for intruding
upon busy mans time with what
Is as yet personal matter, but l
know your interest in the affairs of
our state, and your acquaintance
with myself will constitute a sufi-
cient reason for my appeal"
| ask him to publish the whole letter.
| did reply to him the day after / re-
celved his letter ,and wrote him at
length concerning general political con-
ditions and the likely effect upon him,
a fair and frank answer to his personal
request to me for personal advice. My
letter to him was personal. l have never
used or thought of using in this cam
paign either his letter or my reply. In
the letter 1 did state what Is quoted
In MS public statement in the press
ask him to print the whole of my letter
had then been informed of the
things which the Democratic and Pro-
gresslVe campaign committees are now
using in attack upon Mr. Fletcher and
In my letter to Mr.. Metzger I stated
the opinion I had in view of those state
ments. 1t has since turned out that
those statements are lacking of the
whole truth. On knowing the whole
truth | have become satisfied that Mr.
Fletcher is worthy and have been glad
since his nomination to give him the
best support l have been able and
among other things I have been glad to
help refute the charges so malciously
made against him.
But to me the only regret Is that q
man whom I have felt worthy of nv
friendship should so violate every prin-
ciple of true friendship as to disclose
Tor political purposes the personal an
swer of a friend to personal request
ne had made of him. 1t is such a want
OF good faith, such a lack of the first
principles of courtesy, that I regret his
conduct. He now says repeatedly on the
platform that he is not seeking office
In April he was suggesting his own
| nomination for Congress He saws now
mat the Republican party is and for
long time has been unworthy of re-
spect and the support of good men. In
April he was contemplating the start OF
his own campaign for nomination al
the hands of the Republican party. He
now says that the people should beware
OF politicians and those who have been
IN any way connected with the public
aHalrs OF the state of Vermont because
they are unworthy. In April he was
seeking the counsel and advice and sup
port OF one of those whom he now calls
a politician. 1t is regrettable. \
Yours truly,
CLARKE c. Fits
Brattleboro, VT, Sept a. 1919.