The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-09-12
Member of the Associated Press.
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 10. 1914
GATES AND DILLINGHAM;.


The Bennington Banner. whose edi-
tor and owner, Frank f. Howe, was
one Of the candidates for the Republic
can gubernatorial nomination. prints
an interesting commentary on the out
come of the state convention. The
Banners statement about the course
of the Dillingham; organization seems
justified and the opinion of its editor
is shared by a great many Republic
cans throughout the state although the
feeling is not likely to affect the
vote in the November election. The
Banner editorial follows
Charles W. Gates of Franklin whom
the Republicans Of Vermont have nom
mated for governor is d man of high
character, who has done SO much for
the state in the matter of highways,
that there was Il sincere demand that
he be made governor in the belief
not only that his services have been
So great that he deserved the honor
but that his administrative capacity
developed in the road department will
| make him an executive strong in all
| departments.
v The circumstances Of his anomiua-
| tion were unusual He was not can
| dldate in the usual acceptance Of the
| term, but he could not fail to be
| pleased by the strong demand that he
| take the nomnatiOu and as the time
| drew near this feeling grew upon him,
as it would on any patriotic man
| In the meantime, however, he had
| made two promises. Every one of the
| other candidates had offered to with
| draw and support him, but he declared
| that he would not allow his name to
| 90 before the convention. His other
| promise was to the Dillingham; organ
| izatiOn. After much urging he had
told this organization that if he was
nominated he would not decline
The Dillingham; camp had looked the
state over and decided that Mr.. Gates
was the strongest man to head the
state ticket and would do most toward
| pulling Senator Dillingham; through
They were sincere in this belief and
had an undoubted right to try to get
the aid Of Mr.. Gates. They did not
take any chances. When the dele
gates assembled at Montpelier they
found more men, not delegates. work
other candidates combined. This or
ganization backing up the very gen
| eral demand that Mr.. Gates run mad,
a combination that was irresistible
The other candidates and thei
friends had been repeatedly told by tn,
Dillingham; organization that the Dill
lingham machine would not take am
part in the governorship canvass
|
the friends of the other candidate
were naturally disturbed and demand
ed an explanation which demand wa
ignored by the Dillingham; camp
Mr.. Gates was appealed to. but hi
hands were tied by his two promises
He had no part in or responsibilities 70
the work of many of the men VIII
were canvassing in his behalf
fact it was impossible, always, to di>
tinguish between the men who wer
enthusiastically and unselfshlv worl
ing for Mr.. Gates because of thei
love and admiration for him an
those who were chiefly anxious t
help Senator Dillingham;.
Mr.. Gates is a modest, unassumin
and rather diffident man. He is ne
schooled in political craft and didn
nothing. Neither can the supporter
of Senator Dillingham; be blamed f
wanting Mr.. Gates as long as they coI
sidered him the strongest candidat
and the one best fitted to help Sem
tor Dillingham;.
The offence was in misleading IL
other candidates who had been read
to give Mr.. Gates u clear field and ha
told him so repeatedly. The blan
for this act lies not ON Mr.. Gates, wi
is novice in dealing with a polite
N canvass, but on the Dillingham; orga
ization which DETECTED from Il
straightforward path when it won
m have been better judgment and bett
politics to have followed it
The conviction of the Banner al
its editor is that the convention ODE
ed the wishes of the largest body
q Republican voters of Vermont in MOI
" mating Mr.. Gates. The demand f
him came from all parts of the sta
and was sincere, open and abo'
board. He is a fine man of hi;