Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-01-28

I
dentiai Dllices To lie Determined bi
Petition.
Believing that the postofIices belong
to the people, and that the seie ;tion oi
postmasieis should be in accordance
with their wishes, the subAcii ber has
already announced that contests rela-
tiv, thereto, and in the second con-
gressional district, VIII be referred di-
reclly to caucus of the Republican
patrons OF the office where the con-
test arises.
The subscriber believes this is a
much fairer and more certain method
of ascertaining the wishes OF the pa
irons than trial by petitions,on which,
in holly contested cases, are invariably
found the names of those who are not
patrons OF the Office; and the names OF
those who have signed early and often,
and indiscriminately, first one petit
ton and then another, ana then the
first one again or perhaps still anoth-
er, if asked to DO so. On petitions
the inquiry always is, what are the
wishes of the patrons who are III ac-
cord with the party in power; and
more than once since the subscriber
has been in the House, candidates with
counsel have appeared before the full
delegation in Washington, in presi-
Dental cases, and have occupied days
in ascertaining from a thousand
names, or more perhaps, on which
side was the real balance.
The subscriber believes that this can
be more expeditiously, ineXpensively
and definitely done by caucus than
by petitions, providing the raucus be
fairly held and be confined to the res
ident patrons of the oihce.
The suggestions thst some patrons
have more mail than Others and so
ought TO have more power in the Sc
lection Of the postmaster, is fully an
swered by the law which gives the
large and small taxpayers ballot
each. This is the American idea.
The suggestion, also, that the pa
irons may not select the most suitable
man, questions the good sense OF the
people. They might, of course, fail
TO do so in caucus as they might by pc
tition. Who will say they will be
more likely to fail under one method
than the other? IL a manifestly UNI
fit person were selected the member
would be at liberty to withhold his
endorsement and the department could
decline to appoint, the same under one
system as under the other.
The following regulations will be
observed in holding caucuses TO select
postmastcrs for all fourth-class offices
in the second district, where there is
contest. But where there is only one
petition or where there is more than
one but the choice of the patrons Is
still perfectly clear, the right is re-
served to act without caucus.
CAUCUS COMMITTEE.
There shall be a committee consist
ing OF three patrons of the Office,
known as the caucus committee, which
may be agreed upon by the candi-
dates, but on failure TO agree either
candidate NAV apply TO the subscrib-
er, who will, but not until after March
4, 1897. name three judicious persons,
resident within the county in which
the Office is located, who shall on no
tice to all known candidates, appoint
such caucus committee; and they shall
receive for such service three dollars
each, to be paid equally by the candi-
dates.
DUTIES AND POWERS OF CAUCUS COM
MiTTEE.
The duties and powers of such COM
mittee shall be:
LIST. To prepare check list of all
the Republican patrons resident with
in the delivery of The office. I'd. To
warn caucus of such patrons for the
purpose of naming postmaster,to be
held at such time and place as they
may determine, by posting notices in
three conspicuous places within the
delivery of said Office, not less than
six nor more than ten days before said
caucus; and said committee shall state
i'm said notices at what hour the box
will be turned on the first ballot. 3D..
TO preside over said caucus through
one of their number; to decide all
points of order; to decide who may
vote therein; to assert and count the
votes and make and return to the sub
scriber, giving the full name of each
candidate and the number OF votes
each received on the final ballot; and
not to entertain a motion TO adjourn
said caucus, except to some subsequent
day,until some one shall receive u ma
iority Of all the votes cast. The cau-
Gus committee shall prepares the ex-
pense of each candidate, the number
of ballots desired, and on the first
ballot the ballots OF ali the candidates
shall be Of uniform size and OF the
same color. But after the first ballot
there shall be no Limitation as to size
or color OF the ballots used.
QuAIIFIC ALTON or VOTERS.
All resident Republican patrons OF
any fourth-class Postoffice in the see
ond congressional district without re-
gard to town, village or, city limits,
yybo ora cifizaue Of Vermont and voted