Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-07
Priest Elected
After Campaign
For Own Defeat
Hookset, N. H., Citizens
Vote Father Gilbert to
Legislature Over Protest.
Dispatch to the Star.

| Special Dispatch to The Star.
HOOKSET. N. H., November 6
| (N.AN.A1.-A Although he vigorously
campaigned against himself, told people
not to vote for him, publicly declared
that he did not want the job and wrote
| letters urging his own defeat, Catho-
lie priest has been elected representa-
tive to the General Court of New
Hampshire
Regardless of all his protests, the peo-
ME of this district wanted him, wrote
his name on their ballots, and now that
he is elected they demand that he rep
resent them. The priest is Rev. Father
Napoleon Gilbert, pastor of the Church
| of the Holy Rosary. He Is Democrat,
chosen in typical New Hampshire VII
lage with all the rock-ribbed Republican
traditions behind it.
No Religious Issue.
Whether he will represent the dis
trict in the New Hampshire General
| Court, Father Gilbert has not yet de-
cided The election provides one OF the
most surprising demonstrations OF con-
fidence There was no religious issue.
In fact, there was almost nothing at
stake except the desire Oh the part Of a
group of Democrats in the town to
| Ser.d the priest and another Democrat
! to the Legislature There was no APP
parent reason other than that they
| liked him.
New Hampshire held its primaries on
September 0. When that day arrived
! there were two candidates for the Legis-
lature from the Republican party, Miss
Mary Head and Charles Bickford, but
there was only one candidate who had
filed nomination papers on the Demo-
cratic side. He was VIII Woodson, q
well known Hookset citizen.
The Democratic party was left with
out a companion on the legislative
ticket for Woodson. In former years
Hookset had been Republican. On the
morning of nomination day some Of the
local Democratic leaders got together
and nominated the priest. They didn't
bother TO tell him. They merely repaired
to the town house where the Democratic
and Republican primaries were being
held, and wrote his name on the ballot
as Democratic candidate.
Writes Serious Protest.
The village contains about 1900
people and when the ballots were
counted Father Gilbert was a candidate.
| He deltberated and procrasttnated. He
was busy and occupied with the duties
of his parish Mount st. Mary's Sem
mary for Girls, one Of the largest Of
such institutions in New Hampshire, is
part of his parish, and he did not get
around to doing anything about his
nomination until about the middle Of
| October.
Then he sat down and wrote a let
ter to Enoch Fuller, secretary of State,
and told him that he had never sought
the nomination, that he was not In
| terested in 1t, that he was not willing
| candidate, and asked that his name
mot" be printed on the official ballot
November 4. Unfortunately the time
/ for Withdrawals had passed, the bal
lots were already printed and nothing
could be done to remove his name.
There were two Republican candi-
| dates Mary Head, Wellesley College
| graduate, who came back to Hookset to
| live a short time ago, and Charles Bick-
| ford Miss Head wrote Father Gilbert
and asked him If he would serve the
| section If he were elected. Father Gil
bert replied that he did not want the
job Miss head had the letter repro
duced. The original letter of Father
Gilbert was placed in the Town House.
He told his friends he did not want
the place and he told the Democratic
leaders TO pass the word on.
He did not vote for himself.
| Copyright, 1880. by North American News
! paper Alliance.)