The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-11-22

PAYING AN ELECTION Ret.

Eight years ago Edmund Lille, Dem
ocrat, and VIM. II, Matson, Republican,
both residing here. made an election
bet Of the old fashioned wheelbarrow
variety, which compels the loser TO
wheel the winner distance more or
less, according to stipulations. Mr..
/ Matson won the bet and the wheeling
was done in good form by Mr.. Lille.
Four years later, in 1884, the same men
made a similar bet, and that time il
transpired that Mr.. Mstson was called
upon to do the pushing act, while the
victorious Democrat proudly rode
through the streets OF the town amid
the cheers of HUNDREDS of political sym
pathizers. Nor was this all, for 10 ad-
dition TO the honor Of the wheelbarrow
ride, the proud beneficiary was made
postmaster. and the cup of joy that Mr.
Matson had done so much toward fill
ing was run over by the reform" Pres.
ident on whose reelection the loyal
official was only too eager to bet this
fall. The men stood even on wheelbsr'
row rides to date, and Mr.. Matson, who
had removed meantime, first CO Chat
ham, N. Y. and later to North Adams
Mass was willing to go him again.
Consequently the same old bet wet
trotted out, and, ss Cleveland didn't
"get there" it became the privilege Of
POstmas er Lille to wheel Mr.. Matson
from the depot to Whipple's hotel, q
distance nf half mile.
The settlement of this let was adver'
tis2d t. take place Saturday afternoon
according to the following programme
| eth mill NJ q .Ql
o'clock, and il is Pxpt cted that largt
crowd v ill assemble to witness the per
Torrance. rs his will probably be th,
last chance any OF the Present genera
ton will have u see Democratic post
master wheel any body or anything any
where. Mr. Matson will receive thu
honor with the honor becoming vic
torious r publican. 40 far as such dig
nifty may be compatible with circum
stancre, and the event will be one o.
J very general interest throughout Thu
section 1t il probably that many viii
be present from North Adams and othel
towns along the line of the Fltchburl
road, and that it will be by ell odds til,
most interesting occasion North Puwna
: has seen in at least four years."
! This was so we'll advertised that |
special press reporter was sent, and VI
give his report of it in, place OF wha
we might otherwise have written, a
} follows
, THE greatest local event connected
with the election of Harrison and Nor
} ton was the carrying out Of the pro
: gramme Saturday, whereby E. Lilli'
} was to wheel w. II. Matson, formerly
: OF this place, from the depot TO the no
tel, distance of half mile, in case o
: the success oflhe Republican candidates
A large crowd was present to witnes
the Humiliation OF the defeated Demo
crat. A drum corps from North Adam
, was secured, and the Grand Army Vet
, crane, commanded by Thomas McCum
, Der, led the procession. The wheelbar
row, with Mr. Matson perched on boz
, placed thereon, wearing a stiff hat
the latest style and carrying broom
and flag of his country, came next
, Following the wheelbarrow and in clos'
proximity to Mr.. Lille was sheep will
long curled horns and an ugly scowl OF
his features, and labeled, No free WOO
on this sheep The man in charge o
this vicious animal was Matty Roach
and the uniform he wore consisted OF |
tall hat that was found soon after tn
deluge subsidized, which was surmountec
by the stars and stripes. HIS overcoa
was of linen and reached to his heels
Following this was one Of Mr.. Lille
tin carts dressed up for the occasion
and labeled Free Rags The motley
crowd that followed in the wake, yell
ing and hooting, made the occasion on'
to be remembered at least four years
when the same performance is to oe re
peated unless the Democrats win. IL
which event the wheeling will be dom
by Mr.. MatsOn. Mr.. Lille expressed
his grief on this occasion by weatinf
Grape on his hat. There was profuslor
OF flags but no bandanas. The Commit
tee If Arrangements secured cannon
from Bennington which was fired at in
tervsl', and they a so provided supper
which was served free in The basement
of the church in the evening. There
were speeches ard general joll'fica-