The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-04-24
VILLAGE POLITICS.
Gus by One Headed by Hon. j. l.. Mar.
tim-NOminatiOn Papers Filed for
Them-SOme of the issues Involved.

tie largest ever held in village affairs
and even more representative one
than the ordinary village meeting.
AS the call was modified finally by
the Republican committee there was q
full proportion of Democrats so there
is nothing to complain Of on this score.
That much it is fair to say in view
of the claim raised by the victnrs that
it ought to be decisive, especially as
regards those who took part--a rule
that is ordinarily good. But caucuse 6
are not the places where elections
should be decided: they are simply a
necessary formality to get tickets into
the field. There is not once in hun
dred times that caucus will be as
as this was, and re-
gardless of the results in this case the
precedent ought not to be established
them final, as.they must be
if there is only one ticket on the offic-
ial ballot
There were fully $50 people in the hall,
when the caucus was called TO order
f G Crosby was elected chairman and
Will Smith secretary Geo A Hines
presented the name of G Estey for
first bailiff and & w Hooker was
nominated, but said
he wouldn't serve and seconded the
of Capt Estcy, who was
viva voce,. with few
"roes.' For second baiiff Capt Es-
tey nominated John Calvin, and Geo
B Hit, p Fleming. The ballot
showed 23S for Fleming and us for
Calvin with lG scattering. Capt
Estey then said he had consented TO
run with the old board and as the
ballot had shown the caucus did not
want the others he should decline
the nomination that had been accord
ed him. Col Hooker then nominated
J l. Martin. and after some dis
cussion who would be first bailiif. he
was nominated d cisively viva roce
For next " II Minor and Chas
we're placed in nomination
and ballot showed 2il for Minor toll
for Endlich and II scattering. For
fourth J. + Adams was nominated
viva voce. but for fifth there was a
struggle which required three ballots
to settle. The supporters OF the old
board made a rally for G II Thomp
son, while f + .Stockwell was the
of the other side. The first
ballot showed l47 for4 Stockwell, l24
for Thompson, IS for Rev E s Morse
and five scattering. The second, 80 for
2O5 for Thompson, lG for
Morse and one scattering Third. 24l
for Thompson and 40 for Stockwell
So Mr.. Thompson being on both tickets
will:go: in with the merited compli-
ment Of a unanimous election. For
chief engineer & G Turner was re-
with no ag'rcsition, but
there was ballot for clerk ard treas.
lrer, the victorious party presenting
the name OF II. A. Webster against the
present incumbent, W d Perry. 209 for
Perry lO2 forWebster and / scattering.
For collector and auditor respectively
REGordon and G A Harris were nomi-
nation. Nomination papers signed
N the main by citizens who did not
in the caucus were filed
foi Capt Estey, Calvin,
1ckles. + l. Parker and Thompson.
The ticket nominated by the caucus
s an excellent one, nobody can dispute
hat. No better list of names could be
made but while due consideration
hould be given to that fact there
ire issues of importance involved.
The primary one is whether the old
,oard shall be punished for enforcing
he prohibitory law, for it is out of
his that the feeling against then.
rev. Another point suggested is over
he Main street sewer assessment suit, |
n which several hundred dollars de- |
ends, and the proposed new board |
ontains one of the defcndents in Mr. |
adams and Cne of his counsel, Mr. |
iartin, who naturally believe generally |
hat the assessment il wrong. These |
re both gentlemen of the highest |
onor who would not for Il moment |
hink of using their official position |
D stop proceedings, even though they |
elieve them unless expense to the |
illage: but it can easily be seen how !
he situation will be unpleasant to
nem. and it will be only justice to
hem as well as the village meeting to
i've instructions to them if elected,
ither to 90 on or stop the suits.
he only other course would be for
nem to decline to act on the case as
aiIiffs, leaving it TO the other three
nd that would be hardly satisfactory
II a number of reasons.
The combination of influences and
ements against the old board is
,rious one. First there is the a. =.
d.. antagonism that almost threw them
ut two years ago because two of them
re Roman Catholics. Next there is
le fight over the Main street sewer
which has already gone
ito the courts and whose decision
lght to be left there, as it will hardly
2 denied by those who believe them
have been wrong that the bailiffs
tied conscientiOusly. Then here is
lie fact that the bailiffs are discussing
project for the reorganization of the
re department to get rid of some of
s dead wood and give it even greater
fciency. Then particular assault is
ade on Bailiff Calvin. charging that
, has used his position as bailiff to
'ndemn and complete the taking out of
umbing put in by his competitors in
ade. As matter of fact Mr.. Calvin
,clares, and the others agree with
m, that he has been careful person
ly to avoid inspecting or passing upon {
e work of competitors, except for :
of designs in advance,
nich anybody could 90, to see if they I
cord with the rules Dr. Miller and l
e bailiifs together constitute the 1
ard of health, and the rules for it c
g made by the state board. III the '
of building does not ac- a
ri with these rules. The inspection c
S been done by Bailiff Parker and he t
IS the vouchers for it. The law re r
Tres it To be ordered to he remedied. I
it does so accord and the bailitfs a
nuld undertake to order it out. they o
,ud make themselves liable. G
But the real burden of the Eight n
ainst them is the beer prosecutions v
It summer. and here the bailitfs are ?
a position to catch it from all sides.
al prohibitionists attack them be 4,
a