The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-09-07
The Famous Rich Affidavit
RICHS OWN LETTERS PROVE HIS AFFIDAVITS TO
BE A TISSUE OF FALSEHOOD
Another Chapter in the Fletcher
Campaign of Mud, Money,
and Misrepresentation

For weeks information has bee
coming TO Senator Page that there ha'
been prepared in the Office Of William
a Smith at Newport, political head
quarters Of Allen NJ. Fletcher in Or
leans county,, an affidavit by forme
employee Of the Senator, Mr.. Arthu
NJ. Rich.
Senator Page, in his political adver
Using last month made mention Of thii
affidavit showing that it was a part o,
well laid plan to discredit him--Pag'
and that it emanated from the sam,
Office as did the Lamoile County Say
ings Bank d Trust Co. attack
1t would never do to print this It's.
sue Of falsehood, misrepresentation
and insinuation after its Newport par
entage had been exposed to the public
Another affidavit therefore had to be
secured.
The Rutland Herald under date Of
September under a five column front
page heading, gives the Rich affidavit
and the Herald's story, Someone has
well said that "a chain it no stronger
than its weakest link" and if this line
OF reasoning should be applied to this
unique connection it loses all its force
If it ever had any,
1t is exceedingly fortunate in this
campaign where the wrecking Of char
acter seems to be the chief business of
the Allen NJ. Fletcher Club that Mr..
Rich's original letters and copy of
the replies thereto have been preserv-
cd for no holder or more deliberate at
tempt at character assassination was
ever perpetrated upon citizen of
Vermont than this Rich affidavit Sc
cured by the Rutland Herald.
When Senator Page went to the
Senate in 1908 he found there VIM. S.
Bean who had been the Secretary of
both Redfeld Proctor and John w.
Stewart, Senator Page was then en-
titled to a Secretary and clerk and ne
appointed VIM. S. Bean.
Mr., Bean was from Newport, Yer
mont, and living at that place was one
Arthur NJ. Rich. Mr., Bean suggested
that Senator Page secure Rich's SER
vices as stenographer and that he also
bring from his home Office at Hyde
Park another stenographer, assuring
the Senator that he could handle his
work better in that way and that these
two stenographers would gladly work
for the allowance made for clerk or
messenger.
Without further Introductory re-
marks there is presented herewith the
letter press copy Of William S. Beans
letter which tells a story, not written
in the stress Of a political campaign,
not written when it was ever expected
that there would be need of its public
ity. Even without comment, Senator
Page feels that he could leave the let
ter Of William S. Bean alongside the
affidavit Of Arthur NJ. Rich with full
est assurance that the reasoning judg-
ment Of his people would condemn the
affidavit.
COPY OF BEAN LETTER TO RICH
December q, 1909.
Dear Arthur
Yours Of the oath received.
think your plan good one. If you
leave Newport at ll:25 Saturday
night, you will reach N. Y. about ll:35
Sunday morning. If you turn to the
right as you go out Of the station
towards 9Th Avenue, you will find
good restaurant in about a minutes
walk. right hand side Of the street,
Childs Restaurant. That viii be handy /
and will save you lots Of time.
enclose you Penn. folder showing
Sunday trains to Washington. Pre- (.
sumo you will have time to get lunch /
and get across the city in time for the
les. You had better allow yourself
thrce-auarters Of an hour or an hour
to get from the Grand Central to the
Pennsylvania ferry at West 23rd St .
Take ith Avenue car south from the /
G. c. station to 23rd street and trans /