Washington County GOP ‘storm’ turns to ‘love feast’ in 1920

Milford D. Whedon, a lawyer from Granville, stopped Washington County Republican Chairman James S. Parker and whispered an urgent message just as the chairman was about to call for nominations for state Assembly.

“The chairman was seen to smile from ear to ear and his actions were interpreted by the other leaders of the G.O.P. within a few seconds,” The Post-Star reported on Aug. 6, 1920.

The party establishment would avoid a potentially bruising primary, but the candidate would not be the incumbent they had wanted.

“The meeting of the Republican county committee held yesterday afternoon at the Hudson Falls court house developed into a true love feast after the stage had been set for one of the biggest political fights ever in Washington County,” The Post-Star reported.

It would have had to be huge to top the four-way GOP Assembly primary two years earlier.

The turn about came when incumbent Assemblyman Eugene Norton, R-Granville, announced he would not seek re-election, clearing the field for Herbert Bartholomew of Whitehall to clinch the Republican nomination without a primary contest.

Bartholomew, a farmer and cattle breeder from Whitehall, went on to win the general election and represent the area in the Assembly for 20 years.

“The storm was prevented by Assemblyman Eugene R. Norton at a time when the thunder was about to roll and the lightening flash,” The Post-Star reported.

Supporters of each candidate had been working the room for about three hours, and must have known the score when Norton, a slate company owner from Granville, made his announcement.

“I am for party harmony and the statement has gone forth that Whitehall has little and Granville much,” Norton said. “There is a marked feeling that the office should go to Whitehall, and I take pleasure in placing in nomination for assemblyman one whom you all know to be competent to fill the duties of the office, Herbert A. Bartholomew of Whitehall.”

Chairman Parker, a congressman from Salem, praised Norton.

“Mr. Norton is a good loser,” he said. “Good losers are as scarce as hens’ teeth and it does one good to see such a man once in a while. … Mr. Norton, you’re a good sport.”

Prohibition and distribution of state funds and patronage jobs between towns would have been issues if the primary materialized, The Post-Star reported the previous day.

“Mr. Bartholomew’s friends say that there has been nothing but promises for the town and that they will be fooled no longer,” The Post-Star reported on Aug. 5, 1920.