News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-12-11
THE LIVINGSTON PAGE SUIT.
A VERDICT FOR PAGE.

LII any vi NAlN 1llflA We ia I
not felt like discussing the case, but
we can now see no reason why we
may not briefly state what we un-
derstand to be Gov. Pages position
with reference to the matter.
Gov. Page has had long-distance
acquaintance with plaintiff Living
ston for ten years or more. They
never met but once prior to last
Tune, and then in 1891, at the time
of Vermont's centennial celebration
at Bennington.
AS an advertiser, Gov. Page had
very pleasant business relations with
Livingston, relations which for years
called for considerable correspond
ence. During all these years Living
ston took repeated occasion to ex
press, both in his paper and by letter
his respect and regard for Page, per.
sonally and officially.
AS far back as December, 1896, the
plaintiff wrote the defendant, setting
forth at length his political creed,
stating that he was believer in
sound money and in the policy oil
protection to home industries, and
that he had given expression to that
belief by voting for the Republican
candidate for Governor. In the
course of this letter, unasked, and in
the strongest language, he gave Gov.
Page to understand that his official
record commended his respect and
that he might always rely upon his
friendship and loyalty.
Again, under date of December 6,
1898, in closing business letter, he
says
"By the way, was particularly
proud to see ex-Gov. Page come out
top of the heap in the late Legislative
investigation"
Under date of January, 1899, he
closed another business letter with
the sentences
"Have you noted that the Banner
has come out for Batchelder for Con-
gress in the shoes of Powers at the
expiration of his term? viii the
Honorable Governor be in the field
or is the time inopportune to make
the announcement?
The following month, unasked by
defendant Page, he wrote:-
~ am going to quietly interview
all the leading Republicans on the
congressional matter and let you
know just where everyone stands"
This he never did and he swore on
the>stand that Gov. Pagenever asked
him to>do so.
On one occasion Livingston sent
Gov. Page his photograph and on
another submitted for his considera-
ton some of his own poetical pro-
ductions-indeed, for a period cover
ing several years Livingston took
repeated occasion to emphasize his
personal regard and high esteem for
Gov. Page.
These continued professions of
friendship, these inquiries as to
whether the Governor was or was
not to be a candidate for congress,
the unasked proffers of political as
sistance and the assurance that he
was sound on the leading principles
of the Republican party, naturally
left the Governor but one conclusion,
to witt that Livingston was most
loyal personal and political friend
and supporter, more than anxious
to promote his political welfare
whenever occasion offered.
Is it any wonder that Gov. Page,
having in mind these multiplied pro-
fessions of friendship, wrote, without
reserve, the, all-important letter OF
July 81, 1899, in which he uses the
only sentence ever expressed by him
to Livingston suggesting remunera.
tion-the letter which Livingston
swears he understood to be a corrupt
proposal for the purchase of his edi
torial columns.
! We quote verbatim that part o
the letter which the plaintiff say:
contains the corrupt promise:
81 would like to have you put thu
Reformer on record as favoring Page
so far as his personnel is concerned
and | would like to have you publish
some of the extracts which | will
from time to time send you. So IA
as the latter are concerned, if they
are not what you would natural,
use, / need not say to you that what
ever is legitimate and proper an
more than willing to do by way O
remuneration, although | must keel
my hands as pure as the driven snow
with reference to any ex penditure c
money; and you must not ask me
because | cannot do it, to pay
farthing that is not a Legitimat
charge for actual space accorded nt
which you could not, as a Demo
cratic editor, deem of sufficient inter
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