The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-08-06

county convention of last week the town |
was probably never more grossly msrepre- |
sented. The issue on the one side was
simply the desire of John G.. Wing TO be |
states attorney and the determination of
John l.. Tuttle to be sheriff again on the
other, the choice of delegates who would |
take a broad view Of the best interests of
the town and county in doing the work of
the convention A few names were on
both tickets, but the Wing-Tuttle ticket, by
a large majority, represented the personal
determination of Mr. Wing or Mr.. futile,
one or both, to secure the nomination he
coveted. To this end the ticket was con-
structed to this end the candidates, person
ally and through their workers, had been
industriously improving each shining
hour " for many days prior TO the caucus,
and that the ticket represented the personal
candidacy of Mr.. Wing and Mr.. Tuttle the
candidates themselves their workers and
ticket peddlers were constantly proclaim
ing at the caucus. In support Of this ticket
the saloon element was brought out in
force, and was backed by democratic con-
tingent, which was allowed to vote and
! whose votes e1ed out the majority. In this
personally conducted canvass success
was the chief object, means a matter Of
! secondary consideration.
The chairman of the town committee pre-
sides at the ballot-box-and in this connec-
! ton the query is pertinent whether it is the
duty of the town committee to see fair play
at a caucus. The fact that notorious demo-
Gratis voted in a republican caucus is
vouched for by entirely competent author
| ity, and the workers of the Wing-Tuttle
combine chuckled over the success of the
fraud Some of these, while entering the
hall, were warned to keep away or their
votes would be challenged Possibly they
| afterwards succeeded in getting their votes
| where they would be counted, for the agents
of the combine were as busy as the devil
! in gale of wind, and as INSCRIPTIONS.
| Now il does fO he a reasonable G.
sumption that the officer in charge of the
ballot-boX should see to it that the voting
is fair and honest. 1t may not be incum-
bent on him personally to shoulder the re-
sponsibility of refusing to receive votes of
doubtful validity, or even votes of we'll
known invalidity-and a democratic vote
in republican caucus is an invalid vote
but he can call to his aid his fellow mem
bers of the town committee to assist in the
work of enforcing fair play, and they can
further fortify themselves against the COM
mission of fraud by using checklist of the
republican voters of the town. His duty in
this respect was all the more imperative
because mis- name headed the Tuttle tickeI
and because there had been loud-and we'll
founded-complaints of similar fraudulent
voting at the caucus preceding the state
convention-the chairman at that time, it
is but just to say, being on the ticket against
which the fraud was practiced.
Thus, in three notable instances during
! ullC ldob OWO NtdlSg hOllptlltI HAS Dttu
placed in a false position in state and
county conventions. Isn't it high time that
this thing shall have an end? Time was
when Montpelier delegates were power in
the conventions of the party, because she
was fully represented by her strongest men
and because they were unequivocally on
the side of the right, on the side of the
people, on the side of principle, not the
: executors of the will of petty faction ol
! the representatives. of purely, personal
candidature. Must she be still further
snubbed bated, humbled in state and
county conventions, before she will send tC
the rear the Influences that have lately beer
: allowed to place her in false position
These influences are well known. 1t is moi
| necessary to particularize.
$ The existing arrangement for holding
= caucus is good in theory, but has latel,
worked viciousy in practice. Under it the
( worst abuses of the old snap caucus system
, have been outdone. The conservative, order
= loving, lawabiding element has been over
borne by other elements that have beeI
brought to the front. Better results car
unquestionably be secured by convening
the voters in body at some hour of tn,
day, or even in the evening, and then ant
a there, when full discussion can be had
transacting and completing the business o
{ the caucus, than by the dark-lantern methot
a lately adopted, judged by the results we
{ have recounted. Under the present sys
S tenn the voters are never present in body
$ Debate, appeal or organized consultation il
a out of the question. The practices of war,
/ politics have been employed outside TIN
, polling place-on the sidewalks and in th
4 highways and by-ways-to affect the resul
4 inside. The caucus occurs at an hour in tn
evening when the tradesmen are in thei
places of business and when the elderl,
:, class of voters will not leave their homes
: If the present plan is insisted upon tn
h polls should be opened in the afternoon a
!, well as in the evening A checklist shoul'
: be used, and no man whose name is not oil
q that list should be allowed to vote. Befor
. another caucus is held reform of som
\ kind should be instituted. The reputation
! of the town in the state and county is a
stake. Prejudice, not unreasonably, ha
/ been excited, and a splendid prestige ha
= been impaired if not lost. If local polite
have not become actually unsound, the
:, have clearly fallen into a condition requiI
: ing the alOnton of rigid sanitary measures