Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-10-12
CIVIL SERVICE IN VERMONT.


Its Degradation Under Democratic Ross
RuIe-Some cold Facts Plainly stated.
To the Editor Of The Nation;
Sir Some weeks since, Vermont cor
respondent Of the Ndtion-presumably y
Congr egationaist clergyman recently set
tied in the State-complained somewhat
bitterly of the democratic management Vi
the postoilice business in that State, with
reference to the duty of the independents
in the approaching national election. The
complaint in connection with the recent
State election, and some uses made OF II
ny partisan republican journals and plat
form speakers, suggests this note. from
one who has some knowledge of the State
from Pownai to Derby Line"
1t Is lamentably true that the postal ser
vice in Vermont has suffered very mater
iql depreciation during the present admin
istration, and no one who knows the ma
ture, capacity, and purpose of the Yer
mont democratic ring will be at all sur
prised. or greatly disposed to criticise
President Cleveland. The Vermont Gem
ucracy is the most unique organization
III the history of modern political develop
ment. 1t is not a party, in the sense OF an
organization with political ideas or policy
Of administration to enforce and illustrate
for the public veal, measures to carry,
and reforms to be adopted. The Vermont
democracy is not Il party it knows moth
ing about ideas, principles and measures
1t Is Il clique, a RUG, small and select, OF
party bosses, with several thousand
voters who 90 to the polls and register
the will of the leaders. There are demo
Gratis good and true in the STATE by tue
thousand, but they are not organized 80
rs to resist effectively the unscrupulous
ring. These democrats are rs lntelll- ent
and patriotic aud public spirited as any
men in the State, and they constitute the
majority Of the 1881 votes given ny the
State in 1884 for Cleveland but they are
practically outside the ring, aud have no
effective influence ON the conduct Of the
party or the base uses to which II IL put
by its masters.
In fact, the democratic party does not
exist in Vermont for state purposes,
though it goes through the form OF nomi
mating State officers bienDially, and vot-
ing for them, SO as to preserve the party
from disintegration. For years before tue
war the venerable Paul Dillingham; used
TO stand AS The party candidate for guher-
material honOrs; and after the election
was over aud his over whelmlng defeat
was Officially assured" John q. SAKE,
then of the Burlington Sentinel, would
indite him poem OF political coincidence
over his misfortune. Later Governor
as everybody calls him, w. H. II. Bing-
ham of Stowe, did the honors for his par
ty; few years ago they persuaded the
Hon. +. j. Phelps, who, IN addition to his
other achievements, wrote the best poem
on Essex Junction" eXtant IN the English
or any other Language, to run for governor
Recently, they have picked up such mer
rs they could get, This years candidate
no ore but politician would think OF a.
governor, while Mr. Dillingham;, the sol
of Paul, one OF the great war governors OIL
the State, is conft s>edly the brightest
canahla and promising an
in Vermont to-day
The Vermont democracy exists and il
ruled by two bosses, we'll known to every
Nermonter at home aud abroad, Tor the
sole and supreme purpose OF the national
patronage in the State during 4 democratic
administration. This is its sole and only
reason for living. 1t seeks no State victory
in fact, | do not believe they woult
know what to do with the State on thell
hands. il by some accident they shuult
carry an election. Ii Is the spoils OF the
national administration they want. After
% years of waiting, the day of these bosses
came, and, as there Is but one custom
Office i'll the State, and one boss wanted
that-and but one government buldin&
10 be erected, aud the other wanted th'
superinteudency of tb8'-there was only
the postal service for the henchmen
Hence, old, experienced and valuable
route agents were dismissed 10y Col. Villas
at the Oehest of these party leaders, first
n few instances, wholly incompetent mel
put III their places. And 50 it has gone al
over the state, and this kind or business
was Just as congenial to Col Villas as It
the Vermont leaders.
The same is true to a large eXten
throughout New England, and hence Col
Vilas's administration of the postofice de
partment not only failed to make friend
Tor the president, bat has actually alien
ated some of his best supporters. III
tn1 h,.t rf 10 T9,I.4
masses of the people in New England
and the one thing clergymen, teachers am
business men VIII not Tolerate with an
patience, is bad mail service. Thousand
of them care not fer the sex or poluCd
utilization of postmasters, route agents
etc, but they insist on good service am
that is where Col, Villas was the eN
genus of the administration In Nei
England, and his work injured his part
III Vermont; aud i'll the recent Sttt
election the people associated this Vltlate
mail service with these Nell-kuoWn part
bosses, and took this opportunity 70 mt
them. But Tor these things Vernon
would haze shown marked Democrat
gains. Hence, any apparent repuhhct
gains are not attributed TO Edmund
"lOyalty' this year, nor yet to fresh part
enthusiasm, nor 10 any lree trade scare
albeit high tariff on wool ~ political o
thodoXy in that State The apparent +
publican gains grow cut OF TINS rtVo
against OBNOXIOUS bosses ana d NtSIdut
public service, which is felt IN nearly evel
home IN the State.
A an original mugWump, an uuyielt
ing independent, and friend aud su
porter of President Cleveland, | write n
TO show the true inwardness Of the We
mont election / have kesnly regrettt
that this degradation OF the postal Sc
vice in Vermont by local m&shne poll
clans, as above described, sided ny cat
net officers, should be ase1 by the pres
dents political opponents as proof
his declining strength. The same is tr'
too largely in other portions OF New En-
lard, and this mail service il the 0l
feature of public life which Wonid n
have been worse under Blaine.
VEEhoETEE,
Chicago, September o. 1855.