The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-08-04
Card from Governor Hart.

CBTU ITOH dOveruOr Harts
EDITOR NEws.HERALD AS my name
has been mentioned in connection with
the nomination for Congress, it is proper
that I should make statement in re-
gard to the matter. .
In 1882, was elected in the district
as now constituted and served one term.
A Democratic Legislature changed the
district so as to make it Democratic by
nearly two thousand majority. / ran
and was defeated by four hundred and
ten majority. The present Legislature
has restored the old district. Since then
many Republicans by letter and other
wise have urged me to be candidate
for nomination. have invariably re-
piled that if the Convention should see
fit to choose me as its candidate, I
should accept and regard it as an honor,
but that under no circumstances would
I enter into any contest for it, or to Sc
cure delegates in my interest. My pro.
fessional and business affairs would not
permit me to do it, even If I were so in.
clined. still adhere to that determine
ton.
am induced to make this statement
in view of the recent action of the ma.
jority of the Republican Executive
Committee, which seems to 60 upon the
supposition that there is to be contest
for delegates in this county. Neither as
la member of that Committee or as a cit
izen do I approve or acquiese in its &C.
ton. By the rule adopted by the Com.
mittee, the Republican voters of the
county are to meet at their respective
places of holding elections, and then
and there vote directly for candidates,
and the person having the highest num-
Der of votes in the county, is himself to
appoint the twenty.four delegates TO the
Congressional Convention. This at first
view may seem fair, but a little reflec.
ton shows that there are two serious
objections to it.
First, it practically disfranchises the
townships and election precincts, by
denying them local representation of
their own choice. The rule heretofore
has been to apportion the delegates
among the townships and allow the Re-
publicans to select these delegates. All
this is now changed and the authority
taken from the townships.
Second, The rule of the Committee
takes from the Republicans of the
county the right to choose any deie-
gates at all, and confers that right upon
single person, who, without consult
ing anybody, may arbitrarily select
whomsoever he may choose. These
twenty-four delegates so appointed be.
come the representatives of the man
who appoints them, and not of the Re-
publicans Of the county or the town
ships, and they 20 to the Convention to
execute the will of that man alone.
They are in no proper sense represents
tives of the Republican party. So radi.
cal change in the manner of choosing
delegates should never be made without
The most careful consideration, and after
full conference.
In my judgment, the Republicans of
county are compstent to choose
heir own delegates to any convention
hat may be called and they never in.
ended that the Executive Committee
should take this power from them.
These suggestions are made in the
most friendly way and not from any
Ipirit Of hostility to the members of the
who adopted the action re-
erred to. No doubt they acted in good
Iaith and according to their best judg.
nent. II carried out. however, their
plan involves a contest within the party
lines and may create bitterness, division
md strife, the effect of which will be
Ielt for years.
Under these circumstances, am more
Than ever disposed to abide by nay origi.
nal determination. ! understand that
many Of my most valued friends. In diff.
Ierent parts Of the county, have, within
he last few days, gone earnestly to work |
IN my behalf. appreciate their kind.
asas and am grateful for II. But for the
reasons here given, I shall make no con-
'est for the nomination, and I request
hat my name bs not presented or voted |
lor 1t the approaching primary election. |
Respectfully,
ALPuoxso Hast.
Ausust I'd, 1885. J