Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-02-11
The collec torship.

The contest over the Burlington col
lcctorship continues TO wax warm, but /
the interest is limited principally to !
the politicians and the newspapers.The |
people generally care little who gets
the office. Nine-tcnths of those who |
sion a pctition in favor of either can |
didate would sign one in favor OF
another candidate were it presented
first and at least halfotth signers can
not tell ten minutes aiterward whose
paper they have signed There is no
bread and butter in it for them.
Col. Olin Merril's canvass Is being
pushed with viaor. 80 far a. the pub
+ lie is concerned, the contest Is between
Col. Merrill and Col. Mansur. Col.
Benedict has the support of a few "old
>tand-bys, but his popular strength Is
almost nothing. Col.Mansur's friends
urge that he should have the place be-
cause he is an old soldier who lost an
arm in the service; because he is "A
poor man and needs the salary; and
/ because the East side hasn't had the
collectorship for a great many years.
Col. Merrill bases his claims on long
and mcritorious party service and the
fact that he has never enjoyed any real
reward. lie also assumes to represent
the young and progressive element of
the party.
! Col. ManSur has held government Of
ice. either as postmaster or deputy
collector, for twenty-five years, since
the war, 10 say nothing Of the state Of
fees that have been conferred upon
him. and Col. Merrilrs friends think
that ought to suffice. They say that
plenty of veterans rs brave and sacri-
ticing as Mansur have fallen far short
of the reward that he has already re-
b ceived and that he is exhibiting sell
fish spirit to ask anything further. lie
has had plenty of opportunity to accu-
mulate money and if he is still poor it
: must be from lack of ability to get
rich. for which the party or country Is
= not responsible. He has never served
the party 10 a degree that would enti-
tie him to special honor, while office
after office has come to him as the re-
suit of untiring solicitation on his part
Long before Mckinley was elected and
I while the party of Vermont, led by Col
: Merrill as chairman of the state com
c mittee, was making Il strong effort Il
+ roll up bic September majority. Col
Il Mansur was actively seeking the col
' lcctorship.
: Col. Mansur's supporters claim tina
: the offices he has held have been un
{ important, and criticisc Col. Merrill
: for claiming reward for doing his duty
{ And so the war goes on.
q OF the two candidates, we prefer Col
+ Mmsur to Col Benedict, and Col. Mer
C rill to either. While every proper con
II sideration should he shown to the olC
J. soldier, we do not think that this par
u ticular one-Col Mansur-can con
{ sistcntly claim more than he has al
Il ready received. The war ended 3
/ years ago. Since then new genera
y ton has come upon the stage. 1t
le wrong 10 assume that the young O
= middlc-aecd men of today are les
4 brave and patriotic than those VIII
+ fought. Ii occasion demanded, the
& would do their duty rs their father
IN did. To say that this generation is {
20 be denied recognition while there Is
single veteran candidate for office i
the field is not only unjust in theor
but discouraging in practice Will
= We do not regard Col Merrill rs tn
a. best representative ofthe Young, ind,
pendent Republicans of Vermont th;
b could be named, he is an infinitely be
\ ter exponent of the active, voting-an,
, working elements of the party than II
other aspirants and his appointmel
\ would be an encouragement TO then
instead of the disappointment tn
= would follow the selection OF eth,
i, Coils Benedict or Mansur.