The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1912-08-22
Mr.. Biggar Explains.

The following letter from Mr.. w.
]. Biggar in reply to the editorial
in last weeks Tribune should eff
fectually nullify the story that has
been current that the company in
which Mr.. Lawrence made his tour
of Whatcom comfy had any polite
al significance whatsoever. The
Tribune based it's assertion upon
what it had every reason to believe
was reliable information that the
plans for the trip were arranged by
Mr.. Biggar as chairman of the then
Progressive organization. and he was
naturally censured by friends OF
Mr.. Lawrence for the criticism that
arose from the fact of the Progress
i've candidate for governor touring
the country in company with men
whose political affiliations were well
known to be of the ultra stand pat
type.
No one who knows John c. Law
renee can question his sincerity and
honesty of purpose in this campaign.
or the genuineness of his progress
i've principles. The fact that Mr..
Lawrence CHANGED to meet in pure
ly friendly way an old school mate
whose political views are diametric-
ally opposite to those of the Pro-
gressive candidate for governor has
been made the basis for contempt
ible little schome to defeat Mr..
Lawrence in this county, and The
Tribune is glad to set the matter in
it's proper light.
Il
Bellingham, Wn.
Editor Tribune: In your issue of
the 18th inst, in an editorial on
THE Governorship," you refer to
certain stories that have been cir
culated questioning the progressive
ness of Mr. John C. Lawrence, can
didate for governor, on the ground
that, when in WhatcOm County, he
was accompanied on his trip by
Messrs. Bruce. Romano. Thomas.
ct al, standpatters of the dyed-in
the-wOol type"
Apparently deploring the fact that
Mr.. Lawrence was seen in the COM
pany of Mr.. Romano, who was his
old friend and classmate at school;
with Mr.. Bruce. whom Mr.. Law
renee admitted was his personal
friend, and with Mr.. Thomas, who
was his secretary and press agent,
and with a desire to explain this
embarrassing position" and If pos
sible, to render Mr.. Lawrence a
seeming service, you say: And Mr..
Biggar is responsible for the compa-
ny Mr.. Lawrence kept during his
stay here" After having offered
this bit of lucid Information, you
proceed to call upon me, as though
you had right to do so, to ex-
plain to the people of Whatcom
County just how and why l chose
to place Mr.. Lawrence in an EN-
barrassing position-in predica-
ment that requires explanation"
This is the first time l ever knew
that l was responsible for the COM
pany Mr.. Lawrence keeps. have
altogether too Nigh an opinion of
Mr.. Lawrence's judgment to even
suspect that he would allow anyone
even his good friend the editor
OF The Tribune-tO select his COM
pany for him. l do not think that
Mr.. Lawrence needs guardian. Ell
Their of his person, or of his pOliti-
cal fortunes. But II he does. as
The Tribune seems to intimate, l
have no recollection of ever having
been appointed as such.
Without arguing the question as
to whether or not the fact that Mr..
Lawrence was accompanied on his
trip over the county by Mr.. Ro-
maine. his old classmate, and by
MIR. Thomas. his secretary and press
agent (Mr. Bruce having left the
party at Blaine) was 'predica-
ment that requires explanation,
will in answer to your rather urgent