Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-02-07
THE POST OFFICE CAUCUS,
A Square Fight and Full Vote.
Capt. Childs Receives Majority OF
90 in n fetal Of S6s Votes Cast.
THE WOMEN VOTE LIKE vETERANs-A QUIET
AND ORDERLY MEETING.

THE WOMEN VOTE LIKE VETERANS QUIET
AND ORDERLY MEETING.
The post-oflice caucus held last Saturday
resulted in a total vote Of sos being cast,
of which 461 were given 10 +. w Childs
and 40l TO g. A. Hines, a majority OF w
for Mr.. Chids The day was a fine one,
mild and pleasant, and the town hall was
well filed at 9 o'clock when H. G. Crosby,
chairman Of the town committee, called the
meeting 10 order, and stated in a clear,
business. like way its purpose and the rules
which had been agreed upon. The support
ers of Mr. Childs had chosen Col. j. j. Estey
as their representative, aud those OF Mr..
Hines had chosen Hon l.. Martin-these
gentlemen, with Mr.. Crosby and F. NJ.
Waite of the town committee, constituting
board TO decide who were voters under
the rules Mr.. Crosby stated that it had
been mutually agreed by both sides, 10 save
time and contest, that 5. n. Herrick
should act as chairman, and Mr.. Herrick
was so named without opposition. The vot
ing began in quiet and orderly way very
few minutes past ? O'Clock Six young
men acted as clerks 10 take down the names
Of each voter as announced by the chair
man. Col Hooker, X. h. Gordon and Mr.
Hit acted as challengers on the side of Mr.
Hines and Hon. + w Stoddard and Col
Haskns on the part Of Capt. Childs. The
cases of contest were not very numerous,
and in every instance except one a decision
was reached by unanimous consent ot the
board. On this score, at least, there was
no chance for disagreement or i'll feeling
over the result.
The novel and interesting feature Of the
afternoon, as expected, was the appearance
Of women as voters in the meeting. A
contingent of ladies took seats in the gal
lery as spectators at the opening Of the
meeting, and remained during the after
noon Early among the women voters was
Mrs. Edward Crosby, who accompanied her
husband to the polls to cast her vote for
Mr.. Childs Shortly after 3 o'clock a pro
cession Of 80 women, led by Mrs. J. J. Estsy
and Mrs 0. A. Marshall, marched in order
" array across the street from the Brooks
House and entered the hall These were
the Childs contingent. There was a pleas
ant ripple Of sensation as they entered.
The men who filled the hall made way for
them, they were given seats in front, aud
the polling of their votes began and went
on in very matter of fact way. After the
first. indeed, there was little TO indicate that
the women were not veterans at the polls
Hooker and Mrs JENNIE appeared with the
Hines contingent of 10 or ~ women in a
body, whose votes were also cast in due
time Besides these women who voted in
body, the Jealous women workers on both
sides brought in a scattering Of voters
throughout the afternoon and evening,
marching their several charges TO the polls
and voting them in the most approved
and business like way. Carriages were in
use on both sides for bringing in both men
and women who needed them In short,
the contest was an active aud closely-con-
tested one. We recall none in Brattleburo
which has been more so. The feeling ran
high, vote distributors and other partisans
OF both sides were on the alert but there
were few angry words and no disturbance Of
any kind No such meeting in our town hall
has been so decent and orderly. aud the ex-
perience Of Saturday shows our people that
women can vote without losing their WON.
anliuess
The time for voting was so long that there
was no crowd at the ballot. box at any time.
Promptly at x clock the box was turned
and the counting began. As the board Of
decision stool in their personal preference
the majority was with Capt Childs, and
Col Hooker was therefore asked to assist
ht tue count. ms was completed shortly
before $50. Chairman Herrick announced
the result 10 the crowd which filled every
seat in the town hall, "a cheer went up from
the victorious side, and then everybody
went home, or hied TO some convenient
place to discuss the days proceedings
\ certified return Of the result Of the
caucus was made out and signed by the
proper persons, and this was carried 10
Washington by Col Estey, who reached
that city on Wednesday on business con
nected with the National Guard.
Some of the more active and partisan op
ponents of Mr. Childs have claimed that
the caucus will not settle the question, and
that Republican will yet he appointed. A
second sober thought, however, would seem
To be enough To convince fair-minded men
that our delegation cannot do otherwise
than to stand 10y the result Of their own
prescribed way Of deciding disputed uues
ton. The only illumination ON this point.
thus far, is contained in the following de
spatch printed in the Boston Journal on
Tuesday:
The Vermont delegation today Monday ~
telNed a despatch from the friends Of Mr. Hines
the unsuccessful candidate for postmaster Ia th.
BrattleborO caucus saturday night asking for a
stay Of proceedings until they could present their
case more fully. The delegation held hurried
conference and telegraphed back that unless
there were allegati Of fraud in the manage
Htht OF the caucus they should abide by their
original agreement aud recommend the sic,rssfll
candidate