The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-04-29
THE FIGH HT AGAIST ATKINS.

1t is none of our fight, but the spec
tacle of ''go it husband, goit bear' in
the ranks of the unterrified is quite in
teresting, coupled as it is by publica-
tions in their special telegraphic organ
the Rutland Herald. The latter seems
to get any quantity of anti-news. Below
we give the summary of the situation
telegraphed by Col. Forbes from st.
Albans Tuesday.
The election of delegates to the Demo
cratic State Convention, to be held in
Montpelier, May 9TH, is being sharply
contested between the Atkins and anti
Atkins wings OF the party. Both fac
tions claim a majority of the delegates
chosen thus far, and the leaders on both
sides profess to be confident of controll-
log the convention. The fight for SUI
premacy in the party hinges on the in
cumbency of the craftsmanship of the
State Committee, the "ins" supporting
Hiram Atkins for reelection and the
''outs" putting forward Seneca Hazel
ton as their candidate. Mr.. Atkins has
held the Office for many years. and the
younger element in the party demands a
change.
The ousting of "Boss" Atkins from
his place at the head of the State Com
mittee is the burning issue in this fac
ton fight, and the facts that full State
ticket is to be nominated and delegates
elected to the Chicago Convention seem
to be lost sight of in the primary meet
ings. The opposition is wagirg a Litter
fight and proposes to take the election
of a Chairman of the State Committee
away from the members chosen by the
caunpn1 nnnnfinc an1 tn alant ftnOo
the floor of the convention. The Atkins
party have II out of IA committeeman at
present and SO control the action of the
committee.
The State Convention will consist of
629 delegates, of whom nearly two
thirds have been chosen. The Secretary
of the Democratic State Committee has
received credentials from the secretaries
of primary meetings showing the cleo
ton of 347. The Atkins leaders claim
that these delegates stand POI Atkins
against Sc anti-Atkins. They assert,
further, that the convention will be two
to one in their favor The Atkins State
Committeeman base their claim on re-
turns received up to this morning. They
claim all but five delegates in Addison
county, all but ten in Bennington coun-
ty, the solid delegation of Caledonia
county, majority in Chittenden county,
a solid delegation from Essex county, a
dozen delegates from Franklin county,
the delegation from Grand Isle county,
all but six from Lamoille county, three
fOurths of Orange county, all but eight
in Orleans county, One-half of the Rut-
land county delegation, Washington
county practically solid, all but ten dele
gates in Windsor county and ten dele
gates in Windham county. On the other
hand, the anti-Atkins faction claims the
election of 233 ants to 152 Atkins dele
gates.
The names most frequently mentioned
in Democratic circles for nomination for
Governor is Col. Bradley B. Smalley of
Burlington. Col. Smalley is not candi-
date, but it is understood that he will
accept if nominated. He will not be a
candidate for delegate to Chicago, The
candidates for delegates to the National
Convention are DR.. J. Y. Hanrahan Of
Rutland, Colonel Herbert F. Brigham of
Bakersfield, DR.. j. Henry Jackson of
Barre, Mr.. A. c. Fitzgerald of Island
Pond, Mr. O. G. Miller of Newport, S.
w. Chamberlin of Newbury, II. E. Fol-
som of Lyndon. ID. G. Pollard of Caven-
dish, John Robinson of Bennington and
John DOnnelly of Vergennes.