The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-03-25
RoLLIN cHlLDs ERuPTs
Tells His Brother Democrats Whai
He Thinks Of Them.

Editor OF the Free Press:
thank you for copy OF the indie
pendent and outspoken Free Press
What eVrmont most needs is. a dozen
courageous and unmuffled newspapers
to place her beyond harm from deiin-
quent legislative bodies and extrava-
CANT officials. that the servants of
the, people may not continue their
masters. But you have not spoken
correctly upon the distribution OF fed
eral patronage in Vermont, in declar-
ing that the State democratic COM
mittee has given "all wings and fac
tons and subdivisions OF the Yer
mont democracy recognition" II
minorities and not majorities consti-
tute popular rule then the democratic
masses might read your comment in
a spirit of political tolerance. But
the Rutland Windham and Windsor
county democrats are in a state of re-
volt because Of the tyrannical action
OF q majority of the State democratic
committee. one Martin A. Brown OF
Wilmington and Boston, and Senator
Henry f. Hollis of New Hampshire,
and, were a referendum vote possible
today to pass upon their conduct tow
ard the people of these counties, they
would 20 into merited obscurity to re-
pent in sackcloth and sit in ashes
during the remainder of their politi-
cal existence. Their disposition OF the
Rutland. Windsor. Brattleboro and
Bellows Falls postoffices has been a
shameless betrayal of home rule and
popular rights, indefensible In them
selves or any of their adherents. The
Rutland petition OF William S. Smith,
an upright citizen and sterling demo
crat, was overwhelming, but a scheme
of deception was worked to induce
Mr. Smith TO consent to caucus Of
Rutland democrats on promise that
the State committee would abide the
result OF such caucus. Mr.. Smith and
his legion of democratic endorsers
thought caucus entirely unneees-
sary but a portion of his support at
tended the caucus, giving Mr. Smith
200 of the 202 votes cast. two ballots
being cast for F. NJ. Meldon, where
upon this eminently fair CD State
committee promptly forwarded the
name OF Patrick NJ. Mellon TO Wash
ington Bellows Falls has a post
master in the person of Daniel II.
Cray, who. it is safe to say, is not the
choice OF one-fourth OF the patrons of
that office. At Brattleboro in the
face of a petition for Major F. W.
Childs bearing the signatures of over
1000 patrons of that office. including
$40 OF Brattleboro's 402 democrats,
letters from the largest patrons Of
the Office and the towns leading bust
ness and professional citizens: en-.
dorsements by II of the % town com
mittees of Windham county and en-
dorsements from prominent State and
New England democrats, he was
ignored by the State committee who
designated Michael j. Moran, man.
who, while voting and holding Office
for 25 years, meantime taking ac-
acknowledgements and administering the
oath of Office, was not a citizen Of
the United States until he applied for
naturalization to the United States
court, March 25. 1914. When chai-
lenged by his republican opponents.
in two local representative contests
he vehemently asserted that he was
tull-fedged citizen entitled To dill
the rights and privileges of citzenA
ship including voting and holding pub
lie Office, If Mr.. Moran was honest
then. was he honest Mr.. Moran when
he applied for naturalization less
than one year ago, sometime after he
had secured pledges of support for
the Brattleboro postoffice? At Wind.
sor the democrats and business com
munity asked for the appointment OF
George S. Guernsey whose democracy
is standard and whose popular citizen
ship is universally recognized. The
State committee, or a majority of It's
members. selected the less popular
democrat and citizen. Frank II. Clark.
The State democratic committee MAJ
hug the delusion to its bosom that
il has thrown few trump cards in
the face OF a well-meaning President,
but as nothing is ever settled until Il
is settled right Mr.. Kennedy's com
mittee. and its two willing assistants
aforesaid, may be assured that those
who deny to the people their inner
ent rights will receive attention from
the people before their days and
years are long extended.
RoITin & Cb;Ids