The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-21

PITTsBURG, February 13.-B. F. Jones,
chairman of the republican national commit
tee, was interviewed by a Chronice-Tele-
graph reporter this afternoon or Mr. Blaine s
letter of declination. Mr.. Jones stated that
! Mr.. Blaine was in the best of health, and it
was not for this reason that he declined re-
nomination.
Ills trip said he, 'has been wonderfully
beneficial. L have had many letters
from him and in nearly all of them he has
spoken of his health and said he was entirely
recovered. No, sir it is not ill-health nor fear
| OF the result, or the worry and strain of an
other campaign which impelled Mr.. BLAME to
| write that letter"
"Wil You tell what Mr.. Blaine's reasons
are %
GAS given to me at the time to which Mr..
| Blame refets, the reasons were these:
Before the nomination by the republicans
| in 1876 Mr.. Blaiue was very anxious to obtain
| the presidency, and worked for il with the aid
of his friends He was disappointed when it
went TO another man i'll the manner it did.
In 1880 he was still anxious, although in q
lesser degree, and his disappointment 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 has no wish to be-
come president. He takes n keen interest in
literary work and wants rest and quiet / as
sure you these are the only reasons for Mr..
Blaine's letter that are known to me. Every
body sooner or later loses the desire for some
thing which they were once anxious to obtain,
and this is entirely true in the case of Mr..
Blaine"
lis not Mr.. Blaine's l.-ter somewhat incon-
sistcnt with the actions of friends, presumably
with his consent, in working for the control of
state delegations and committees?"
"No sir, it is not inconsistent. No such work
has been done by us. OF course | have re-
ceived countless letters on this subject from
people north, south, east and west Mr.
BanoS friends have not sought to set up or
secure a single delegate anywhere: We have
made no concerted action. There has been no
meeting TO map out a course favorable to Mr..
Blaine, and l assure you that whatever has
been done by the admirers of Mr. 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 for Mr..
Blame. When people write to me ON the sub
ject | send them in reply the call of the con
vention as issued by the committee, and some
extracts from papers of the convention of 1884.
| have written no letters in Mr.. Blaine's in
toroSt."
''Was this letter laid befors any sort of
meeting of his srends, or of the national COM
mittoe?"
at was not. Tho letter was received by mo
on Tuesday last, it having como directly from
Florence to me. 1t was entirely in Mr.
opening sentence, it was intended for tho re-
publican party. | did not tell anybody of its
existence until Friday. Even a man rs close
10 Mr.. Blaine as stephen b. Elkins knew
nothing Of the existence OF this letter until this
morning
Joseph ID, Weeks, financial secretary of the
republican national committee, in commenting
ON Mr.. Blaine's letter, said
81 think Blaine is perfectly sincere in what
lie says. but do not think his withdrawal will
prevent his nomination or his acceptance of
The nomination If thrust upon him. He owes
too much to the republican party for that. The
issue next year viii be tariff VS.. free-trade and
as Blaine is the strongest exponent of the pro-
lection system now before the people, it would
not surprise me to see him nominated in spite
of ALL"