The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-11-02
Ovation to Governor

C;overnor Higgins who was the last
sneaker of the evening. was greeted with
a great outburst of applause. He said in
part:
"As my own candidacy for office is this
campaign is one of the very minor issues
involved. compared with the fight for the
senatorship for the grand committee and
for constitutional and legislative reform
regret the necessity of discussing IL even
for a few minutes this evening.
"On more than one occasion have re-
peated the suggestion that my chief inter.
est i'm this contest is the enactment into
law OF those reforms contained In our
platform and the election OF Col Goddard
to the United states senatorship. Owing,
however, to the fact that few days ago
/ received from a supporter in this contest
respectful and pertinent letter ! desire
to take up questions involving the gov
ernorship for just few moments.
"On Wednesday OF this week / received
from a certain clergyman In providence
the following letter:
my Dear Governor Higgins-As you
perhaps know, j am sympathizer with
and a supporter of Col. Goddard, yourself
and the Lincoln party I'm your efforts to
rid the state OF bosssm and to revise our
archaic constitution. / cast my ballot for
you last year and shall do so again next
Tuesday, believing that in so doing / am
performing a patriotic public duty One
of my parishioners, however. suggested
to me the other day that in view of many
rumors which had come to his ears l ask
you directly and fiatly the following ques-
tions:
-. Have you given any assurance that
there will be a continuance OF prize fight
ing I'm Valley Falls after election day?
80. What have you done concerning
the existence of an alleged gambling re-
sort in North Providence which was said
TO be running several months ago?
"'3. What is your attitude as to the
existence or continuance of boxing ex-
hibitions or alleged prize lighting In this
state?
TO EXPLAIN TO YOUNG MEN.
"'Iou will at once realize, Mr.. Hig-
| gins. that ] ask these questions not for
the purpose of causing you any embar-
raSsmcnt i'm the midst of an important
| campaign. but in order that l may ex.
| plain to the young men In my parish ask
| ing them your complete position on thes,
subjects i know you have done every
| thing in your power To give us goot
government, but on these particular mat
| ters l should be pleased TO have you
| side OF the case direct.
May ask you. sir, TO keep my nnrn'
| in confidence i'm this matter. as the pub
lication OF IL would perhaps cause un
| necessary dissension among certain mem
| bers OF my church? / am, however, Will
| Ing to aid quietly and honorably in tn
accomplishment OF the purposes of tn
| Lincoln party.
with my sincere and earnest goo'
| wishes for the success of this grea
| movement and with kndest personal es
Very respectfully yours
IL am extremely delighted that TIT
reverend gentleman has asked me these
questions. He has asked them in all sin
cerlty He Is. Furthermore. gentleman
with whom | have been long acquainted
| for whom / have "A high personal regard
| and he has asked me these questions a'
an honest fellow citizen seeking light OF
certain matters involving my ADMINS
| tratfon. | have answered his letter anc
have set forth 90 him the following facts
and To the public of Rhode island 1 de
sire 10 make known these facts or any
other facts asked for by reputable ciu
zens in a respectful manner. and IN,
| answer to him Is as follows:
HIS ANSWER.
In response 10 your first question: Hav,
| YOU given any assurance that there will
be a continuance OF prize hghting I'm Val
ley Falls after election day? My answe
Is this:
II hsye NOT, dlrectly OF tNdirectly
either I'm person, by agent or otherwise
| given any such assurance. i have, fur
thermore. never discussed that subjec
with anybody during the past sewers
| months. nor since the alleged prize fight
ing was stopped In Valley Falls throug
my efforts. | have made no promise
whatever. and am not going 10 max
any. / DO not know how the so-calle
where regards NJ sAnaAdaeSs ~ ~