The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-12-17
Telephone Extraordinary.

An earnest supporter of Tilden and re-
form and later Of the civil service reformer,
Cleveland, called at the central telephone
office the other day in a somewhat excited
frame OF mind and wanted to know if he
could talk with Brad Smalley at Burlington.
The proper connection having been made by
the obliging George, the following CONVEX
sation ensued:
Hello, Mr.. smalleyl Is that you?"
eyes"
" Are you all alone?"
g Yes, comparatively speaking. There are
only six or eight here after Offices"
Well, L wanted to have a word or two
about q personal matter. / am one of the
faithful l am. / voted for Tilden and Han
cock and Cleveland and l carried one of the
biggest torches at our big celebration here
and / want to know what recognition the
party was going to give me. Can't l get my
toes warmed little somewhere"
-" Perhaps so, but you must remember
that there are very many noble and dis
interested men like you and all cannot have
an office"
eyes, know but / take the Arqus and
thought from what / read in that paper
that those who shouted the loudest and
talked reform great deal could be pretty
certain of something, if it was nothing more
than the post office at Woodbury..
"Ah, see. You have been taking stock
in what the Argus says. Do you read any
other paper?"
mo"
Well, you better subscribe for the
BrdtueborO Refornier at once and you will
have better idea of things after little.
But what do you want? l will see what
can do for you
IAN right. have been thinking that l
should like to be collector of the port of
Burlington
"Well-ah-ahem-hav you seen what
the papers have said about that office? OF
course not, though, as you read none but the
argus. Well-the fact is my friends are
urging me to take that place."
"Oho! Did you shout and carry torch?"
" No. furnished brains and helped col
lect-that is forwarded such subscriptions
as some Interested parties We're pleased to
give voluntarily"
" Interested parties? What were they in
terested in?''
"Oh, in getting a reform administration
and good men into the offices, suppose"
Very likely, But perhaps might be in
ternal revenue collector for this district.
That is not a very laborious position"
" My dear sir, that place was assigned to
the editor of the Argus eight years ago
when we thought Tilden was elected"
in his paper"
" 1t Is true, nevertheless, and it is under
stood that his expectation of having that Of
flee accounts for his making more speeches
since election than he did before"
Well, has anyone spoken for the post
Office here?'
+" AS to that don't know as we can get
hold of it. 1t will be pretty hard to show
cause why Mr.. Wing should be removed
but we shall try hard, as the place is needed
Tor Frank BaScom. In spite of our efforts
to keep the party small, so as to have offices
enough to go around, fear we shall have
trouble"
60 So it seems, but perhaps could be dis
trict attorney. | cOul1 amn1ov a Iauvar 70
do the work"
Eyes, but did you hear Felix McGettrick's
speech at the Montpelier celebration"
- Certainly"
place to get that out of him."
Why, supposed he did it from purely
patriotic motives"
" 1t is perfectly evident that YOU have
III guess have got wrong idea of YER
States marshall"
=" That is not settled yet. Probably j. G.
Burke of Albany, although II. II. Brigham
of Bakersfield wants it,"
"Why' saw Burke here at the celebra-
ton and he did not look like an office
seeker"
Burke is bright fellow but he has an eye
to the main chance just the same"
:" Judge all of our leaders do by what you
say: But can't get an appointment in one
of the custom houses or as deputy collector"
"It is doubtful. have a large number
to satisfy and the editor Of the Argus has his
relatives and retainers to provide for"
Just so, but where are the rank and file
coming IMP"
"Oh, they can carry torches at the next
celebration"
So they can but, as a last resort, can't | be
postmaster at Woodbury."
Sorry to say that Harry Dewing has al
ready been recommended for that place. He
has peddled democratic votes at every town
meeting since he worked on the Argts and
ought TO have some fitting recognition"
Yes L should think so. But l guess
shall not vote the old ticket next time. L