The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-03-14
WILMINGTON MAN
TO DISTRIBUTE
PATRONAGE
Martin A. Brown Arbiter on
Vermont Appointments
CLOSE TO ADMINISTRATION
Has Been investigating the Troubles
of Democracy in Green Mountain
State

Boston, March 1.-THE Globe TO-
day publishes the following:
Sh! The Democracy Of the Green
Mountain state is divided and the ad-
minis.ration at Washington has refus
ed to recognize the warning leaders
of factions. Those in position TO
know say that there is the "Old
Nick" to pay over the distribution OF
the loaves and the fishes, and 1t is
ever this that the sturdy little band
of Democrats of that state is split in
two.
The national Democratic admins
tration refuses to recognize National
committeeman Thomas II. Browne.
The la.ter's old political opponent,
Jim Burke, of West Rut and, is out
for his scalp. The fight between
Burke and Browne began at the Den
yer convention in 1908, when both Of
them were candidates for national
committeeman After 70 ballots, two
of the delegates refused to vote any
more, and Browne was elected over
Burke by one vote. The war be.
tween them has been on ever since.
Every time that National Commit
teeman Browne might recommend a
man for federal job, Burke would
be sure to get in touch with Washing
.on and object. On some of the big
jobs Burke bombarded Washington
with kilograms and letters against
Brownies man.
Postmaster General Burleson and
Secretary McAdoo OF the treasury
got tired of the controversy and call
ed in Col. House Of Texas and Dud-
ey Field Malone, sending them on
to look into The situation and in
some way FIX things up, so that there
would be one man to whom the de-
partment could look for advice when
appointments were about to be made.
Col House and Collector Malone
journeyed to Vermont talked wi.
the leading men of the party, and
then, on advice Of several OF the
leading Democrats of the Green
Mountain state, locked up Martin A..
Brown OF Wilmington, enc OF the
wealthiest Democrats in the state.
whose business is in Boston, whero
he spends much OF his time. MIR.
Brown, it Is said, made hit with
Messrs. House and Malone. and
when they reported back to Washing
ton they advised the department
heads to consult Mr.. Brown of vii.
mington and Boston, whenever in
doubt.
At any rate, Mr.. Brown OF Whining
ton has made several trips to Wash
ington this winter, and several promi
nent Vermont Democrats have made
pilgrimages to Boston to consult with
Mr.. Brown. They do say up in ver-
mont that an Endorsement from Mar
lin A. Brown is worth more than the
Endorsements OF Burke and National
Committeeman Browne when 1t
comes to applying for federal job
in Washington.
Martin A. Browns friends say that
his only objec. in having anything
to 90 with the distribution Of the
loaves and the fishes is to build up
the party and see Il he cannot patch
up the breach between Browne and
Burke-for it is said that Elk.
Mayor James E. Burke OF Burlington
who wants to be collector of customs
Of that city, has joined in the war on
National Committeeman Browne
who. by the way, also wants 10 be
collector of customs at Burlington.
II is said that the files of the de
partments at Washington contain
some interesting correspondence and
charges agains: many OF the candi-
dates for office as a result of this war
between Tom Browne and Jim Burke
raking up the fight in the spring Of
1912 for delegates to the Democratic
national convention.
The term OF the Republican collec-
or Of the port Of Burlington expired
Feb. 2S last The candidates for the
Job are Ex-Mayor Burke of that city,
II. c. Comings. Of Richford. recent
candidate for lieutenant governor on
the Democratic state ticket, and Ma
tional Committeeman Browne. An
appointment is looked for any day
now. and those in a position to know
say that they are quite sure that Il
viii be Comings.
In this fight William J Bryan has
been appealed to by the friends Of
Ex Mayor Burke. who has always
been an ardent admirer Of the secre-
tarv Of state II Is ca1iupd that Ar