Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-08
CANNOT SUPPORT BLAINE.
4 Republican Elcctor ResIgus-A Thunder
bolt from Clear Sky.
New York WorldI


Tr. ". l.. Forrest. ono OF the electors on
the republican ticket for this State, ha> Pc
signed from his position because he cannot
conscicnlousiy support James G.. Blaine.
Like a tbunderholt from clear SKY came
the following letter, addressed to Mr.. John
u. Warner. the chairman OF the kcpubli-
can state Committee:
"sir,-I wish 10 tender my resignation
as Republican Cicctor for thl> STATE. avn
SONY 10 soy that / cannot coHscieRtiOuS'g
summit he present nominee for President.
.Jdmcs q. Blaine. Ireulin yours respect
fully. W. f. FORREST.
Since the receipt Of this letter fen
DAYS ago the members OF the state and Ma
iioual Republican Committees have been at
their wits ends what 10 DO about il. They
have carefully pushed up the matter and
have brought every influence 10 bear on
Or. Forrest 10 induce him 10 withdraw his
resignation. But the Doctor has stood firm
10 his convictions, ami neither threat OF
punishment mol promise OF reward could
induce him TO promise 10 vote for candi-
date against the dictates oi his conscience.
said a friend OF the Doctors yesterday:
..Thc Republican State Committee Il in a
terrible quandary. To call i special meet
M 10 til the vacancy caused 10y Or. For
rests resignation would be TO advertise the
fact to all the world. The committee knows
that every Republican will ask himself Why
cannot Dr. Forrest, lifelong member OF
the party, who has been hOno.ed with the
POSITION Of an cleCtOr, cons cautiously sup
poIt the candidate oi his party for Prc-i-
dent OF the United States: And il knows
That the reasons which have Swayed
DR.. Forrest viii induce thousands OF
Republicans TO follow bis example
i'm the general voting. The position
of an elector is very distinguished aud
REGULARLY delicate one. There is no law
10 compel an elcCtor TO vote Tor the candl-
date who has been nominated ut the con-
vcntion OF bis party. The theory on which
the electoral college !, based Is that the
electors OF that parry which has majority
al the popular election shall meet in their
lespectivc States and cast their votes for
such candidates for President and Vice
President IS thCy deem will be the most
ftt'ng 10 ill those high offices. By SORT
Of tacit consent is j. assumed that each
clector will vote for the nominees OF his
party.
pr. Forrest could well enough have re-
manned on the ticket, and, if the Republic
cans should carry this state. have voted Tor
Chester 4. Arthur or any other Republl-
can. OF even for Grover Cleveland or any
other Democrat for President, without Nio'
lating hi, oath As an eicctOr. 1t Is due 10
his high sense 81 honor that, IN manly.
STRAIGHTFORWARD way, be has Informed the
Republican State Committee that ne
! could not c0nscI6niiOu>ly support james
| G.. Blaine for that Office, thus aliDrd-
/ inc the committee time to replace
| him by some hide-bouud Republic
can on whom il can depend 10 vote for
/ Blaine should the contingency arse
! where hi, vote is necessary. As last des-
! p,rate resort the committee has come 10 lne
/ conclusion not to call meeting 10 MI the
vacancy thus created on their state tlcKet'
but 10 quietly substitute another name on
the ticket for that Of DR.. Forrest, hoping
that the ticket will be voted without the
| substitution being noticed. This would De
very good scheme, but II won't be hhe!
| to work.
/ Forrest Yesterday afternoon. The Doctor
re.idos in handsome house, No. Chari'
ION street. His rooms are elegantly Iur'
nished. and his practice az physiclan Is
very large and lucrative. The Doctor j. 4
man Of splendid physique. He j. iuiiy SIX
feet higb, and his form Is well proDor'ionedi
10 his size, His flowing black beard ana
moustache partly hide his pleasant, geniaI
face Though always active IN the coun-
cils of his party. Or, Forrest was never
particularly Identified with ward politics.
and his name was put on the RepuOiicai
electoral ticket 10 lend Il m air OF respect
ability. In answer to the reporter III
muiry, the Doctor freely admitted that TX
lad sent his letter Of resignation TO I'M
chairman Of the Republican state Com
miltec.
"What were your reasons, Doctor
asked the reporter. " for declining 10 serv'
Is an electOr!
"There Is only one reason, and | have 81
stated il in my letter. Ii Is because l can
not congcicntiOuSly support Mr.. Blame"
"Will you state why YOU cannot supper
him?"
IL would prefer moi to mention my rea
sons. They must be patent to every
body"
..Werc you not aware when you wer
chosen an electOr that Mr.. Blaine would b
likelv 10 receive the nomination."
:" IL was some time before the Convento
u,herJ wos choscn--carly in June, Ot
Ileye A. that time had given the subie'
| very little consideration. since Mr.. Blaif
WINS nominated have regarded his choic
ly the Convention in every light, anu ait'
a lone and careful consideration cOuid n,
help coming TO the conclusion that cou'
: not conscientiously remain on the elector
, ticket. was in honor bound to so inior'
the committee. which | did. | do N
know that | can say anything further 9
the subject"
"Havc not strenuous efforts been mat
by the committee since its receipt OF yo'
, letter Of resignation 10 have you wIthdra
, ~"
DIR. Forrest smiled as he replied: q
: would prefer not TO say anything on IN
Z. subject"