Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-08-31
is GIBSON STRA0DLlNG 2
MAKES EvAsIvE ANSWER TO
PERTINENT QUESTION.

Would Vote for Clement but Fails "a
State in Writing His Political Inten'
tions-where Does He stand7
II no candidate for governor receives
a majority of all the votes cast next
Tuesday, the law provides that the leg
islature shall elect governor. In the
platforms Of the two candidates for
town representative printed last week
Mr.. Boyden, the fusion nominee, rec
ogniEcs the importance Of a declaration
on this point, aud makes one IN favor
of Mr. Clement, unqualified and sin
eerc, while the platfrom Of Mr.. Gibson
the republican nominee, is silent. Mr.
Gibson being friend Of Mr.. Proctor
as well as a member of the republican
state committee, il was taken for
granted that he would support Proctor
10 the finish. Early this week, rumors
reached the Reformer that Mr.. Gibson
was gaining some fusion support on
the ground that IN ease Brattleboro
went for Clement, and he Gibson
were elected representative, he would
vote for Clement.
In order to get the facts the Reform
er sent the following letter which was
delivered TO Mr.. Gibson Wednesday af'
ternoon az o clock. IL aim was to
secure positive statement from him
in the event Of his election:
f. w. Gibson, Esq,
Sir:-ln view of conflicting rumors
in regard to your position in the event
that the election Of governor IS thrown
into the legislature. aud in the absence
VI any statement OF your intentions in
your platform, we respectfully submit
10 YOU the following questions with
request that YOU furnish us for publi-
cation reply III time for the coming
issue OF the Reformer
Ii the election of governor or
any other state officers Is thrown into
the General Assembly by failure Of
any ticket to poll a majority by popu.
iar vote. for which ticket will YOU cast
your ballotG
2. II the largest vote for any one
ticket in Brattleboro should be cast
for the Fusion ticket, and the election
be thrown into the legislature, will you
vote for the Fusion candidate in the
legislaturel
Very respectfully yours,
Editor OF the Reformer.
Last evening Mr.. Gibson, aceompa.
MED by counsel, came to the Reformer
Office and asked if anyone had made
statement in reference to his position.
He was told that such statement had
been made, aud il wa. shown to him.
1t was as follows:
4sYattiebare, s. oag 20, lAQ6. :
In a conversation recently with Mr.
E. w. Gibson relative to his position
uroyided the vote for governor was
thrown into the House of Represents
tives be made the following statement;
Ii elected, will vote as the towl
goes. / am willing 10 make affidavit
10 above if necessary
Fred Z. Dompier.
Witness. +. L. Hunt.
M Gibson declared this statement
to be absolutely untrue; further de
elared that he mad never told anyone
Re would vote for Clement under any
consideration; that the Reformer would
have a libel suit on its hands if the
statement were published; and that h'
was Tor Proctor without any Teserva
tion. When pressed for reply to the
Reformer S letter Of inquiry be said he
had been busy all day, but would at
tend to it soon. This morning the fol
lowing reply was received:
Editor OF Reformer:
Yours of the Goth inst. making Ger
tain inquiries is before me.
ii elected by the republican yoteri
Of Brattleboro. who have honored ms
with the nomination for representative
shall vote, in case the election OF
state officers goes to the legislature
for the candidates of the republican
party.
think this answers your questions.
Very truly,
E. w. Gibson.
This does not answer the questions
Three words would have answered tht
first question: simple yes or no woul(
have answered the second. Mr.. Gin
son s reply is a not very clever at
tempt to appear to answer without
doing so. eff elected by the repnbli
can voters. he says. What will Mr.
Gibson do if elected by the fusioi
voters! What will he do if the tow
goes for Clement and he is elected repre-
sentative2 In that case he would b'
elected by fusion voters. Would he sup
port the fusion candidate in the legls
iature? If so. why not say 500 If not
why not say so7 Is he like the maj
who said of heaven and hell that h
had friends in both places =? MI
Gibson would have done better to b.
entirely outspoken for Proctor. Their
is no occasion for quibbling. Clemen
men will make a mistake if they ar