Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-03-19

| scholars, have almost invariably been
political towards. We have avoided the
sacred duties of citizenship either ig
norantly or selfshly. Certainly Jesus
in our age would not do that. We can
do no less than take up this cross and
follow him.
These two men walked on in silence
for awhile. Finally President Marsh
said:
eve do not need to act alone in this
matter. With all the men who have
made the promise, we certainly can
have companionship and strength even
/ of numbers. Let us organize the Chris
tian forces of Raymond for the battle
! against rum and corruption. We GER
! tainly ought to enter the primaries
with a force that will be able to do
more than utter a protest. 1t is fact
that the saloon element is cowardly and
easily frightened, in spite of its law
lessness and corruption. Let us plan a
campaign that will mean something be-
cause it is organized righteousness.
Jesus would use great wisdom in this
matter He would employ means. He
would make large plans. Let us do so.
If we bear this cross, let US do it brave
ly, like men. -
They talked over the matter long
time and met again the next day in
Henry Maxwell's study to develop
plans. The city primaries were called
for Friday. Rumors Of strange and I'M
| heard of events to the average citizen
were current in political circles through
out Raymond. The Crawford system of
balloting for nominations was not in
use in the state, and the primary was
called for public meeting at the court
| house.
The citizens of Raymond will never
forget that meeting. It was so unlike
any political meeting ever held in Ray
mOnd before that there was no attempt
at comparison. The special officers to
be nominated were mayor, city council,
chief of police, city clerk and city
treasurer.
The Evening News in its Saturday
edition gave a full account of the pri-
maries, and in an editorial column Ed
ward Norman spoke with a directness
and conviction that the Christian peo-
pie of Raymond were learning to re-
spect deeply because so evidently sincere
and unselfsh. A part of that editorial
is also q p2rG OF Un1S n1SGOfy
SIT is safe to say that never before in
the history Of Raymond was there a
primary like the one in the courthouse
last night. It was, first of all, a COM
plete surprise to the city politicians,
who have been in the habit of carrying
on the affairs of the city as if they
owned them and every one else was
simply a tool or cipher. The over
whelming surprise of the wire puller
last night consisted in the fact that a
large number Of the citizens of Ray
mond who have heretofore taken no
part in the city S affairs entered the pri-
mary and controlled it, nominating
some of the best men for all the Offices
to be filed at the coming election.
cit was tremendous lesson in good
citizenship. President Marsh of Lincoln
college, who never before entered a city
primary and whose face even was not
known to many of the ward politicians,
made one of the best speeches ever
heard in Raymond. It was almost lu-
dicrous to see the faces of the men
who for years have done as they pleased
when President Marsh rose to speak
Many of them asked, Who is hep The
CONSERVATION deepened as the primary
proceeded and it became evident that
the old time ring Of city rulers was out
numbered. Henry Maxwell, pastor of
the First church; Milton Wright, Alex
ander Powers, Professors Brown, Will
lard and Park of Lincoln college, Rev.
John West. DR.. George Maine of the
Pilgrim church, Dean Ward of the Holy
Trinity and scores of well known bust
ness and professional men, most Of them e
church members, were present, and it
did not take long to see that they had
all come with the direct and definite
purpose of nominating the best men
possible Most Of these men had never
been seen in primary. They were
complete strangers to the politicians,
but they had evidently profted by the
politicians methods and were able by
organized and united effort to nominate
the entire ticket.
LAS soon as it became plain that the
primary was out of their control the
regular ring withdrew in disgust and
nominated another ticket. The News
simply calls the attention of all decent
citizens to the fact that this last ticket
contains the names of whisky men, and
the line is distinctly and sharply drawn
between the machine and corrupt city
government. such as we have known
for years, and clean, honest, capable,
businesslike city administration, such
as every good citizen ought to want
1t is not necessary to remind the people
of Raymond that the question of local
option comes up at the election That
will be the most important question
on the ticket The crisis of our city
affairs has been reached The issue
is squarely before u.s. Shall we con-