The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-03-02
MONTPELIER TOWN MEETING
RUM GETS A BLACK EYE
EATON ELECTED TREASURER
1.-THE ARGUS" DID 1T
HOSkINSOH MUST ABDICATE
His Famous Speech Ec|ipsed
Let Hiram Ascend the
Fools Throne.
"THE ARGUS" DID 1T
HOSKIASON MUST ABDICATE
His Famous Speech EcIipsed

Fools Throne.
Yesterday was great day for Montpelier
The events OF the caucus for the nomina-
tion OF town ofh GERS were reported in the
last issue of the WATCHkAN. Hiram At
kins had managed to get to the front in that
caucus and he had chosen to construe the
defeat Of Mr.. Eaton in the nominating COM
mittee as personal triumph. He became
exalted. He began to dream dreams and
to see visions. The election of Mr. Ferrin
the caucus nominee for treasurer, he rea-
soned, was certain. Here was the opportu-
nifty of his life to put the ramrOds" in a
hole and to make clear his oft-repeated Ii
bel that the majority of the voters of Mont
pelier are opposed to the enforcement of the
liquor laws. I'm an ecstatic mood he sat
down and indited the editorial published
below. But vaulting ambition o'erleaped
itself. Nothing like that editorial has ap-
peared in politics since the memorable
speech OF Hoskinson of Mount Holly at the
republican state convention of 1882 COM
pletely knocked out his candidate for lieu
tenant governor, whose nomination previ-
GUS to the Mount Holly orators effort had
been certain. The circumstances are very
much alike, but for unlimited foohardiness
Atkins editorial is many points ahead
He threw down the gauntlet. The men Of
Montpelier picked it up, and the result is
the most ignominious discontinue runs
champion ever received Mr.. Eaton was
reelected treasurer by vote of 419 to 204
Bravo, voters of Montpelier 1t is victory
for fair play and common decency, as well
as downing OF the worst enemy Mont
pelier or Vermont ever had.
Town meeting was preceded by a " citi-
Zens' caucus" a report of which was pub
lished in the WATCHMAN of last week. In
the main the ticket presented by the caucus
was fairly acceptable to the majority so far
as the ability and character of the nominees
are concerned. Surprise was expressed at
the substitution of the name of A. w. Fer
rim for that Of II. l.. Eaton, for the Office of
town treasurer, but, although Mr.. Eaton
was subsequently nominated by certificate
as provided by law, there was not apparent
general disposition to bolt the nomination
of the caucus until the appearance in the
Argus and Patriot on Wednesday morning
OF the following astounding article:
HIRAM's BOOMERANG.
"There have been no candidates nomi-
mated in opposition to those presented at the
citizens caucus the proceedings of which
are published on the first page, except that
nomination papers have been filed for Fred
l.. Eaton for treasurer, instead of A. W.
Ferrin, the nominee of the caucus. Mr.
Ferrin is treasurer of the Montpelier Saw
ings Bank and Trust Company, Mr.. Eaton
is cashier of the First National Bank. Both
are gentlemen fully capable of satisfactorily
filing the position for which they are
named, and the financial institutions with
which they are respectively connected are
unquestionably sound, one standing as well
as the other, and both, in the estimation of
the Ar0us and Patriot. being as solvent as
the State of Vermont. These facts demon
strate that it is not a question of men or
banks. What then caused the substitution
OF the name of A. w. Ferrin for that OF +.
L. Eaton, who has been treasurer since the
retirement of j. g. Houghton? When he
became treasurer the duties OF the office
were simply to receive the money from the
tax collector, and pay it out upon proper
vouchers from the town officials Since
then the town has adopted the system of
having the taxes paid to the treasurer, in.
stead OF being called for by the collector.
and, as a consequence, the treasurer has
come in direct contact with the masses of
the taxpayers to much greater degree
than ever before, and the money value of
the office has increased from about $40 a
year to from $500 to $500. Mr.. Eaton has
employed as his assistant in receiving the
taxes John X. Seayer. his stem father. who
has been prominently identified with the
ramrod element in this community ever
since he has been resident of Nontnelier.
and other members of the family have also
been yerv active and outsnoken in that Al.
recuon' furthermore, Dy word OF mouth
Ea,on' ~ has - a.'.nn"a ~ LOS ,uui & nii.
Nm ,,oino ~, ~ Montnaiiar s;noa H., -
and in conversat;nn Win tbnsa onnoseS =,
them hos somat;m.s ha.n nre,tn sb''rr w w
his commants " p'o''' OH :" III
The maioritv of tbe votars Of tb. Cor;to,
do nnt amnua ", 'o ,I, so'u,a ,;'a az Vne Sapllai
ceedings connected with their, il Mr.. Eaton
does. For this reason the COMMITTEES ap-
pointed by the caucus last Thursday night.
substituted the name of Mr.. Ferrin for that
OF Mr. Eaton, there having been no obiec.
ton in the committee TO that action. which
was afterward substantially unanimously
approved by the caucus. The question for
the voters to decide is whether they will
now sustain the action of the caucus. or bv
electing Mr.. Eaton declare themselves in
favor Of the liquor raids and their copcom.
itants. Attempts will be made to befog
this question in various ways. but no voter
should allow himself to be deceived. Aswas
said before, it is not a question of men. nor a
question of banks, nor a question of personal