Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1921-03-02

Gov. Hartness Said to Have Enacted
Disgraceful Scene When Asked
Question by "StOd'' Bates

overshadowed by the talk about the
episode which is said to have been en-
acted in the governors chamber in
Montpelier one day last week.
1t is represented that Governor
Hartness had stated as one of the
reasons why he did not reappoint
Stoddard Bates as state highway
commissioner, in addition to Bates
inability to Coordinate" that he,
(the governor) could not get infor-
nation from the highway depart
ment. Upon learning of this alleged
statement Mr.. Bates went to Govern
and Secretary Wilcox asked the gov
ernor when and where he had been
refused information from his depart
ment, or had been unable to get any
information he had asked for. Where
upon Governor Hartness is reported
to have gabbed a large inkstand
which rested upon the governors
desk and started to hurl it at Mr..
Bates, but was restrained from doing
so by Mr.. Wilcox and Senator Cady.
The ink was nevertheless spilled upon
the governor, his desk and the floor.
MIR. Bates and Mr.. Cady then left the
executive chamber.
In substance this paper has every
reason to believe the above is true
and accurate representation of what
happened, but the following with
reference to the incident is taken
from the Rutland Herald and the
Brattleboro Reformer.
The Rutland Herald says:
When Senator Willis N. Cady OF
Middlebury was informed of the arti-
Gle in the Brattleboro Reformer of
Go f,,rJou which i,,ti,,, toJ fhat fbaro
had been a clash between Stoddard
B. Bates, highway commissioner, and
Governor James Hartness, he declin-
ed to make statement for publica-
ton, but did not deny that the gov
ernor had made a movement toward
throwing an inkwell at the commits
sioner.
This occurred during the heat of an
argument about the highway situa-
ton on Thursday afternoon, and
homecoming legislators declare that
only the Intervention of friends pre-
vented the encounter from becoming
more serious.
The facts about the occurance, OF
which Senator Cady was an eye-wit-
ness and which he does not deny, are
somewhat as follows:
Commissioner Bates went to the
executive chamber to discuss high
way matters and, as precaution,
asked the privilege of saying what he
had to say in the presence of Senator
Cady. This was agreed to by the
governor, who summoned his execu-
tive clerk, julius A. Wilcox, as his
! witness.
The highway commissioner then re-
ferred to the alleged statement of
the governor that he (Bates) had
refused to give him information
about the state highway situation.
Gov. Hartness then reiterated the
statement, according to the report,
and said it was notorious throughout
Vermont that no one could find out
anything about the highways or the
highway departmet from Commits
sioner Bates.
Governor" the commissioner in
reported to have said, 81 never re-
fused you or any other citizen of the
state information about the highways
at any time. Nothing like that ever
happened"
At this point the stories differ
somewhat, one, which comes from the
friends of Gov. Hartness, alleging
that Commissioners Bates passed "the
lie direct" to the governor of Yer
the truth of what the governor said.
The governor is then said to have
asked whether Bates meant to call
him liar and to have grasped the
inkwell on the desk and made a
movement to throw it at Commits
sioner Bates.
Senator Cady, according to the re-
port, then said, warningly:
Governor, Governor!" and Mr..
Wilcox is also said to have made a
movement toward the two officials.
The inkwell was not thrown, but
it's contents was spilled on the desk
and over the hands of the executive.
No further damage vast done.
Gov. Hartness could not be reach
ed tonight at his home in Springfield
Mr.. Laffan, his private secretary,
said that he did not care to make any
statement for the governor.
Friends of Governor Hartness deny
that the executive made any move
ment to throw the inkwell, but mere
ly made a quick movement as he
rose from his chair and overturned
the receptacle accidentally. That the
ink was spilled, however, is not den
led by anyone, so far as the Herald
is informed.
commissioner bdCeS was SOMcWHdL
disturbed by the interview and talked
about resigning and making the mat
ter public, but afterward cooled down.
The facts soon leaked out, however,
and the widest versions were speed
lily flying about the state house. The
foregoing statement is not denied by
Senator Cady, but is not authorized
by him. 1t is not far from the facts.
The affair happened Thursday af-
ternoon when the legislature was in
session.
Report in the Reformer.
The article from the RefoT1ner is
as follows:
Montpelier, Feb. 26.
Vermont's wise and various legis-
lators have left the capitol for the
regular town meeting recess, and the
halls of the state house are temper
arily deserted. After the rush of
yesterdays exodus, however, various
rumors were audible. chief among
them being one to the effect that
State Highway Commissioner Stod-
dard Bates has made up his mind TO
hand in his resignation, probably soon
after the legislature convenes.
Whether or not there is anv truth