The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-09-05
SAYS PAGE MADE
HIM DIVIDE PAY
Arthur w. Rich Makes
Charges Against United
States Senator Page
MUCH OF WORK FOR
PAGE PERSONALLY
Also Swears That Man Who Married
Senator's Niece Was Listed Clerk of
Committee in Washington But
Lived in Hyde Park.

RUTLAND, Sept 5.-The three-cor-
nered senatorial contest in this state
will be enlivened when the voters learn
of the affidavit sworn to in Boston bv
Arthur W. Rich, in which he claims
that while clerk of the senate com
mittee on standards, weights and meas
ures, of which Senator Carroll s. Page
was then chairman, at a salary of 1920
a month, he was required to turn over
to the, senator, through his private
stenographcr, Miss Seymour, half the
amount.
Rich in his affidavit alleged that ac-
cording to the best of his knowledge and
/ belief this money was appropriated by
Senator Page and not applied to any
other purpose. He swears that the
checks sent him in Vermont were turned
over to Senator Page in full and that
as a result of working on half pay in
| Washington and without compensation
in the summer he was Obliged to seek
other employment.
| Rich also swears that Donald II.
Scribner, assistant manager of Senator
Page 5 calfskin and poultry business in
| Hyde Park, and who married the SEN
ator 5 niece, never was in Washington
except for short visit, yet i'll the con-
! gressional directory of the ed con-
gress he is listed as clerk of the Com
mittee on Cuban relations, of which
Senator Page was then chairman.
In the congressional directories of
1910 Rich is listed as senate messenger.
For two years lie has been clerk in the
law office Of Bates, Nay, Abbott &
Dane, room 1884, fremont building, Bos-
ton. Ex-Gov. John l.. Bates of Massa-
chusetts is the head of the firm. Part
of this time it is understood that Rich
has lived in Cambridge, Mass.
;, The affidavit, which is expected to
create a sensation, was made in the law
office where Rich is employed and was
sworn to before Frederic A. Crafts. also
III the employ of the firm. 1t could not
be ascertained last night under what
, circumstances Mr.. Rich came to make
| the affidavit, but it was made Aug. II.
The document adds another interest
{ ing chapter to the senatorial contest in
: which Senator Carroll S. Page, ex-GOv
7, Allen NJ. Fletcher and Gov Charles w
Gates are battling for the Republican
nomination. Vermont is what can fair
ly be called a Republican state and il
: is also fair to assume that whoever re
ceives the nomination at the primaries
: Sept. II will be elected to the United
States senate.
Additional interest in the contest i
aroused from the fact that this wear
for the first time, the senatorial nomi
nation will be made in a state wild,
3 primary. While there are three candi
7 dates III the field, the real contest ap
j. pears to be between Senator Page AM
n eX-GOv. Fletcher For a long time i
was doubted whether anyone would op
; pose Senator Page for the denomination
|, although Mr.. Fletcher had been sug
gested as a candidate.
:. When ex-Goy. Fletcher s name wa
H presented it brought about an attacl
II from several papers here and III conse
II quence of these attacks Mr.. Fletche
II decided to become a candidate. Gov
H Gates later entered the fight.
II Both Senator Page and Mr.. Fletehe
II have conducted a newspaper campaig
II through the state
II The story told by young Rich is on
II of hopes, aspirations, disappointment
Il Encouragement and six years of strua
Il gle to obtain a knowledge of Law
II Through William S. Bean of Newpor
h VT, who was clerk of the senate con
4 mittee on weights and standards, Ric
\ says he secured an appointment on Jan
| | l, 1910, from Senator Page as assistan
- clerk or messenger of the committe,
A The salary was 1920 a month, payabl
!, twice a month when the senate was
session and once when not in session.
He alleges that the first time he wa
to receive his pay, Mr.. Bean told hin
!, to get it at the senate disbursing ofic
= and take it to Senator Page; that he +,
70 ceived that day 500, being two weeks