St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-01-22

to the people and that the selection OF
postmasters should be in accordance
with their wishes, the subscriber has al
ready announced that contests relative
thereto, in the second congressional dis
trict, will be referred directly to a caucus
of the Republican patrons OF the ofhce
where the contest arises. 6
The subscriber believes this is a much
fairer and more certain method OF ascer-
tanning the wishes OF the patrons, than
trial by petitions, on which, in holly con-
tested cases, are invariably found the
names OF those who are not patrons OF
the office; and the names also of those
who have signed early and often, and in
discriminatory, first one petition and
then another, and then the first one
again or perhaps still another, if asked
to do so. On petitions the inquiry al
ways is, what are the wishes OF the
patrons who arein accord with the party
in power; and more than once since the
subscriber has been in the House, candi-
dates with counsel have appeared be-
fore the full delegation in Washington,
in presidential cases, and have occupied
days in ascertaining from thousand
names, or more perhaps, on which side
was the real balance.
The subscriber believes that this can be
more expedtiously, inexpensively, and
definitely done by caucus than by petit
tons, providing the caucus be fairly held
and be confined to the resident patrons
of the Office
The suggestion that some patrons
have more mail than others, and so ought
to have more power in the selection OF
the postmaster, is fully answered by the
law which gives the large and small tax
payers ballot each. This is the Ameri
can idea.
The suggestion, also, that the patrons
may not select the most suitable man
questions the good sense of the people
They might, of course, fail to do so il
caucus, as they might by petition. Who
will say they will be more likely to fai
under one method than under the other
If a maniestly unfit person were selected
the member would be at liberty to with
hold his endorsement, and the depart
ment could decline to appoint, the sam
under one system as under the other.
The following regulations will be oh
served in holding caucuses to select post
, masters for all 18th class Offices in tn
second district, where there is a contest
But where there is only one petition, o
where there is more than one but tn
choice of the patrons is still perfect
clear, the right is reserved to act withou
a caucus.
CAUCUS COMMITTEE.
There shall be committee consistin
, of three patrons of the office, known a
the caucus committee, which may b
agreed upon by the candidates, but o
failure to agree either candidate may az
ply to the subscriber who will, but no
until after March 4, 1897, name thre
:. judicious persons, resident within tn
y, county in which the office is loca led, VIII
shall on notice to all known candidate;
appoint such caucus committee; an
they shall receive for such service thre
dollars each, to be paid equally by til
y candidates.
. DUTIES AND POWERS OF CAUCUS CON
: MITTEE.
: The duties and powers of such commi
. tee shall be
LIST. To prepare check list OF all Il
' republican patrons resident within tt
delivery of the office. I'd. To warn
y caucus of such patrons for the purpo.
OF naming postmaster, to be held {
such time and place as they may dete
mine, by posting notices in three conspi
uous places within the delivery of sa
Office, not less than six nor more tina
ten days before said caucus; and sa
committee shall state in said notices
y what hour the box will be turn,
;, on the first ballot. Sd. To presi'
:, over said caucus through one
their number to decide all poin
- OF ORDER to decide who may vote therei
:. to assert and count tile votes, and nal
y return to the subscriber giving the {,
y name OF each candidate and the numb
- OF votes each received on the final ballo
and not to entertain amotion to adiou
= SAID caucus, except to some subseque
- day, until some one shall receive majc
:, ity OF all the votes cast. The cauc
- committee shall prepare, at the expen
- OF each candidate, the number OF ballo
desired, and on the first ballot the ballo
OF all the candidates shall be of unitor
:. size aud OF the same color. But after t
al first ballot there shall be no lnitati
:. as to size or color OF the ballots used.
RS. QUALIFICATION OF VOTERS.
he All resident republican patrons of a
ed fourth class post office in the seco
A. congressional district without regard
in town, village or city limits, who are ci
zens of Vermont, and voted, or co,