The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-07-20
School Meeting Tonight May
Be More Interesting
than'Anticipated
CAPT. WATERMAN AND
STAPLES IN FIELD
School Lew Allows Women to Vote
Without Having to Pay Poll Tax
Attempt May Be Made to Put Wo-
man on School Board.

AOSNANNs
The annual meeting of the incor-
porated school district in the high
school building at 8 clock this even
ing promises to be a decidedly Interest
ing session. In addition to choosing
two members of the prudential commit
tee, one as a successor to DR.. A. T. Mil
Ter and the other to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Judge James L.
Martin, the voters will be called upon
to decide between at least two candi-
dates for treasurer of the district.
Those in the field are Ernest J. Water
man of the Brattleboro Trust company
and Charles G. Staples of the Vermont
National bank. This makes the contest
one between financial institutions. Sup
Iporters of Mr.. Waterman point out
| that the town treasurership is held by
an officer Of the Peoples National bank
and the village treasurership bv an of
| fieer of the Vermont National bank.
using this as an argument that the
school district treasurership (and the
| Iaccount that goes with it) should in
jail fairness 20 to an officer of the
trust company. The candidacy Of Mr.
Staples is the result of a desire among
certain interests to keep the school dis
ltrict account at the Vermont National
bank where it was held by George C.
lAverill, ex-president of +ha bank and
lat present treasurer of the district.
How much of a contest will develop
lin the election Of Il successor to the late
lJudge Martin on the prudential com
lmittee is a doubtful question. Will B.
ISmith stated this morning that he had
lagreed TO allow the use of his name
Ialthough he was making no active can.
lvass for the place. NTTTrfT TnsTfn re,
liberated the statement he made yester-
tday, that he should enter no contest
flor the Office Mr. Austin said that in
lease there We're other candidates he
Ishould under no circumstances allow
this name to be presented.
women Eligible for Office
The advisability of naming a woman
Jas third member of the board has be
come a subject of discussion this morn
ing in connection with talk about
THE qualification of women to vote il
the meeting tonight. According to the
new educational law any woman q
tyears old who is a resident of the dis
ltriet has the same right to vote rs {
! imam, without regard to her property
| holdings. Section 16 of chapter o.
lthis statute says:
= w omen Il years OF age shall nave
! the same right as men to vote on mat
tiers pertaining to schools aud schOo
: officers and to hold elective and ap
!, Ipointive offices relating to school af
:, fairs. This section shall not be con
: lstrued as requiring the payment of pol
taxes by women.
q There was a story on the street thi
T morning to the effect that Mrs. Ere
I Imont Hamilton was a candidate fo
n the vacancy on the school board. Whel
S lasked about the matter Mrs. Hamilton
5 Esaid she had not considered being
d candidate herself, but did believe tha
e there should be a woman on the boaro
e I'' Women are Just as much intereste
q las men in school affairs, she added
e ''and frequently are more closely j
touch with them.
Had the idea of naming a woman o
the board been agitated sooner ther
is little doubt that it would have bee
given serious consideration, and eve
\ now it is possible that something ma
come of it. At least one local lawyc
is authority for the opinion that unde
the new law women may vote on scho'
er matters whether or not they are prope
ty owners, and if the women of the di
trict decide to take advantage of tn
opportunity their voting strength wi
:, be considerable.