Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-01-12
HANDS OFF!
For the POst-Onice Fight of
1894 Is On.

Dyed in thc-VYooI Democrat Tells
Republicans, Mugwumps and Half
Breeds Just where the Unterrifed
stand.
The peaceful Brattleboro community
was aroused Wednesday by reports Of an
other post-oflice war, cause by the going
forth of couriers to "sign' supporters for
f. w. Chids who has held the office for
the last eight years. Business men and
others numerously signed these petitions,
which are addressed to the President of
the United States, and recte that Erred
erck w. Childs has for the past eight
years faithfully and satisfactorily served as
postmaster here. He is a young man, who
by reason of long experience in the serv-
ice, is well qualified to discharge the du-
ties of the office. We would, therefore,
recommend that you rejppoint him to the
office of pos tmaster on the expiration Of
his present commission"
This was met by counter move on the
part of the Democrats opposed to Mr..
Childs, who drew up petition to the Dem
ocratic town committee asking that a eau
Gus be called "before Feb ! next for the
purpose of nominating and recommending
through the proper channel a suitable per-
son for postmaster of said Brattleboro."
This petition, as handed to the town com
mittee, contained Is names. The element
of the party which it represents, claims
that strength enough could be developed
in caucus to defeat the nomination of
Mr.. Childs, and place some other of the
unterrified in the pOstmaster's chair.
The names suggested in opposition to
Mr.. Chids are Lieut.. George II. Burns,
Frank :. Pratt and W. II. Minor. Mr..
Minor has been generally esteemed a Re
publican, but among those actively inter-
ested in politics it is known that in 1892
he was an ardent supporter of the great
and good Grover, who on the crest of the
wave of tariff reform was swept on to vic
tory, and is now engaged in the delightful
task of throne building in the Hawaiian
islands, with his eyes on the dusky Lii.
Mr.. Minors supporters reason that
Gresham, an eleventh hour convert to
Democracy, was given the highest Office in
the gift of the administration, that the TIA
liam ambassadorship plum went to Bolter
Wayne McV eagh, and that in local affairs
there is no reason why one new to the faith
should not receive the emoluments of office
provided he is the best man. Mr. Minor,
as is well known, has been connected with
business interests in Brattleboro for %
years, and is a man of great personal popu-
larty. When asked if he was a candidate
for the position he said all he knew about
the IN alter was that people had come to
him and told him that they had heard he
was candidate, but that he had certainly
done nothing to further his own interests.
Leading Democrats who favor Mr.. Minor
are sure he would consent to be a candidate
if it was evident that he was the choice of
the Democrats.
Lieut.. George H. Burns, who gained
his title in Col. Veazeys regiment in the
civil war, is a Bourbon Democrat, and he
says in frank, manly way, that he is in
the field as a candidate.
Mr.. Pratt is a very capable young man
of good business training, who was at one
time clerk in the post-office 1t is not eX-
pected that he will seek the office.
1t is expected that in the caucus, if one is
held, only one of the three men will be put
forward in opposition TO Mr.. Chlds.
From Republican standpoint, with
only the best service of the public in view,
it would seem that there should be no seri-
Gus opposition in the Dem )cratic ranks to
the reappointment of Mr.. Childs. The eff
iiclency of the local service under him has
never been called in question, and it was
never greater than at present. If, how
ever the Democracy elect to 90 into a
Wldngle over this matter, in view of the
existing circumstances, and of all of the
occurrences of the past eight years, the Re
publicans will take great pleasure in occu-
pying the front row in the gallery while
the melee goes on.