Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-03
Latest News and Notes in Realm of Politics
7, {, GIBBON BRANDS STATEMENT BY
NORTON As UNFOUNDED IN FACT

least twenty of the leading members
of the Democratic party in this coun-
ty and state, and l do not doubt for
one moment that he had been so prom
ised by the gentlemen whom he men
toned, and that he had to promise
nothing in return. / think he further
stated that the combination of Demo-
Gratis and Republicans could better
agree on him (Mr. Gibbon) than any
one else, because they could show the
Lincoln Roosevelt members of the leg
islature who might be averse to Vot-
ing for ~ Democrat that Mr.. Glbbon
assisted in winning the victory OF the
Lincoln Roosevelt forces in the Aug
ust primaries.
NO part of thij statement is correct,
and it would probably have been bet
ter for Mr.. Norton's reputation for
Yeracity had he prefaced his Whole
statement with the qualification, L
think he further states etc, which he
attached to the latter part of 1t. Mr..
Nortons further statement that by
the action of the Democratic conference
at Long Beach, the result was that
contest for the United States senator
ship between II. f. Gibbon and George
II. Patton was averted. is equally un-
true, inasmuch as ] was never can
didate for United States senator and
no possible contest between Mr.. Pat
ton and myself could have arisen.
STATES HIS ATTITUDE
"The best evidence of my attitude on
the senatorial matter ia probably found
i'm a letter which I addressed to the
president and secretary of the san
Francisco Democratic club in response
to communication from them inform
ing me that their organization had
honored me by indorsing me as the
candidate of the Democrats for United
States senator at the primaries. In
this letter | said:
Some time ago the secretary of
the state Democratic committee was
kind enough to suggest the advisability
of my announcing myself as candl-
date for United States senatar. My
reply to him was that while no man
could appreciate more highly than my
self the compliment involved in the
suggestion, I felt that under all the
circumstances the party might reap
larger advantage by making no selec-
tion for United States senator at the
coming primaries: that it might be
better to leave the matter of the par
tvs choice for that position open until
after the election gave us an opportu-
nifty of knowing exactly the political
complexion of the Legislature. l can
well imagine that a condition. might
arise as the result of the coming cleo
tions, when the personality of DEM
ocratic candidate for United States
senator would be a most important
factor in the party's success in fur
nishing the next United States senator
for our state. Feeling that way, 1t
has appeared to me that the best in
terests Of the party would be served
by refraining from making any in
dorsement for United States senator at
the coming primaries to be held
August 16.
FAVORED PRIMARY ACTION
"Gwhile appreciating the action of
your club more profoundly than 1 can
express, 1 am afraid that I am unable
as Democrat interested above all
other things in the success of our
party, to change my views heretofore
expressed to Mr.. Murray on the mad
visibility of our endeavoring to make
any selection of candidate for sena-
tor at the coming primaries.
land I feel that fairness to other
Democrats of the state who may pos
sibly cherish the worthy ambition of
representing our party as its United
States senator would compel me to
add this:
at is quite possible that the opin-
ions 1 have heretofore expressed as to
the 1naQVlSaDlllLV OF any DeIIlOCIdl
announcing himself as a candidate for
United States senator before the pri-
maries has been the means of inducing
other members of our party with sena-
torfal ambitions to refrain from an
nouncing their candidacy. This being
the case, in justice to myself and to
nv position in this matter, I am COM
PEELED to say that should any Demo-
crat in the state adopt the suggestion
of your club and write my name on
the ticket, I would not consider any
legislator who might desire to vote
for any other Democrat than myself
for that position bound by such action
to vote for me-
"Inasmuch as I refused to accept the
Endorsement of members and organiza-
tions of my own party for the position
of United States senator, it is hardly
probable that / solicited the indorse-
ment of Mr.. Lissner or Mr.. Earl
A reporter for The Herald inter
viewed Mr. BetkouslIi with reference
to Mr. Norton's statement. Mr.. Bet
kouski said:
'I was present at the conference to
which Mr. Nohton referred but 1 do
not remember such statement by Mr..
Gibbon, or anything like it. If such a
statement had been made, I am sure
I would have remembered it. Mr..
Norton's remarks seem uncalled for
and without foundation as far as I
know"