Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-20
A TALK WITH cHAuNcEY M. pEPEW. What the Great After Dinner Orator Said
 About the Possibilities of Nomination,


 When l go to Chicago, if learn that there Is any such feeling as expressed by Tho Omaha Bee I shall certainly not allow my name to be used. Under that condition | would not accept the nomination snywsy It is said that, were to express Q desire to bs named, could have nearly If not all the delegates of the State. Some of my friends to the campaign that other candidates would not, but then there is the feeling in some states against railroad men. Why this is so, cannot tell. Men in nearly every other oc- cupation in life are in polthcs-merchants mechanics, lawyers, physicians. iaboring men, and sometimes clergymen, and there are one million railroad men in this country no one sf whom occupies political position. The reason for that is that 6 railroad man cannot delegate his position to any one else. His position and salary are the accumulation of experience, if he gets $l.50 day or Sso,ooo . year. Even to be a candidate, I would b. compelled to resign my present position, tho result of twenty-five years of hard work.
 railroad man cannot spend nine months of the year in Washington, in Congress, four months of the year in the Legislsturs st Albany, or three years in the Executive Chamber, and retain his position. To bs mentioned as a candidate for the Presidency or to be nominated for the office is to most eioa Nciy ucSiIdUlo Iu a 0uElnSS8 SeQS6s even though they are defeated, it aids them. But that is not true in regard to railroad man. If he is nominated for a political ofiice ths charge is made that he will mako his position suoservient to his business. This is unfor- tunately believed by some. but everythina possible has been done 70 destroy that. In this State the presence of the Railroad Com. mission makes it possible for a two-cent stamp and reasonable complaint to bring any railroad in the State to its books within forty-eight hours. A successful railroad man would be nominated because he is a rood business man. Now don't want to run be- cause am a railroad man. I would want that obliterated from the campaign and my candidacy be made solely on the great Ques- ton of protection to American industry. This is the lino on which this campaign is to b. fought and that is the line that would want it to be fought on. This election will decide whether it will be free trade or protection, The question of taxation for revenue is not the question alone, but whether things that are manufactured in this country or grow on this soil shall be protected.
 "When I go to Chicago intend to find out just how matters stand. shall consult with the delegates there from the granger States and if find that by being candidate the Republican party will lose a single Rspuhli- can State, or one member of Congress, I shAIl certainly refuse the nomination. even though am selected. intend going to Chicago e simple delegate to help nominate ticket that can win and VIC will win. On the question of protection we can win vii anHons of the candidates now mentioned for t(S ofaes. Ny first wish is for the success of he party and whether am candidate or hot VII work for that. The man who can bring the best elements of strength to tAe party will be the nominee. Some of my friends think that would add strength to fl, but that may como from local State pride or from some other cause. will be one of the ssvsnty.ewo dele gates from this State who arc going Co cnA cago to work for the best man."