Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-03-04
THE MEDDLER.
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our town meeting passed off very
peacefully. didn't II? Yes, II was Il
very harmonious gathering consider
ing how nearly equally the people were
divided on the question OF license.
Perhaps II the prohibitlonlsts had
known, an hour before the polls closed
how near they were To winning they
might have hustled around and heated
up rs or 20 of their luke warm friends;
however they didn't know, so there's
no use talking about that now. Per-
haps, too, II the license workers had
been aware Of the narrowness of their
margin they might have been able 10
brace up few faltering citizens
and prop them into the license
column. but they were likewise hap
PLY unconscious Of the real state Of
affairs.
The only persons who really knew
how things were going were the cam
paign managers of the Citizens ticket.
During the first hour or two Of the
voting they felt pretty confident that
the result was coming their way: evil
IDENTIFY their handbills advocating "a
good administration and economy In
town affairs" Were making forclble
appeal. Toward noon. however, these
managers began to wonder how many
people were going to vote; their can
vass had made them feel certain of
about 400 supporters. but the total poll
was already about 900. AS the vote
increased the opposition managers be-
gan TO feel more and more shaky, and
one by one they left their positions In
the front Of the hall and retreated TO
less conspicuous places. Indeed when
the boxes for town officers had been
closed hardly person could be found
who was willing to wager a doughnut
against n dollar on the Blodgett-Gib-
SON Walker combination.
Meanwhile Mr.. Vinton and his as
socIates, Messrs Gleason and Putnam,
had been gradually allowing smiles
to creep over their countenances, and
as the work of the ballot counters be-
gan to show which way the wind had
been blowing these smiles began to
blossom into expressions OF satisfac-
ton After the counting had been in
progress for about an hour Mr.. Vinton
went to the platform to get a line on
the result, and the expression that he
wore on his return drove away any
lingering hopes in the minds OF those
who had voted for change in the
management of town affairs. Before
the result was announced from the
platform II became generally known
that the old board had won by about
100 ma ority, and Messrs. Vinton,
Gleason and Putnam We're rendered an
informal reception in the northeast
corner of the hall.
The Meddler cannot help feeling
satisfied over the outcome of the IL
cense vote. Not only is he glad that
the decision was in favor of continu-
ing the present method for another
year but he Is also glad that the ma
jority was not large and overwhelm-
ing one. Such an equal division OF
opinion on the question cannot help
but keep the licensees careful In OBJ
serving the strict regulations OF the
law. whereas had the license sentiment
been greatly in the majority there
might have been tendency on their
part to be lax in doing their duty. The
work of the local board
of license commissioners during the
past year no doubt had a powerful eff
feet on the outcome, and the decision |
of the town TO try license again is q |
strong testimonial to the confidence
which is placed In the commissioners
judgment.
Although defeated by substantial |
the supporters of the Citi-
zen's ticket ought to derive satisfac-
ton from the thought that they put |
up good fight, and that their efforts
we're largely responsible for the gen
arous size of the vote. An honestly
conducted contest In town affairs acts
Ike tonic in overcoming that tired
feeling which is apt to take hold of
voters In the spring of the year. Per-
maps the fact that there were 500 or
more people who wanted new board
If selectmen will have its influence
IN the administration during the next
,ear. and the results thus attained will
be the same as those that might have
,ome had the change been consum-
mated
The Meddler