The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-03-16
The Democratic State Convention.

Hiram al Raschid, Commander of the
Faithful, is wearing an eight-by-twelve
smile these days. He has what sporting
men would term a :" a lead pipe cinch " on
his political brethren in the state. He will
exhibit the cinch at the next gathering of
the state democracy, which will be held,
Dec Uolente, at Montpelier on the fifth of
May. The fifteenth was not selected, be-
cause the fatal ideS appear on that day, and
Hiram al Raschid is not looking for ideS.
Twenty-seven of the Faithful entered the
gates OF Bagdad last Thursday. With all but
fourteen of these we have little to do They
were simply present to vote that the dis
trict convention be held at the same time
and place as the state convention-to save
expense. When you are nominating men
for congress in Vermont on the democratic
ticket, you want to select the least expen-
sive method possible.
The Commander of the Faithful greeted
his guests at his Elm-street home with ex-
tended arms and kindly smile. Within, his
fat grand vizier bestirred himself, and filled
the big punch bowl full of champagne and
claret. Everything was harmony.
And when Hi speaks the voice Of all the gods
Makes heaven drowsy with the harmony.
Hiram al Raschid was a shrewd old ca
liph. He believed, with Rabelais, that the
belly has no ears, nor is it to be filed with
fair words Its functions are entirely diff
ferent. Nevertheless, an excellent way to
reach mans sympathes is through the
stomach And so the Commander of the
Faithful smiled and smiled and was vii
lain lin Pickwickian sense) talked about
the weather, and ever and anon signaled to
the fat grand vizier to tote around the
punch bowl.
After the grape of California had got in
| its soothing work the Commander aud his
Faithful took vote to see whether the
state conclave should be held at Bagdad, as
| the Commander desired, or at Rutland, as
the opposition wished. Seneca Haselton
mayor of Burlington, P. M. Meldon of Rut-
| land, and Walter III. Childs of Brattleboro
voted for Rutland; H. E. Noyes of Hyde
Park, George w. Burleson of st. Adams,
| and George w. Chamberlin of South New
bury, for White River Junction; while NJ.
E. Sprague of Weybridge, John F. Robin
| son OF Bennington proxy for Amos Adrieh
of Woodford, e. f. Sargent of st. Johns
bury, John H. Senter of Montpelier, proxy
| for j. H. Linnehan of Island Pond, G. w.
Beardsley of Alburgh, George w. Aiken of
Troy, Thomas Keefe of Windsor, and the
| Commander voted for Montpelier. The oppo-
stion may he pardoned for believing that
the action of the gentlemen who voted for
| White River Junction was gentle bluff,
and that they were really in favor of Mont
| pelier.
phatically. 1t was understood at the last
convention that the convention this year
should be held at Rutland. The resolution
requesting the state committee to call the
convention at the Marble city was intro
duced by Amos Aldrich of Woodford,
and here was ex-Marshal Robinson,
his proxy, voting for Montpelier. Mr..
Robinson retorted that Adrch had in
structed him to vote as he darned please.
Mr.. Mellon then entered written protest,
and the grand vizier passed the punch
bowl.
Supper was now in order. The succulent
bivalve, the sparkling champagne, and the
sturdy old cognac were served with lavish
hand, for the Commander of the Faithful is
an excellent host. Out in the kitchen the
sound of popping corks, mingled with the
chuckle of the grand vzer in the dining
room the vanquished were mellowing under
the benignant gaze of Hiram al Raschid and
the spirit of bonhomnaie and conviviality.
$50 comes a reckoning when the BAN
quet's DER" After supper arose the ques-
ton of the signing of the call Messrs.
Haselton and Meldon refused to sign it,
and Mr.. Childs abstained from voting. A
vote was then taken to see If the Com
mander and the secretary should sign it, so
that harmony might appear, and Messrs.
Haselton and Meldon were the only mega
tives recorded.
Nothing remaining to kick about, the
meeting broke up. Hiram al Raschid babe
the Faithful a fond farewell, while the
grand vizier went out behind the house and
laughed off three of his buttons.