Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-02-16

Tonight in the opera house will be
held the annual caucus of the citizens
of Barre for the purpose of agreeing
upon some candidate for mayor, and
orthc other elective Offices which form
a part of the city government. Every
voter has the right and to him belongs
the duty of taking part in public af-
fairs be that part ever so little. The
accurate results can be obtained only
by sounding the will of the people, the
people speaking as whole. AS has
too often been the case in times past,
the assembly at the city caucuscs has
contained but a small proportion of
the city's voters and votes have passed
that were not in accordance with the
ideas Of the people. But this was the
fault of those who remained away and
if any unWSc action was taken no one
is more to blame for it than the man
who was absent. Let every voter then
turn out tonight and take his part i'm
choosing the candidates, who il elect
ed will guide the cily'S. government
during their term Of office. II a man
hires another to work for him he uSl-
ally likes to know something about
what the man can do. and so he
deems 1T wise to do the hiring HIM
self. The selection Of public servants
contains the same principle and each
voter has as much interest in who the
city officers Shall he as has any one of
his fellows.
Along some lines II is supposed that
the political caldron in Barre will not
boil very entertainingly with local
troubles this year, although there
may be some surprises. The interest
has thus far centercd around the nu-
merous candidates for first and second
cOnStabeS. The men thus far spoken
of are any one them well fitted to up
hold the dignity of the law. The
city clerk will undoubtedly remain
unmolested. For mayor the two can
didatcs thus far mentioned are John
W. Gordon and l.. II. Thurston. In
some ways it will make little differ
ence which one ofthcsc men IS elect
ed, while in other ways it does. 1t is
a foregone conclusion that the policy
of administration Will in either event
remain unchanged. With Mr.. Thurs
ton as mayor it will mean that Mr..
Gordon is the city attorney. The
only difference will be that with Mr..
ThurSton as mayor it is upon his
shoulders that the responsibility of
the policy of the past must rest,
while Mr.. Gordon, as city attorney,
VIII practically be in the same posi-
tion that he has held for the past four
years.
Opinion upon this Mayor question
seems at present to be about equally
divided but it verges slightly over the
line in favor of the retirement of Nh. |
Gordon and with that sentiment goes
one allied to it that the whole Gordon
policy be eliminated That is to say |
that If some other unbiased and cap
able man besides Mr.. Gordon or
Mr.. Thurston could be found to ac-
ccpt this honor It would serve to salts
fy all fationS and perhaps result in
making great improvement upon
the situation as it now stands. If
TINS other man does appear the citi-
zens FLARE will act wisely if they
choose him at the caucus tonight. IL
does certainly seem as we recall in
stances of the past that in "swapping
horses as commitment was pleased
To call it, the citizens Of Barre
would scarcely be likely to place them
selves in any worse situation, and it is
1iilicult to believe that Mr.. Gordon
ana Mr.. Thlrston are the only men
who possess the ability to conduct
affairs in an honest business