Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-10-03
A VERMONT LEADER.
Hiram Atkins, Journalist
Politician, Dead.
A TEMPERANCE ADVOCATE.
Twenty Seven Years Chairman Of the
Democratic State Committee.


kins, the veteran Democrat and editor of
The Argus and Patriot. died at $50 Satur-
day evening. He was chairman Of the
Democratic state committee.
Mr.. Atkins was born in Esopus, N. Y,
in 1881, and early in life started in TO learn
the printers trade. When he was years
OF age his parents removed to a farm in
Poughkeepsie, and the next ten years OF
his life was spent in working and attend.
ing tho district schools
Until he was II years Of age he was en-
ployed as a clerk in a dry goods store in
Poughkeepsie. At the age of IL he was
apprenticed rs printer in the office of
the Poughkeepsie Eagle. In year and
half he was associated with the foreman
Of The Eagle in his new position as fore
man Of the Kingston Journal.
In his early youth he was a Whig. but
was also very strong temperance man,
frequently making temperance speeches
In his locality.
just prior to his attaining his majority
politics In New York state were very
heated, and Mr.. Atkins was quite promi-
nent. The Wings nominated an anthem
perance candidate, while the nominee OF
the Democrats was a strong cold water
man. Mr.. Atkins was SO strong In his
temperance ideas that he
Abandoned the wings
and Joined forces with the Democratic
party. As he was always bound to be
leader, he soon came to the front among
the Democrats.
Soon after becoming 81 he established
small Democratic paper in Bennington
county, and later moved TO Bellows Falls,
where he published The Argus, an aggress-
i've Democratic paper. BY editing and
doing the clerical work of two, some Of
the time Of three men, and by printing
menus for the hotel to pay his board,
young Atkins was able TO pay for his pa
per In one year. Once on his feet, he be-
gan making place and name for himself.
He at once became prominent In the
councils Of the party In the state, and reg
ularly attended the state conventions az a
delegate. During Buchanan's admins
tration he was postmaster at Bellows
Falls, remaining there until 1888, when he
removed The Argus TO Montpelier, uniting
IL with the Vermont Patriot, which he
purchased from Charles G. Eastman. The
Argus and Patriot at once became the
party organ Of the state.
He had always been an ardent Demo
crat, and his war utterances made him
Tho Victim Of Mob Law.
While setting type I'm the cellar, where
he retired with his press, he thought up
fresh fuel to add to the party fire, till
even the Democratic state convention re-
solved that The Argus and Patriot was un-
fit to read because Of its pronounced
political position. Nevertheless, Copper
head and jackson Democrats both con-
tinued To read IL. swear about IL and sub
scribe again next year.
Mr.. Atkins was an active and uncom-
promising politician, and as such had held
many offices, while seeking none. In 1883
he was made the second member of tho
Democratic state committee. and in 1865
was made chairman Of that committee,
which position he has held uninterrupt-
edly since In 1874 he was elected men,
Der of the state Legislature from Montpel-
Ter. having the unique distinction Of being
the only Democratic representative ever
elected in Montpelier, and he was president
of the village trustees.
Father OF the Hancock Boom.
The inception Of the boom for General
Hancock In 1880 can be honestly claimed
by Mr.. Atkins, for 1t originated with him
and General w. F. Smith cold Baldy')
shores of Lake Champlain. He worked
the boom at home and at Cincinnati until
he saw his pet idea, the nomination Of the
superb soldier, carried out. He then set
to work To do all he could to elect his
candidate, and so we'll did he and his
assistants manage the campaign In Yer
mont that the vote of the Democracy
showed better in Vermont than in any
other northern state. Had other states
done as well the Hancock boom would have
been successful.
In 1885 he declined the position Of col
lector of internal revenue Of Vermont,
even after his nomination was ready to
send to the senate. He was appointed
superintendent Of the construction uf the
new federal buildings during Cleveland's
administration, and he continued In this
position till Harrison's administration
came into power, and had the honor of be
ing the first Democrat removed from Office
IN Vermont during the present admins
tration. In 1883 he succeeded Hon. b. B,
Smalley IA member Of the Democratic
national committee.
However much may they differ from LIS
sometimes aggressive politicsall respected
his personal, irreproachable character and
found in him true, kindly friend always
on the side OF temperance and true NOR al
reform. He was devoted high church
man, and for twenty years was vestry-
man OF the Episcopal church at Montpel-
Ter, for twelve years he was a delegate to
the diocesan convention, and for nearly
ten years member Of the state committee
of Episcopal missions.