The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-02-16

race again. Mr.. Sherman did
not care to talk much about the
Blaine letter. and thought it would
cause a number other candidates to
to make the race for the Ohio
delegation and would contest honora-
bly, for the nomination. Mr.. Blaine was
a republican who could sweep the
country if nominated, but he had I'M
derstood all along that he would not
again seek the nomination. It was on
this hypothesis that he (Shermanl had
entered the list.
NOT SURPRISED.
NEW YORK, Feb. Ex-senator Haw
ley, who is staying at the Astor house,
when shown Mr.. Blaine's letter, said:
well, l am not altogether surprised.
and yet did not expect this. / was
talking to some of Mr.. Blaine'S closest
friends only few days ago, and they
had then no idea that Mr.. Blaine
would come to such decision. They
did not expect anything of the sort,
and, In fact, were drawing plans for
Blaine campaign"
OPINIONS AT WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-Mr. Blaine's
letter was the leading topic of political
gossip to-day. Mr.. Blaine's avowed
friends in congress show a desire not
to express their opinions, but intimate
that the latter only emphasizes the
Discrimination which he had shown to
press his claims for nomination. The
prominent men know as opponents of
Mr.. Blaine hail the letter as an actual
withdrawal on his part from the presi-
Dental race. Senator Allison and others
who may be classed as presidential can
didates, content themselves with saying
that MIR. Blaine's expressions are I'M
questionably sincere, but that he
would have to yield to demand of the
party that he should become its candi-
date, if it should so express itself in the
convention. Among prominent demo-
Gratis in both houses, the impression
seems to prevail that the letter is far
from establishing the fact that
Mr.. Blaine will not be a presidential
candidate.
JONES INTERVIEWED.
PITTsBURG, Pa, Feb. 13.-Hon. B. F.
| Jones, chairman of the republican
national committee was interviewed by
a Chronical Telegraph reporter this
afternoon on Mr.. Blaine's letter of de-
clination. MIR. Jones stated that Mr..
| Blaine was in the best ofhealth and 1t
was not fol this reason that he de-
| clined denomination. ''His trip" he
said has been wonderfully beneficial.
| have had many letters from him and
in nearly all of them he has spoken of
|
covered. No sir, it is not i'll health nor
fear of result nor worry and strain
of another campaign which i'm
PEELED Mr.. Blaine to write that
| letter. Will you tell me what Mr..
Blaines reasons are?'' AS given to me
at the time to which Mr.. Blaine refers,
| the reason were these; before the
nomination by republicans in 1875 Mr..
] Blaine was very anxious to obtain the
/ md VUn
aid of his friends. He was disappoint-
ed when it went to another man in
the manner it did. In 1880 he
was still anxious, although In
a lesser degree and his dis
appointment was less marked. In 1884
he had to great extent lost the desire
for the office, and now he withdraWs
from the contest because he mas no
| wish to become president. He takes q
keen interest in literary work and
wants rest and quiet. l assure you
these are the only reasons for MI
Blaine'S letter that are known to me
| Everybody sooner or later loses the de
sire for something Which they were
anxious to obtain, and this Is entirely
true in The case of Mr.. Blaine"
"Is not Mr.. Blaine's letter
action of his friends, presumably
with his consent, in working for con
troll of state delegations and conyen'
tions?''. No sir it is not inconsistent.
No such work has been done by us
of course / have received countless
letters on this subject from peo-
pie north, south, east and west.
Mr.. Blaine's friends have not sought tC
set up or secure single delegate any
ton; there has been no meeting to map
out a course favorable to MI
| that whatever. has been done by
the admirers of Blaine has been done
on their own account, and not at the
instance of his close friends. We have
done nothing to secure the nomination
me on the subject, / send them in reply
the call of the convention as issued by
the committee, and some extracts OF
the history of the convention of 1884.
II have written no letters in Mr..
Blaine's interest," ''Was this letter
laid before any such meeting of his
friends or national committeep" III
was not. The letter was received by
me on Tuesday last, it having came
It was entirely Mr.. Blaine's
writing as you see by
its opening sentence, it was
intended for the republican party.
did not tell anybody OF its existence
until Friday, then / told one man
who assisted me in preparing copies OF
the letter for the press. 1t was not
out on Saturday because many papers
do not print Sunday editions
and 1 was anxious to give it the widest
publicity. arranged to have it go out
BY the Associated Press. Even a mar
as close to Mr.. Blaine as Mr.. StepheT
r. Elkins knew nothing of the exist
ence of this letter until this morning