The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-09-11
noks But Disease Deep Knocked There
THE ATTACK ON WEEKS
Convincing Reply Made by Col. Thad
M. Chapman.

M. NnapHldHs
Col. Thad NJ. Chapman, former
chairman of the Republican state COM
mittee makes the following convinc-
ing reply to the eleventh hour attack
on Judge Weeks by the Burlington
Free Press:
Editor of the Free Press:-in your
issue of September 8 you express
some fear that in case Judge Weeks Is
elected Lieutenant Governor he Will
be extravagant and wasteful Of the
peoples money. AS neighbor OF
Judge Weeks, and one who has OBJ
served his administration Of both pub
lie and private affairs for many years,
can assure you that your fears are
groundless. Judge Weeks is careful,
prudent business man, not afraid to
spend a dollar when it is necessary
and will bring good return, but al
ways careful to make every dollar go
as far as possible.
You give the increased cost OF the
Industrial School, but you do not
state that the attendance has increas
ed. There are now nearly 300 chill
dren in the school, 2S3 the last
knew. Eight years ago there were
only 1856. OF course it is bound to
cost more when you more than double
| the number of children.
The cost per child is only S19250
and that includes board lodging,
clothing, medical attendance, school
| ing, and everything else. for one
say that is none too much. At any
| rate it is lower than in any other state
in New England and much lower than
in such states as New York, Pennsyl-
vania, and New Jersey, In some of
them it costs as high as $4OO per child
| in schools like ours.
OF course We could have jail for
the boys and girls, and feed them on
bread and water, and it would cost
less, but the people of Vermont would
not want to do that. We have one of
| the best reformatory schools in the
country and are prout of it, and it
has been almost entirely rebuilt in re-
| cent years, and it is due TO Judge
Weeks very largely that we have got
ten so much for our money. Ask any
body who ever got contract out OF
him whether they think he is eXtrava-
| gam.
II is true more money has been
spent on the House of Correction but
you omit to explain that the buildings
were in such condition that they had
to be thoroughly repaired, that it was
absolutely necessary to install a wat.
er system. and that an electrical plant
has been put in which is saving the
state money every day
Judge Weeks is not responsible for
the number of prisoners at Windsor,
as they are sent there by the courts.
| Everybody knows there are more than
there used to be. Six years ago
| there were l75, and recently the num-
ber has been as high as 243. 1t costs
money to keep them, and more money
to provide buildings and equipment for
them to use. do not believe there is
a man in Vermont who could have pro-
yided these things more economically
than Judge Weeks.
There Is not an institution in YER
mont, a school, or a factory, or a
newspaper, that is not spending more
money than II did ten years ago.
Prices have gone up. 1t is unfair to
put the responsibility of the increased
cost of everything on an efficient pub
lice officer.
1t is true that Judge Weeks was one
Of those who favored giving more than
fifty cents day to our boys who
went to the front when every one
thought there would be war with Mexi-
co. just as was done in the Spanish
war and in the Civil war. But If the
time has come when it counts against
man in Vermont to vote fair wages
to Vermont Volunteer soldiers, many
of whom have left wife and little one
to stand by the colors, some OF us want
to know it. guess JrSSe Weeks
would rather not be Lieutenant Gov
ernor than to take back his vote OF
his influence on that point.
You say Judge Weeks has had deal
lngs with wealthy men and learned to
spend money. The reason Colonel
Ilsley and Mr.. Hepburn tie to Judge
Weeks in what they do for Vermont is
because they know they can get good
results in anything he manages. II is
Just such men who are most careful
that every dollar is spent wisely
There may be reasons why YOU
J should support Mr. Hulburd, but the
arguments you advance in opposition
to Judge Weeks are not sound. He is
a plain man, economical in his person
al habits and as public officer. He
saved the state thousands of dollars
two years ago by assisting toward ;
short and economical legislature. H'
will never stand FOR the waste OF pub
, lie money and the farmers and work
, ing people know that he is man the,
, can trust to keep expenses down II
, every reasonable way.
, (Signed) 7. NJ Chapman.
IL