The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-10-07
MI N N S QUALIFIED
INVITATION TO
GOV. FLETCHER
Practically Told Executive He
Would Be UnWeIc0me
BAR ASSOCIATION ROLLED
President Clarke c. Fits Endeavors
to Induce Governor to At
tend Banquet

Montpelier Oct. 6.-Clarke c
Fits, president of the Vermont Bar
association, was tonight shown pub
lished statements that the secretary
of the association, John II. Mimms
had in some way indicated to Gov
Fletcher that his presence at the
Bar association banquet tomorrow
evening would not be entirely vel.
come.
Mr.. Fits said that any invitation
or statement by the secretary of that
kind or carrying any such import
was entirely unauthorized He said
the board of managers had directed
the secretary to extend cordial in
ytation TO the governor to be pres
ent at the banquet as a guest OF hon
or and that the association had no
knowledge that the secretary had
qualified the invitation in any way
until the presidents attention was
called to it about a week ago, when
copies of the co .respondence were
laid before him.
Mr.. Fits said that he Immediately
communicated with Gov. Fletcher,
substantially refuting any Sualflca-
ton of the invitation by he secre-
tary and stated that the Bar associa-
ton had no spirit of antagonism tow
ard the governor by reason of any of
his official acts and reiterating the
invitation. He said that he urged
him to be present and assured him of
cordial welcome by the association
Gov. Fletcher has been appraised
this evening of the position OF the
managers of the association as above
stated. The invitation has been re-
peated and the governor has been
urged to attend the banquet tomor-
row evening when United States At
torney General McReynolds will be
the principal speaker.
The correspondence between Sec
rotary Mimms and Gov. Fletcher is
as follows:
Burlington, VI. Sept. 90. 1913
ITO His Excellency,
Allen M. Fletcher,
Governor.
Sir: / have the honor and the
pleasure TO request your presence at
the annual meeting of this associa-
ticn to be held at Montpelier, Octo-
Der Ito the address by the presi-
dent of the organization at 7 D. m. in
the Court house, and to the banquet
at the Pavilion at the close of the ad-
dress. Attorney General McRey-
nolds of the United States is to be
4 guest of honor VIII you not also
favor us with your presence and with
him make the guests of honor? am
sure ! voice the sentiment of all our
members in the assurance, il such is
needed, that this is not an empty
compliment, but sincere urging
that you do so favor us.
Trusting to receive an affirmative
reply,
81 am, your excellency's obedient
servant.
John II. Mimms,
Secretary Vermont Bar Association"
Burlington, VT, Sept 90, 1913.
ITO His Exeellency.
Allen NJ. Fletcher,
NONeIHOT OF vermont.
Sir: ! am constrained to write
and suggest my letter of invitation
was written before the public an
nouncement of your recent appoint
ments. / have heard so much ad.
verse comment among members of
this association at your ignoring of
all precedent in passing over the "a
years faithful service of Judge Muir
son, that ! desire to ret-act what |
said in regard to knowing that | voic.
ed the sentiment of the members of
this association. etc. | do not intend
to indicate now that is not their SEN
tlment; ! merely withdraw what |
said In that behalf. for while at the
time ! wrote ! felt il to be the fact.
at this time | am not sure in that re-
spect. | do not want 10 create any
false impression, and hence write
this qualification of that part of nv
letter in which I purported to con.
vey TO YOU what thought was a
fact but which I am convinced now
is not-namely-in assuming To
voice the unanimous sentiment of
the members Of this association.
Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant.
John II. Mimms.
Secretary"