Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-11-16
Haskins and a Solid County

Since Judge READ announced be- ,vonld
not be considered candidate for cor.uo.s
Brattleboro has been tremendous,v .,.v
talking about solid Windham county
delegation for Haskins. Both Brattlehoro
papers fastened to say that Mr.. Reads
withdrawal meant solid county da,ega-
ton next spring for the colonel, and every
man who could be prevailed upon to send
newspaper dispatch from that town since
has been echoipg the same sentiment In
all this labored effort it is plain that the
wish is father to the thought. However it
i, never well to jump at conclusionsin mat
tiers political. There is strong feeling in
the northern end Of the county, at least,
that the rest Of the county has PLAYED tail
to Brattleboro's kite about long enough,
and unless there is complete turning
about between now and the time of holding
the caucuses, Mr.. Haskins cannot have a
delegation from the town of Rockingham
and we shall miss our guess badly if the
delegations from several of the other towns
at the north end of the county do not go
to the convention unpledged.
Two things will bring this about. The
first is the general feeling that if political
death is not to be the fate Of every man
aspiring to office who lives outside the sa-
cred precincts of Brattleboro in the next
% years, the same as during the past quar-
ter of century, united protest must be
made. The policy that il we cannot get
the offices, we will at least prevent the
other sections of the county from getting
them has been rung into service SO often
that it has lost its charm.
So much for the eternal candidate from
Brattleboro. But what about this particu-
lar candidate, Col. Kittredge Haskins. He
is an affable gentleman and his hat is the
congressional size; a selfish ambition is his
worst fault, and this is in perfect keeping
with Brattleboro environment. If he could
move to some other town in the county and
breathe untainted air for time, his pros.
poets for the future would improve decided
ly. Mr.. Read was an announced candi-
date tor congress long before Haskins even
thought of running for the legislature and
the speakership. He proved the only can
dldate, who in 16 years has made even a
creditable showing against General Grout.
1t was generally understood that he was to
be candidate next year, and under the
circumstances no sane man can tor mo-
ment doubt that he should have received
the solid backing of his county. This, no
doubt, he would have received but for the
bee in Colonel Haskin's bonnet, and re-
ceived the nomination by the republican
party and the election to congress. Has
kins and Read in the field meant sure de-
feat for both, while with Read the only can
didate, victory was almost sure. Here
again crops out the old Brattleboro policy
OF getting what they can and preventing
others from getting what they themselves
cannot get.
But Mr.. Haskins' present candidacy i,
not the worst count in the indictment
against him. In the campaign Of 1898
when every sentiment Of county loyalty
called loudly for united and enthusiastic
support of Mr.. Reads candidacy, where
was Haskins? Had he remained neutral OF
Indifferent, Mr.. Reads friends would not
have said word, but he actively antago-
nized the only county candidate, and lent
the influence of his name and did what he
could to aid General Grout. His name
appeared among the list for Grout dele
gates to the district convention. This
ticket received 105 vote, in Brattleboro to
267 tor the Read ticket. But even on this
OCCASION Brattleboro couldn't keep her
finger out of the pie, but instructed her
delegates to the state convention to sup
port W. II Bracket for state treasurer
and DR.. H. D. Holton for lieutenant gov
ernor. Had it not been understood that
+, the rest of the county WAS to tall in and
support these two candidates, it is very
doubtful if Mr.. Read would have received
as many votes as he did.
In the light of this record on what ground
| does Mr.. Haskins ask for united county
support