Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-11-05

Bascn,u Il Dead cock in the Pit-A New
NAuAIlAte TO b. thO,en by CAuCu,.

.SppcA. CORES poudcncc oi the Free Press
MONTPELIER, oct. 3D.. Political affair
in tie ...nocYttic circles H. Nontpeli, + are
ar boiling hed'. T44t something extra
OF l...atv was going On nas teen evident
from the furry and excitement seen
among democratic leaders ana the report
that bomb had burst in the democratic
camp was easily believed The fact is
that the situation OF affairs in the long
continued fight over the Montpelier post
Office has taken Il sudden unexpected
turn. President Cleveland has finally
given his answer TO the demands of Mr.
Atkins that +. II. Bascom he appointed
postmaster, to the effect that he cannot
and Will not make the appointment. Mr.
Atkins told me tonight that the president
stated his decision in the matter to
Messrs. Smalley and spear in a
recent personal interview. 1t is re
ported that the president said, in
announcing his decision, that, while
ne knew that druggists sold liquor
in many states which had a prOhibitOry
law, nevertheless ne could not under all
tho circumstances of the case remove such
an officer as Mr.. Wing, nor could he haZ-
ard his reputation by the appointment Of
Bascom and he would not do it, Mr. At
kins says that therefore Mr.. Bascom is
cratic patrons OF the Montpelier Office il
soon to be held to decide upon a claimant
or tie Office The principal candidates
are +. ". Morse, general passenger agent
of the Montpelier and Wells River rail
road, \. 4. Mead and Henry Lowe. The
result Of this new phase OF the matter j., a
general row among the democrats in TINS
town. BaScOm is sui reluctant to with
draw III spite Of the presidents decision ;
and, against the protests OF his
former friends who notified him
last Thursday that his candidacy was
a hopeless one, he still persists in his claim
TO the office. Mr. Bdsclm tells a pitlful
story OF the i'll treatment ne has received
a, the hands of the administration and of
Mr.. Atkins, and. says that the latter has
deserted him i'll order to support MI.
Morse who gives the argus office the
printing for the Wells River road, Bas-
com says that his candidacy for The po>t-
Office has cost him thousands of dollars
He mad given over 800 for political purpOs-
es and was promised by Mr., Atkins that
ne should have the Montpelier Office by
the first of October, 1855, He had follow
ed Atkns's advice in selling out his bust
ness about year ago and had lost $500 by
the operation. He had been waitin z over
year for Mr.. Atkins to fulfill his promise
and with no income. from business, had
paid Tor living EXPENSES over $500 OF the
money which he had laid up in years past.
He sad that of late he had not expected
to get his appointment until Mr.. Wings
commission expired, but Mr.. Atkins was
unwilling to wait, and therefore favored
Mr.. Morse under whose candidacy he eX-
pected TO be more successful in carrying
out his boast that he would control the
Montpelier p0stoilice. Mr.. Bascom in
sists that neither Mr. Morse nor anyone
will be made postmaster until Mr., Wings
term expires, and then that he himself
viii be the man.
Mr.. Atkins explains the matter rs toll
lows. "Bascom cannot say that have
not stood by him. didstand by HIM until
the president said he couldn't be appoint
ed, and now, after the decision given by
President Cleveland, he is out of the
field and would say SO if he said what he
ought to- Bascom complains about my
going back ON him, nut | have not.
think now that Bascom might have been
appointed if he had behaved 40 he ought
to in the matter. He has too much
mouth, and don't know when to talk and
when not 10. His Offering to bet on mis-
appointment, as he did, was great mis-