The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-06-21
Senator Page Challenged.
FPr+1o,J uny.a11

In an article published elsewhere IN
these columns, the Ludlow Tribune
asks Senator Page three pointblank
questions and one implied question.
Possibly the queries Of the Tribune
are addressed to the incumbent of the
office more or less in the interest of its
neighbor, Allen NJ. Fletcher. In fact,
their publication cones very near
personal challenge to Senator Page.
Let us see what they are
Stating them in the order Of impor-
tance, as The Herald sees it, they
might be stated substantially as fol-
lows:-
What measure of constructive i'm
portance has Senator Page stood be
hind and carried to successful conclu-
sion during his incumbency?
Did he vote "No" on the rural
credits bill, and if so why?
Did he vote ''No'' on the protec-
ton Of water powers, and if SO why ?
Is he a candidate for reelection
and if so why does he not announce
| himself?
Beginning with the final question,
| The Herald will answer it, d" Yes 1t
has had no such assurance from the
| senator, but his friends say he is a
candidate, a1d, as Il matter of fact, his
campaign has been actively under way
for some time.
The reasons given by his friends
| for his failure to announce himself are
insufficient, in a general way. They
have something to do with senatorial
tradition; there may be private con
siderations having to do with the fed
eral statute setting a limit on cam
paign expenditure, but certainly nC
harm could be done by making a franl
announcement and setting forth rea
sons.
The third question is interesting
The question OF conservation is many
sided. No man in the country excep
Clifford Pinchot knows all there is t.
know about conservation and he is of
. ten wrong. Nermonters. however
would be interested in Senator Page
views, and no. doubt the senator viii
be glad to explain his vote ac
cording to Vermont custom.
1 On rural credits, The Herald BIZ
e. lieves Senator Page voted right. Rura
t credits constitute a problem that ha
, puzzled some of the greatest brains
I finance, and certainly the problem ca.
/ not be solved by any such half-bake
5 measure as that proposed by the pres
4 emit Congress, but in this respect, a
5 so, Vermonters would certainly Civ
t respectful hearing to the senator
+ reasons for voting against it.
l. As to the first and most importan
/ question, il may indicate line of a
o tack on Senator Page : defenses. Pc.
S sibly it is unfair to Judge a senator {
r the United States wholly on his a,
L compished work in constructive legi
/ lation. A Junior senator has his wa
l to make. He has much to learn an
assuredly in a democratic Congress
e where he finds himself III a minorit
4 his handicap in such an accomplish
n ment is considerable
Is The Herald would say that a SCI
IS ator s vote, his care of his constit
lie ents and his diligence would be of ju
e as much importance and would
IS fully as interesting, but clearly if Il
m challenge is calculated to "smol
1t OUT the senator, he can lose nothir
10 by taking his people into his con
y dence, as the Tribune suggests.
z Publicity is likely to be featu
y of the coming campaign, and no OF
IS knows better than Senator Page i
ot great value Why not enlist his new
y paper friends in his behalf?