Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-03-31
BELLOWS FALLS NEWS.
THE BURNING QUESTION.
Will Mr.. Cannon BE Fired?
A Review of the situation, with n List
of the Anxious AspIrnnts.

n heNItW Of NAlt WIN ~ AAsA
of the Anxious AspIrants.
A decidedly lively interest is developing
here in regard to the local postmastership.
A letter was recently received by a local
Democrat, signed by person "high up
among the appointing powers" stating
that the post offices at Bellows Falls and
certain other places named would be
changed to Democratic appointees ''about
April first"
No removal has been made here for many
years. Mr. Morgan was allowed to serve
his appointed time eight years ago and Mr..
Guild four years ago. Mr.. Cannon's term
does not expire until September, 1894. No
whisper of charge has ever been made that
Mr.. Cannon's administration has been
otherwise than efficient and satisfactory in
every way. In view of these facts the idea
of removal strikes not only the Republican
but the Democratic patrons as unjust and
uncalled for No reason can be assigned
for removal except purely political one,
or that aspirants for the Office refuse to
wait, as others of both parties have done
here in past years.
There are three applicants for the posi-
ton in the field. Charles W. Butterfield
formerly florist and scotsman, and life
long resident of Bellows Falls, was the first
in the field. He started with his petition
within a day or two after election, presum-
ably in imitation of 1.-THE early bird. :"
Certainly he has been successful in secur-
ing the names of large number of patrons
A recent inventory shows him to have be-
tween 500 and 600 of Republicans and
Democrats together. Among this number
he claims to have go per cent of all demo-
cratic voting patrons of the office. The
petition to which the most of the names
are attached asks for his appointment :" at
such time as the services of the present
encumbent shall be dispensed with, whether
by expiration of his appointed term or
otherwise A few weeks ago, because of
being told that an attempted removal
would result disastrously to him, he started
another heading, giving his friends their
choice which to sign. The latter one reads
as follows, after asking for his appoint
ment: whenever the appointing power
shall have determined that the Office should
be filled by person in political accord
with the incoming administration" A
close reader would hardly see material diff
ference in the two.
As was said in these columns months
ago, we think any petition would have been
stronger and more popular with nine
tenths of the office patrons had it asked the
appointment at the expiration of Mr.. Can
mons term. Especially we think so in the
light of later developments, but the wishes
of Bellows Falls citizens may have no
weight in the appointment.
The only other parties asking signatures
to petitions yet are Andrew Joubert, a
shoemaker in the employ of c. H. Wait,
and Alfred Dow. Mr.. Joubert is a mem
Der of the Grand Army and is urged by
members of that organization. Mr.. Dow
is former well-known railroad conductor,
having run passenger trains many years
for both Central Vermont and Connecticut
River roads, leaving the employ of the
latter year or two ago. Some talk has
been had regarding Daniel H. Croy, but
we understand he has taken his name
wholly out of the field.
Since matters have assumed their pres
ent outlook considerable pressure has been
brought to bear upon Henry A. Titus by
his friends in the Democratic party, urging
that he allow his name to be used as a can
didate. Some prominent Democrats have
already removed their names from Mr..
Butterfeld's petition, and others assert
they will do so if Mr.. Titus will accept
the candidacy Mr.. Titus position is that
she would like the office if he has friends
enough to secure it for him." but he re-
fuses to enter into any unseemly scramble
or contest for it. Mr. Titus has been
well known and popular resident of Bel
lows Falls nearly all his life time, and has
run passenger train on the Cheshire road
about 35 years. He has filled numerous
offices of trust in our town, among them,
for many consecutive years, upon our
school board and the board of selectmen.
About year and half ago, owing to
change in his run, he leased his residence
here, iring one at Somerville, Mass,
where he has lived since, although in Bel
lows Falls portion Of every week day.
Friends of other candidates urge his nom
residence here as bar, which can readily
be overcome, as his friends say, by remOv-
al here at any time. The present indica-
tions are that he will move, and so give
the appointing powers a wider range
from which to select, whether the removal
is made or Mr.. Cannon is allowed to re-
main his four years.
Altogether it will be interesting for those
who have no axes to grind to watch the
move of things for little, while the can
didates themselves will naturally be on the
tenter-hooks until the decision is an
nounced. Whoever is appointed will hardly
be any more successful in giving salts
factory administration of the office than
has Mr.. Cannon
Miss Annie johnson returned from Bos-