Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-05-29
TO HON. EUsTACE GIBSON.
An Open Letter From State Treasurer
Thompson.

An Open Letter From State Treasurer
Thompson.
GRAFTON, W. Va, May q. 1888.
Hon. z. Gibson, HratiHgtOa, W. Va:
DEAR SIg:-I obtained at this place
(Grafton) the Wheeling REaIsTER of the
26th inst, in which / found communiea-
tiOn from you dated Huntington, W. Va,
22d inst, addressed as an open letter to
Hon. ]. NJ. jackson, Parkersburg, w. Va.
10 that letter you took the liberty OF nsipg
my name and the names of other gentle
men quite freely, and 30 far as it relates TO
me, 1 hereby reply TO you directly. You
state that 'whilst you were in Washing
ton recently you learned that in order to
further his Judge Jackson's) candidacy
for Congress, he (Jackson) made arrange.
ments with w. T. Thompson, Treasurer OF
this State, to manipulate the delegations
| from that end of the district in his Judge
.Jackson's) interest in return for favoIs
which he (JackscD) and his friends were to
render me (Thompson) in the matter OF my
candidacy for reelection to the office OF
State Treasurer" That part of your letter,
Mr.. Gibson, ia wholly untrue and false,
and il Won do not furnish me or Judge
Jackson with the source of your informa-
tion, shall not only now, but hereafter,
say it was entirely gratuitous on your
part. The first time / ever met Judge
jackson to know him was last fall, at the
first meeting Of the State Executive COM
nittee at Parkersburg. and then only for 3
moment, simply an introduction, that was
all. The second and last time was
aboutA eight or ten days ago IN
nv office at Charleston. The Judge and
the Governor come to together. Others
were in my Office at the time, and our con-
versation was general and public, and their
visit was short. The only political signiti-
caucs that could possibly be attached to it
ia that Judge Jackson stated that mas
much as you (Gibsop) had thrown wide
the gate, and had privately and publicly
| declared yourself q candidate for Congress,
he, judge jackson, was also candidate.
This was long after our County Convention,
after YOU had returned from Washington,
and after you had privately and publicly
announced yourself candidate. Judge
Jackson nsyer spoke to me in reference to
the Cabeil County Convention, or any
other county convention; he never even
asked me the names of the Cabell delega-
tion or how they would probably stand,
nor could have told him, either, had he
done so. Touching my reelection he never
mentioned that to me nor | to him. There
fore, so far as the conspiracy Of Judge
Jackson and myself, tending, as you seem
TO imagine, to disturb the harmony Of the
Democratic party is concerned, you may,
as it's self-constituted guardian, rest easy,
ut least for two years hence.
You further state that upon your re-
turn home from Washington you ascer-
tanned that SO far as it conld be, the ar
rangement between Judge Jackson and
myself had been carried out in the selec-
tian of the Cabell Congressional delegation
and that it was openly boasted that you
(Gibson) was to be eliminated from West
Virginia politics." As to that, never
heard Judge Jackson's name mentioned,
nor did l know, and suppose no one else,
not even Judge Jackson himself at that
time knew, or even thought of being can
didate But, Mr.. Gibson, there is one
thing do know, and that is, there were
few individuals OF that convention trying
to work up Gibson delegation against the
''G-o-l-den R-u-l-e,n las you now very gra-
ciously nominate it, but not, however,
until after You had made seme effort and
and failed to break itl they too failed,
and hence this racket" / heard no
one either privately or publicly boast"
thgt you twas to be eliminated from West
Virginia Politics." But since you have
mentioned the matter, which, doubt not,
you did with view to elicit an expression
upon that subject. for one will be frank,
and say that the Democratic party in
Cabell, Lincoln, Wayne, and adjoining
counties, was not only harmonious but
very successful before your advent, and l
confess have yet to learn that your pres
ence or influence has in the least contrib
uted to the harmony or, strength Of the
party, and doubt not but that the party
will continue to thriveiand succeed, althO'
you may be eliminated" as you choose
TO put it.
Touching my attitude toward Judge
Jackson, and Hon. Chss E. Hogg, in this
matter, il they do not now, they and their
friends, will in due season, not only know
but properly appreciate it. Can you
say as much for yourself. Respectfully
yours. w. L. THOMPSON.