The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-05-02
To the Public.

and was present at the democratic caucus,
with legal counsel, notwithstanding the
Argus had said that l had shown the "white
feather" Atkins and Senter backed down |
completely in showing me up as had been |
stated in their insulting letter Four hundred |
people were present, including two hundred |
fifty democrats. The harangue was so dis |
grdcefW that only eighty-two democrats |
voted the Atkins ticket, leaving more than |
twice that number of the leading democrats |
who did not vote and who left the hall in |
disgust. Had an anti-Atkins ticket been |
put in the field it would have been elected
by handsome majority.
Why was it not done?" several ask. Be- |
cause Mr.. Atkins had written MIR. Thomas
S. McGinnis of Bolton, who had in former |
years been the leading orator of the party |
in Vermont (and who for twelve years had |
not visited the caucuses or conventions of |
the party on account OF the dictatorial man |
ner of Mr.. Atkins) that he had dllCdyS been |
my friend and had nothing but the kindest
of feelings toward me. The letter contained
seven pages, closely written in foolscap, and
breathed most Christian spirit. Knowing
that we were members of the same com
munion and taking him at his ,cord, and
having the advice of Mr.. McGinnis and the
express wish of Mr.. f. w. McGettrick of
st. Albans that no opposition be made,
concluded to drop it then and there. /
knew that in all the bitter controversy for
more than two years past that even if Mr.
Atkins had done wrong | also was not per-
feet, and that it was not too late for harmony.
So wrote John Mooney, Esq, chairman
of the town committee, that 81 had been
urged by some democrats to head ticket
in opposition to Mr. Atkins as delegate to
the state convention. But as the candidate
of the democratic caucus held to nominate
a postmaster for Montpelier, which two
hundred twenty-five democrats attended
and voted, and having filed a petition at
Washington, signed by over two hundred
giytV npmOprafs for that aDnnintnaut I
concluded not to allow my name to be used,
and hoped that the very best men might be
selected and harmonious meeting be held"
And, fellow-citiZens, that is the OHly reason
why an opposition ticket was not run. You
all can see how my attempt at harmony was
met in the diSgrdceful affair that followed.
/ have been asked to explain away the
charge that l offered to I" sell out" as was
read from a clause in my confidential and
personal letter to Mr.. Atkins by Mr.. Senter
1t was this: Mr.. Dewing, the assistant sec
retary of the state committee, had sent to
the SltHddy Globe an article in which it was
stated " that Mr.. f. w. Morse, general pas
senger agent of the Montpelier & Wells
River railroad, would probably be ap-
pointed postmaster" and l had in my
possession letter written by John H.
Senter, secretary of the democratic state
committee, which he wrote Mr. Atkins
while in Washington, that " he regarded
me as an unfit person, and that he thought
ne iAIhluS) WOulU sOOu see Illt l1dlleT dS ne
did" This letter of Senters was written
after he had signed a petition requesting
mn appointment, while he was engaged bY
me in forwarding letters of Endorsement
from Montpelier business men to Mr.. At
kns and lchie he was protesting loYaltY and
friendship. Atkins put it among my papers,
and instead of filing them, or requesting my
appointment, brought them back to Mont
pelier and handed them to me. And l thus
dccidehtdHy got possession of the letter
showing Senter's tredchery. | held this
letter in my safe more than a year before
telling Mr.. Atkins and after the Globe arti-
Gle, announcing Mr. Morse as the coming
man, | went to Atkins and told him that if
he was true to me he at least had poor
| lieutenants, as his secretary was traitor
and his assistant secretary had announced,
through the Globe, that l would not be ap-
pointed. He responded that he was not
responsible for what Mr.. Dewing wrote
in the Globe, but that Mr.. Senter had always
been firm friend. | then told him had
! this letter in the safe showing Senter's
treachery. He demanded it. l told him
should not give it up. He said he would
withdraw his support of me for postmaster.
| told him his support had not helped me
any so far Atkins then told me l could
not be confirmed; that Smalley could get
me appointed but that the republicans of
Montpelier, headed by James w. Brock
| (through the influence of General Wells, his
brother-in-law), had seen Senator Edmunds
ana my defeat was sure Not belieV-
ing this, | went to Burlington and saw
General Wells and Senator Edmunds,
both of whom told me it was IA falsehood.
George Atkins at about the same time
came to me and said that John II. Sen
ter had told him that his law part
ner, II. w. Kemp, who was then states
| attorney, had said if | did not Withdraw
from the contest they would file an open
complaint against me- as had, as apothe-
cary, violated the liquor law, and they would
summons in the whole county and ruin NE.
| was assaied by the whole republican
state press. The Boston journal and Bos-
ton Erening Record were filed with articles
against me, and | saw that Atkins Senter
and his law partner, Kemp, were bound to
crush me and thus drive me out / ap-
pealed to Atkins for the clerkship on the
| public building, telling him that it was not
honor or office that | wanted, but simply
means to support my family. He responded
by saying that the appointment did not lie
| in his'g gift and there might not be such an
Office created. Within twenty-four hours
from that time he told Charles II. Heaton
that he had appointed his brother, George
Atkins to that position. Having sold my
drug business at sacrifice in May, 1882
and been promised the post-otfice October
1st of that year, and waiting one and one
half years and not receiving anything in re-
turn, felt anything but cheerful. BY that
transfer of the store and in money paid the
democratic party in the past found that
was out 81 200 and had sunk 50 500 in fam
lily expenses TO date since the sale OF my
| business.
appealed once more to Atkins. | said I:
" Is IT true that after fourteen years of loyal
service to you; after having spent time and
money; after having been delegate to
town, county, district, state and national
conventions: after having held intimate re-
lations with all the leaders of the party, |
am to be left without remuneration and
recognition? What shall | do?" Said he:
Brother Bascom, Mr. Morse can be con-
firmed. He or any man that is appointed
ought to pay you what you have spent IN
the party. Go 10 him and talk with him
| said: "Go with me-" He said "As
chairman of the state committee must not
hare dny knopiedge Of any trdde, but will
write note TO hand to Mr.. Morse He
did so | have it in my possession now,
locked in my safe. 1t reads thus: Friend
Morse, toid Mr.. Bdscom you oould make
him ,chOle il he ioem in FOR yOu. Idlk .fraHkly
,oih him. (SignedD Atkins." | read this to
Morse and put it in my pocket, feeling that
l was being shamefully treated and that IL
might serve me later on. Atkins told me