The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-12-01

deny that any such disagreements existet
in the last House, or that 1 am in any de
gree responsible for divisions anywhere.
You speak Of those who shave attracted
personal hostility to themselves" Their
may be some OF the old members who die
not enthuse over my course, or who die
not like me personally, but l do not nov
recall any one who showed hostility TO mt
either by word or act, save possibly Mr.
0rth. II there were such they did no
make 1t known.
now recall no hostility to myself from
any person or persons, save from those no
members, who first tried to use me In thei
own interest or for corrupt purposes.
could give You marked instances with thu
proofs to sustain them.
My silence may have lead you and many
other honest, true men to believe many o
the false charges published OF and abou
me. They say l bargained chairmanshipE
Of committees for support. No member o.
the last Congress can or will say | promised
him anything for his support. That wor
thy and qualified friends OF mine were rec
ognized by me voluntarily, in constituting
committees is true, That any intentional
injustice was done to any one who opposed
me for Speaker Is false. = .---. =
In the discharge rof duty as Speaker
l may have, in few instances, been toe
harsh or arbitrary for my own popularity,
and possibly, in rare instances, in the hurry
OF matters / may have been unjust. am
proud to say that no Speaker ever had as
steady and harmonious support from his
party friends on the floor as had. They
recognized the fact that | took RESPONSE
bilities fearlessly and successfully, and
that l never asked another or others to
bear my burdens, and was always willing
to help bear those OF others.
l wish I knew you personally and init
mately. / have faith that you would be
one OF my warmest friends, though you
might see In me faults TO condone from
time to time. ..,
II were madeaware that any consider
able minority Of the members OF the next
house, who are acquainted with me and
my course as Speaker, desired me TO stand
aside would cheeriully do SO. Your let
ter Is the only one that hints at such de-
sire. have not Initiated a correspondence
or opened conversation with any member
or other person on the subject.
OTHERS WHO WANT HIN TO STAND.
A number OF both old and new members
inspired by some mean attacks in the press,
have written me saying, in various forms
Of words, not 10 decline the "empty
honor" They say 1t would not only be q
reflection on me bu. on the party. A let
ter, which came in the same mail with
yours, from a prominent member in the
East, who never wrote me before or spoke
to me on the subject and who did not sup
port me for Speaker two years ago contains
this language:
~ will now gay no work should be left
undone to secure you tho nomination Of
the Republican members for Speaker. In
your case it will bea Just vindication against
the foolish and false things printed." "'
have answered but one letter before
receiving yours, from any members on the
subject. | have taken no interest in it
thus far and / think shall not in the fu-
ture.
have not vel learned that any member
was opposed to me for the compliment,
though there may be many. Have you
any data as to the feelings Of members
which you could give me? | am bound to
presume that you have been influenced by
the vile stuff poured out by aportion OF the
press in New York City. Some OF that
press have honored me by It's assaults and
debased itself by its open, fa!sehoods. l
have been charged with lcomplicity with
men who never supported me for anything
and with whom l never had any relation.
CAN sAr NO WHEN HE WANTS TO.
Failing TO control me in personal and
sometimes corrupt matters, vindictive lies
haye been invented and published. l
have the merit lin my own judgment) Of
being able to say no, when lam asked to
do what l believe to be wrong, l have, on
the other hand, to go to any extent to do
any honest thingto please or accommodate
a friend. rt AA
Allow me TO cay that do not expect
any personal sacrifices that canibe made
by any individuals will help the Republi-
can party to success next year, even though
they are made to please dictatorial, vim.
dictive and demoraliz:ng, not to say cor.
rupt press, unless the press Is taught that
only by fair, honest treatment OF men it
can command the confidence Of the public.
The posing in the role Of reformers by
some OF the would.beD Republican editors
has bred disgust OF the press by nearly all
good people In the country.
But enough OF this hasty writing. 1hope
to meet you in Washington next week,
and there talk frankly and more fully 10
you about the subject Of this letter, aRd
also other important matters. Meantime /
shall be glad TO hear from you further.
Yours with high esteem,
[Signedl J. WARREN KKIFER.
Hon. VIM. Walter Phelps.