The Portland daily press., 1888-06-14
RAILROAD MEMS PECULIAR POSITION.
Mr.. pepew Tells on What Conditions
He Would Accept.
His Candidacy Must Not Endanger a
Single State.
The Latest Production Attributed to
Mr.. Blaine.

NEW YORK, June 13.-Chauncy NJ. Depew
yesterday explained his position in regard to
the presidential nomination, and outlined his
course of action in Chicago next week. To
Tribune reporter he said:
when I go to Chicago, if learn that
there is any such feeling as expressed by the
Omaha Bee. shall certainly not allow my
name to be used. Under that condition
would not accept the nomination anyway.
1t is said that, were i to express a desire to
be named, / could have nearly. If not all, the
delegates of the State. Some of my friends
think that would add elements of strength
to the campaign that other candidates would
not; but then there is the feeling in some
States against railroad men. Why this is so,
l cannot tell. Men in nearly every
other occupation in life are in politics-mer
chants, mechanics, lawyers, physicians, la
boring men. and sometimes clergymen, and
there are one million railroad men in this
country. no one of whom occupies political
position. The reason for that is that a rail-
road man cannot delegate his position to
any one else. His position and salary are
the accumulation of experience, if he gets
$1.50 day or $4,000 year. Even to be
candidate,I would be compelled to resign my
present position, the result OF % years OF
hard work.
"a railroad man cannot spend nine months
of the year in Washington, in Congress, four
months of the year in the Legislature at Al
bany, or three years in the executive cham
Der. and retain his position. To be men
toned as candidate for the presidency or
to be nominated for the office, is to most men
very desirable in business sense; even
though they are defeated, 1t aids them. But
that is not true in regard to a railroad man.
Ii he is nominated for political office, the
charge is made that he will make his position
subseryient to his business. This is unfor-
tunately believed by some, but everything
possible has been done to destroy that. In
mission makes it possible for two cent
stamp and a reasonable complaint to bring
any railroad in the State to its books within
f0rty-eight hours. A successful railroad man
would be nominated because he is good
business man. Now l don't want to run be-
cause am railroad man. would want
that obiterated from the campaign, and my
candidacy be made solely on the great ques-
tion of protection to American indu stry.
That is the line on which this campaign is to
want it to be fought on. The election will
decide whether it will be free trade or pro-
lection. The question of taxation for rev.
enue is not the question alone, but whether
things that are manufactured in this country
or grow on this soil shall be protected.
when 60 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 a candidate the
Republican party will lose a single Republi-
can State, or one member of Congress, ! shall
certainly refuse the nomination, even though
am selected. intend going to Chicago as
a simple delegate to help nominate ticket
that can win and we will win."
This is the Latest Story.
PITTsBURG, Pa, June 13-The Pittsburg
Leader this afternoon publishes the follow
ing: "B. F. Jones, chairman of the Nation
al Committee, left for Chicago last night to
establish his headquarters at the Grand
Pacific Hotel. He was weighed down with
great secret. and absolutely refused to say
word In his possession was letter but
Just received from James G. Blaine, which
is to be read upon the assemblingsof the ma
tional convention next Tuesday. 1t states in
terms that cannot be mistaken Mr.. Blaine's
position in regard to the presidency, and
settles for good and all the question of his
candidacy. In neither of his previous
epistles did Mr.. Blaine state positively that
he would not accept the nomination if ten
dered him. In the letter that Chairman
Jones has, this declaration is most emphati-
cally made.
Under no circumstances, Mr. Blaine says,
will he permit the use of his name at Chica-
60, nor would he accept were the presidential
nomination unanimously rendered him. He
further goes on to indicate that Senator
John Sherman, of Ohio. is his preference.
and advises the convention to place him at
the head of the Republican national ticket.
Continuing Mr.. Blaine gives quite a
lengthy dissertation ON the tariff, touches
the important issues of the day, and predicts
in glowing terms glorious victory for the
Republican party In November He con-
trasts the campaign of 1884 and 1888, and
shows how this year all the odds are In fav-
or of the Republicans.
st is said that Senator Sherman and Mr..
Blaine have understood each other on the
question of the presidency for several
months, and that even before the Maine
mans departure for Europe an arrangement
had been entered into between the two
whereby Sherman was to receive Blaine's
support for the nomination and election, and
that in case of the elevation of Sherman
Blaineswas to be bis secretary of State. 1t is
also stated that Senator Quay, of Pennsyl-
vania, was acquainted with all the details OF
the agreement, hence his active work in
Sherman's interest. This is stated on the
most reliable authority. the information COM
ing from q gentleman high in the councils of
the Republican party"