Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-11-24
Col. HasKIns and His "BraIiIeboro En-.
vIronment."


Falls Times has been engaged in an effort
to create antagonism between the northern
Windham county towns and the rest of the
county, to make a break in the county,
and to have it appear that never in fu-
ture will the Republicans of Rockingham
support any Brattleboro candidate for po-
litical preferment. This was especially
apparent in an editorial article in the
Times of last week. Whether the Times
can succeed in its undertaking, whether it
is wise to make the attempt, or whether it
would even be ''good politics" if such a
feeling as this could be aroused and per-
petuated, must be left for time to tell, and
for every mans individual judgment.
For the present we are concerned only
with the charges which the Times prefers
against Col. Haskins. The writer in that
paper last week acknowledges that the
Colonel sis an affable gentleman and his
hat is the congressional size," but he
charges that "a selfish ambition is his
worst fault, and this is in perfect keeping
with his Bratteboro environment" And
this the Times presents as sufficient rea-
son for refusing Col Haskins united sup
port in Windham county. II is well known
that Col. Haskins has had for years an am
bition to represent this district in Con-
gress, and that he was ready TO become a
candidate whenever favorable opportuni
ty should arise. This is hardly to be ac-
counted an offence on his part since it is
admitted that he is of Congressional size"
Those who know him best will be slow to
accuse him of cold-blooded selfshness
On the contrary he has probably done more
voluntary, unpaid and unsefsh work in
matters political during all the years of his
active manhood than has any other man
now living in the county. Perhaps this is
not to be accounted to Col. Haskins as un-
alloyed virtue, for affairs of politics and
of government are as meat aud drink to
him. He was "born So" But it is not
selishness on his part that he has given
this gift or faculty full and free play,
either in behalf of others or of the COM
mon cause when occasion has offered.
In the preliminary canvass of 1878 when
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finally nominated for Congress, Col. Has
kins was candidate with two others from
this county, and he went TO the congress
sional convention with plurality, as he
believed, in the final event, of the Wind
ham county delegates, but Judge Tyler,
through no act of his own, was made
the compromise candidate from this county.
Col Haskins, though feeling that his defeat
had been wrongfully brought about, So
licited credentials as a substitute for Judge
Tyler, who was delegate, went into the
convention, and 1t was conceded by all
that his earnest fve-m minute speech was
the deciding factor in securing Judge Ty-
ler's nomination. This was hardl "sel-
fish ambition"
Col. Haskins has been once a member
of the state senate and three times a mem.
Der of the house of representatives through
the influence and support of the voters OF
Brattleboro, and by the means thus af-
forded has fitted himself for legislative use
fulness in the national Congress At the
special session of the legislature in May,
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ing when the war with Spain had begun,
Col. Haskins publicly announced that he
would not be a candidate for the speaker
ship, but his fellow members, nevertheless
elected him to that Office because they rec
ognized his capacity for leadership as dis
played in the previous session. Under the
circumstances this did not lay him open tC
charge of 'selfsh ambition" Nor
again, ought he to be condemned because
having been returned as their representa-
tive in the legislature in the fall of 1898 by
the people of Brattleboro, he was thu
unanimous choice of the Republicans o.
that body for the speakership of the regu
lar session. And would our Bellows Fall:
neighbor seriously charge that it was dis
play of "selfish ambition" because he Sc
conducted himself throughout the session
as to gain the respect and friendship O.
every member of the house, Democrats al
well as Republicans Such charge woulc
be too whimsical and childish to be enter
tanned for a moment.
AS the "worst count in the indictmen
against Col. Haskins" the Times charges
that he has actively antagonized Judg,
Read both times that the Judge has beer
the candidate from this county for Con
gress. The fact is that during both thest
canvasses Col. Haskins remained strictly
neutral, doing nothing to defeat Judgt
Read or to aid Gen. Grout. In 1896 he re
fused solicitation to allow his name to g
upon the ticket for Grout delegates Ii
1898 he also maintained his neutrality. Al
the time the BrattlebOro caucus was helC
he was absent from home for an entire
week, in attendance upon the Masonic
conventions at Burlington, and did not re
turn until the day after the BrattleborC
caucus had been held. That his name ap
peared as one of the delegates upon the
Grout ticket, as the Times charges, wa
not known to him until after his return
1t was placed there without his consent
and had he been consulted he would have
refused as he did in 1896. In any case hi
support or opposition could have made nC
difference, for in the convention of 1896
Judge Read had the solid backing of Wind
ham county.
Many prominent Republicans, friends o.
Judge Read among them, have always pro
fessed to believe that Col. Haskins coulC
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