The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-05-01

A strong Letter Presenting the irgu
ments Upon Which Change Il DE
nlandel.

A strong Letter Presenting the irgu
ments Upon which Change Is DE
mnnded.
EDITOR OF REFoEMEE.
Sir Believing that the real issues OF til,
present canvass for the village officer;
have not been fairly EXPIRE sscd in tho
columns of either of the local news
papers, and that the 23S voters, WHO in
open Caucus nominated an efficient set
of candidates for village officers have a
right to a fair expression. ask little
space for that purpose.
! In the first place, when Il caucus is
fairly called. and all voters have "A
chance to attend and express their pref
crencc. and is as largely attended rs the
village meeting caucus was, the candi-
dates nominated by Il majority at such n
caucus are fairly entitled to the support
OF the citizens and voters. II is an ele-
mentary principle in our system of gov
eminent. whether state or local. that the
majority shall rule: in fact this was one
of the earliest outgrOwths of civilization.
The caucus for the village meeting
was called for voters of all political
preferences. 1t showed that large ma
iOrity were in favor of a change. and
that the village was willing 10 dispense
with the services of the old board of
bailifls. Those in favor OF a new board
were willing to abide by the result of
that caucus and if the old board had re-
ceivcd its support no other candidates
names would have appeared on the Off
cial ballot. This seemed to persons
favoring new board to be the manly
way of conducting the issue. but il is un
deniablya fact that before the village
caucus a certificate OF nomination was
drawn up by friends of the old board |
and signed by quite Il number of per-
sons. and the friends of the old board |
went into the caucus with this prede. |
make as strong 4 fight |
rs they could in caucus and carry it for
the old board if they could. and if they !
failed, to then file nomination papers |
and rely upon canyass of false issues
and gross misrepresentation to deceive
he people.
! leave it to the candol of amy voter
md citizen as to which was the most
manly way of conducting the nomna-
ion OF candidates.
1t may be well, in this connection. To
tate some of the reason, that have ac-
uatcd voters in their efforts to nominate
new board.
LIST. During the past year among Il
ROOD many OF the thinking people OF
he village. and especially those who
AVE come in contact with the village
government, have been strongly I'M
'ressed that it is time for Brattlcboro to !
% back to a basis of village govern +,
nent which prevailed here for many i
ears. which was to select for its bail 9
rs men of prominence who had prop c
rty interests, and men of good Iudg- :
icnt. 1t is not so long ago when the q
cry best of our citizens wert willing to .
Ike the office and We're elected. With il
ut unfairncss to the old board. it can n
c safely said that they were not repre- d
of the very best of business
hility which we have in the village
ID. Another strong objection to the II
resent board is that early in their term
office strong dissensions commenced Il
rtween the members. the meetings not L
lly lacked dignity. but decended to N
e basis OF quarrels n to their opinion ol
BON public matters. and pride of opin- re
ms and discussions became para SO
cunt objects a',l their action was m
,vcrned largely ny such feeling rather RI
an what WAS best for the public good. 90
ID many voters became convinced h,