The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-10-27
PAGE BACKS DILLINGHAM;
Stands BY His Colleague
Contest

lion, Secretary Searles of the Repub-
lican State Committee made written
inquiry of Senator Page and the fol
lowing p-ompt and effective reply
was made:
Washington, D. c., Oct 10, 1914
MIR. j. Rolf Searles.
Vice Chairman and Secretary,
Republican State Committee,
Montpelier, Vt.
My dear Sir:
Yours 10th enclosing clipping is
sued by the Prouty Club entitled
Educational Menu" is received. In
that circular comparisons are made
of the votes of Senator Dillingham;
and myself on certain public meas
ures with the apparent purpose of
iiscrediting Senator Dillingham;
among my friends.
Whatever the purpose of this is
sue, or whether the authors of this
circular did or did not design to be
unfair to Senator Dillingham; is a
matter which need not be discussed,
but that it does do him an injustice
by leading the readers of that circu'
lar to reach a wrong conclusion with
reference to his record, is inquest
ionably true, and | don't think !
should be true to my sense of duty if
did not correct the wrong impress
sion conveyed by this circular, by
giving the facts as think know
them to be.
Senator Dillingham;, because of
his long years of service has held
some very important committee as
,ignments. AS chairman of the com
mittee on Privileges and Elections, il
has frequently been necessary for
him to be absent from the city in at
enhance upon investigations pertain
ng to work in connection with his
committee, but he has always been
paired so that his vote has really
counted on the Republican side of
every important measure.
my own committees, fortunately,
nave been such that | could remain at
ny post he.e at Washington, ar
whenever Dillingham; has been alb
sent it has been my pleasure to noti-
fy the Senate of his necessary alb
sence and state the name of the
Democrat with whom he was paired.
Il is. therefore, unfair to assume that
because Dillingham; did not vote up
IN any matter that his vote did not
eally count upon that measure.
Dillingham; has the courage of his
convictions to an extent eXcelled by
no Senator When the Lorimer case
vas being considered. IL was the sub
iect of frequent discussion between
Dillingham; and myself Dillingham;
knew that in voting against the reso-
luton to expel Lorimer he was going
counter TO public sentiment in Yer
mont and he often said to me sub
stantially this: whether ! am re-
elected to the Senate or not is a
matter of little importance compared
with doing my duty as | see that
duty to be in the trial of this case"
las Chairman of the Committee on
Privileges and Elections he had more
10 do with the case than any other
Senator and | believe that he gave to
its consideration his best thought
and believing that the evidence in the
case did not justify Lorimer's ex-
pulsion he voted as he did. and the
more one studies Dillinghams ac-
ton in this matter the more he must
-espect his courage and his adher-
ence TO what he believed to be his
duty.
Il am surprised to see the "Educa-
tional Menu" Of the Prouty Club do
such a rank injustice to Senator Dill
bingham as TO- by implication. lead
the people Of Vermont to believe that
he was in favor Of Canadian recipro
city. This is a matter where he and
were in conference many. many
times and we each reached the same
conclusion. namely. that the inter
ests of Vermont demanded that we
oppose the passage of this measure
Dillingham; made speeches in Yer
mont, and ! think in the Senate.
against reciprocity and his vote
counted as much as my own against
the measure although at the time the
vote was taken, Senator Hillman.
with whom he was paired was III and
not in attendance upon the Senate.
fact which Senator Dillingham; an
nounced. stating his pair. and at thu
same time saying that were Mr. Till
man present and he permitted TO
vote. he should vote No.
ION the measure for the establish
ment of a Childrens' bureau Senator
Dillingham; instructed me TO say to
the Senate that he was paired with
Senator Tillman but il present he
should vote for the bill
The Prouty Educational Menu
says that Dillingham; did not vote for
the measure establishing parcels
post This is an error. Dillingham;
was absent during the consideration
OF the bill but on its final passage.
which was on the adoption OF the con.
ference report OF the two houses. on
the bill. he did vote affirmatively.
Il am only surprised that in siN
4 wears service there have been so fau