Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-08-21

Jamaica is a fortunate town. Without
trouble or bother on the part of its people
they have had postmaster imported ready
made and set down in their midst ready for
business The appointment of Willard Shep-
ard, Esq, the ''member from Stratton," to
succeed j. @. Robinson, was announced last
Friday or Saturday. 1t is true that very
large majority of Jamaica citizens thought
they wanted another man appointed, one of
their own number, in fact, but this didn't sig
Nifty. Hiram Atkins knew what they really
wanted and Shepard is the result.
Asa illustration of Democratic civil
reform methods it is interesting to recall the
facts in this case. They are, in short, that
about the first of April last Mr.. Shepard bought
a house in Jamaica and moved there from
Stratton, calmly saying that he had come to
take the Jamaica post office. Mr.. Shepard is
q native of Jamaica and spent his early life
there, but for several years he had lived in
Stratton and been the general factotum of
that retired vicinage. Some foolish Jamaica
people were incredulous when Mr.. Shepard
said he had come TO possess the post office.
They thought one of their own citizens ought
TO have the office. One hundred and sixty.
six of them, sixteen Democrats being among
the guileless company, asked in March to
have j. @. Robinson, who had served them
we'll for eight years, kept in the office.
Later on the people got it into their heads
that, il change was to be made, in order to
bring the Jamaica community into 'harmo
ny" with the new administration, the office
might be given TO a Jamaica Democrat, and
petition asking for the appointment of F.
E. Smith, "whenever the department desired
a change, was drawn up and sent in. On
this petition were the names of 300 legal vo-
tiers of Jamaica-a full seven eghths of all
the men in town of voting age. Forty -three
of these con6ding petitioners we're Demo.
Gratis, exactly as many as voted for Mr..
Cleveland last fall-that vote being the larg
est Democratic vote ever cast in town. The
petitioners even took the trouble to send with
their petition a contribution to the waste
paper basket of the department in the shape of
q certified copy of the records of every vote
for governor and president from 1864 TO 1884,
period of 81 years. This certificate showed
the average vote of the town for the 81 years
TO have been 175 Republicans and IS Demo.
Gratis, q total of 193-the largest vote, 25S Re-
publicans and 20 Democrats, having been
cast in 1880. The attention of the arithme-
tic man Of the department was called to the
fact that the 300 petitioners represented 81
more names than the largest vote ever cast in
town, Go more than the vote in 1884 and 80
per cent more than the average vote for 81
years. The petitioners further stated that Mr.
Smith was reputable and respected citizen,
the clerk and treasurer of the town, and they
did not neglect to add the important fact that
he was good Democrat and had always voted
the straight Democratic ticket. Here they
rested, fondly imagining that they had made
out q strong case.
But meantime the member from Stratton"
pursued the even tenor of his way, quietly
remarking now and then that Jamaica folks
could send in as many petitions az they chose
--"6ut he tOGs going to haze tie post office !"
And the event shows that Mr. Shepard knew
what he was talking about In conversation
with different parties he said with perfect
frankness that last fall, when, as usual, he
represented his town of Stratton in the legsla-
ture, and the result of the presidential election
became known, he talked with Mr.. Atkins
and that worthy man told him that inasmuch
as he had been faithful wheel. horse of the
Vermont Democracy these many years he
should now have his reward, and "What
would he like 2" After due deliberaiion, and
notwithstanding several "better" things we're
offered him, Mr.. Shepard said he should like
TO follow in Andrew Johnsons footsteps and
be the postmaster Of his native town. "You
shall have the place !" Mr.. Atkins said, and
that settled It. In April Mr.. Shepard moved
from StrSttOn to Jamaica and quietly waited
while his neighbors worked, and now he has
come into his inheritance.
We congratulate him on his success and
the solace 1t will afford his declining years
Mr.. Shepard Is a man of good repute, Dem
ocrAtioally considered, and with proper as
sistance the work of his office will undoubt-
eddy be satisfactorily performed. But is is a
conspicuous AGront TO every idea OF what
Is right and decent for q man to be imported
from another town and given q government
position which seven-eighths of the people
directly Interested have asked TO have given
10 one OF their own number, 1t Is piece