Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1913-04-23
COMBS the Editor Out for Fair.

Mr.. Editor:
Why do you publish my articles and
then in published paragraph of your
own select me by name for a slur and
insult? Would it not been fairer and
more just between man and man to-
if you did not approve of them-have
refused to publish them with or with
out your reasons for so doing? But in-
stead of doing this you select me by
name and hold me up before the public
as one who has no right to criticize Leg
islatOrs because have never been one,
and have not been success in my own
undertakings and write these criticisms
as a pastime being able to handle a
pen. Other local papers publish my
writings without slurring me and even
Manchester, N. H., and Boston dailies
do the same and Boston agricultural
paper published an article on sugar
making written by me when / was IA
years old. So have faith in my ability
to not only ''handle pen" but to put
together ideas in a readable manner
and of interest to the general public.
and whatever you may think of my
writings, or what you had better do
to curry favor with the powers that
be am we'll satisfied that nine tenths
of the Vermont people think the same
| about our legislature as | do. Criti-
cism arises from every part of the
state, Rutland county lister says the
new tax law is the rankest piece Of
legislation ever put over on the people
of Vermont. Your Greensboro Bend
reporter says if the listers had had
any part in enaeting the tax law it
would be safe to predict they would
be shot or hanged before completing
the list. Does all this look as though
it was receiving general favor? but l
do not expect you to come out against
| it for fear of offending legislators.
One favor l ask is, that if you take any
notice of this letter or make any COM
ments on it. that you publish it in full,
| limit as I requested or that regarding
the Indiana legislature. You say l
have not been success in my own un-
ldertakings but Notwithstanding being a
cripple for 40 years with rheumatism
accumulated enough to pay for my
maintenance since becoming helpless
and when doing business had rating
of $4,000 with the commercial agen-
cies. Please have the moral courage
to state publicly just what you think
about the new tax law.
4. w. McGaffey.
Greensboro, VT.
Mr.. McGaffey puts a coat on that
was not intended particularly for him.
We said in the paragraph over which
he is so excited that men who criticize
most, "seldom" had served in public
capacities and that in "most' cases
these people have been none too sue.
cessful in their own undertakings We
mentioned Mr.. McGaffey's name ir
the first part of the paragraph but
then said "This, like other things
ETC., leaving Mr.. Gaffey. his letter anc
the exact subject about which he
wrote behind. If Mr. McGaffey prefer:
, to drag himself along through the en-
tire paragraph. take himself around thu
r qualifying words and believe himself
: slammed he has that privilege. W.
: must confess we did not know Mr.. Nc
2 Gaffey's position, success or condition
r in life when writing that paragraph.
2 Mr.. McGaffey has freely hit at per
sons and things in these columns, try
: ing to thrust them through with /:
sword, but the instant he is touched
with pin prick thinks he is abused.
t Reference to omissions is explained
by the fact that Mr.. McGaffey sen
additions to his original letter after i
was in type and we did not conside
the matter of Importance enough t.
necessitate the trouble of resetting.
( We do not deny you the right tt
! criticize the legislature, Mr.. McGaffey
Y or anything else. in fact give you tina
: chance in these columns, but the edi
tor would ask your humble permission
5 for the same right of criticism an
e comment, especially since it is his ow
d paper.