New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-14
WHAT CHAIRMAN JONES SAYS.
HE THINKS MR. BLAINE SINCERE IN WITH
DRAWING.

r1os-so coNcERrEb WORK BY HIS FRIENDS
TO SECURE DELEGATES.
PrrrsBURG, Feb. Is (Speciab.-B +. Jones
Chairman Of the Republican National Committee
was asked to-day for further information regard
ing Mr.. Blaine's letter.
"Of course. Mr.. JONES' said the reporter you
can explain such matters as are not made clear III
the letter r
YES sir, that is true to certain extent NJ
Jones replied.
Mr. Blaine says in the beginning Of bis letter.
| am constrained to this decision by considerA-
tons entirely personal to myself of which you
were advised more than year ago. II is about
year since Mr.. Blaine visited Pitisburg. During
that visit he told several of his
friends and relatives that he would
not re-enter active political life because OF Ill
health. and that same reason would prevent him
from being a candidate for President in 1855. Is
this the reason alluded to as having been given
more than year agor
NO. sir" Mr.. Jones said cit IS not the reason
OF course. have not seen Mr.. Blaine since ne went
abroad. but have had many letters from him. ana
in nearly all of them he has spoken of his health
and sold be entirely recovered lie SAID III
fact, that he was in the best OF health
and that the new manner OF life and the
rest had been wonderfully beneficial 10 him. No.
sir it is not health, fear for the result OF the
WORRY and strain of another campaign when I'LL
PEELED Mr.. Blaine ~ write that Letter
MR. BLAINE's REASONS FOR wrTHDRAwfNG'
will you tell me what MIR. Blaines reasons
arep
"As given to me at the time TO which Mr.. Blaine
REFERS the reasons were these Before the nomlna-
ton. by the Republicans In 1876 Mr.. Blaine was
very anxious TO obtain il. and worked for IT WIN
the aid of his friends He was disappointed when
IL went 70 another man in the manner 1t dd.
In 1850 he was still ANXIOUS although
in lesser degree. and his disappointment was less
marked. In 1884 he had to a great extent lost the
desire for the office, and now lie withdraws from
the contest because he has no wish to become
President. He takes keen interest IN literary
work and wants rest AMI quiet. l assure you these
are the only reasons for Mr. Banes letter that are
known to me. Everybody. sooner or later, loses
desire for something which they very an xlous
to obtain and this entirely true IN the case OF
Mr. Blaine. You may say from me again that IL IS
not ill-health in any way which leads Mr.. Blame
to withdraw
lis Mr. Blaiues letter inconsistent with the
action of his friends In working for the control OF
the State delegations and committees I"
mo, sir, it is not Inconsistent. No such WORK
has been done by u.s.
And vet it is said that you have anxlously
Allegheny CITY a Blaine delegate"
1T IL ut trde have not met Mr. Bavne FOR a
year and have taken part in any ii yht he may be
mixing OF course have received countless let
tiers on this subject from people north, south, east
and west. Mr. Baine's friends have not sought TO
set up or secure a single delegate anywhere. We
have made no concerted action. There has been no
meering 10 map out a course favorable to MT
Blaine and | assure you that whatever has been
done oy admirers Of Mr. Blame has been done on
their own account and not at the in
stance of his close friends We have done
nothing TO the nomination OF MI.
Blame When the people Hr'to me on the
suDi ct send them IN reply the call of the Con-
vention as issued by the Committee and some eI-
tracts from the history of the Convention of 1884
have written no letters in Mr. Blaine's interest"
THE LETTER NOT SUBMITTED TO ANY OF HIS
FRIENDS.
"Was this letter laid before any sort OF NEE ting
o. his friends the National CommitteeP
at was NOT. The letter received bv me On
Tuestay last it having come directly from Flor
ence to me. 1t was endrelT IN Mt Blalnes hahi-
writing. As you SEQ by its opening sentence 1t
was intended fof the Republican party. did not
tell an, body of It's existence until Friday. hen
told one gentleman who assisted me in preparing
copies OF the letter for the press. 1t was not gwen
outon Saturday because many papers do not print
sunday edItlous, and was anxIoIs TO glve IL the
widest pu blcItv. | arranged tn have 1t - ont by
the Associated Press. Even a man "a close 70 Mr.
aIne "a :. B. El1ns knew no. hing Of the exist
ence of this letter until this morning |
did not even tell nv family nor any OF
its members until this morning al Clock. when
a reporter ca led me up. aud IN reply 70 question
from nv wife told her of the letter IL mas been
used rs Mr.. Blaine wished 1t To be- for the press o.
the country generally"
Know ing MT Blame as well "a Won do, what DO
you thInk OF the significance OF the letter
think Mr.. Blame Il sincere aud honest IN MS
EXPIRE sion ana tnat ne is not deslrous Ot being
candl dae. | Deileve he me tns everything lie saws
As 10 the effect of tho letter and what may
be the result of that effect. am NOT
prepared to say. | am very ANXIOUS 10 know no"
tue country takes the letter and what Is Its sent-
mtnL"
"-uppo>e as a result Of this letter. II had The
same euect the letter W., tteu by Mr. ! H. en-
under similar circumstances. ana the Convention
was unan nous IN Its demand that NJ: BiaiAe
should run, do you think that lie would accept
then r.
- do rot see how he could refuse Under
such circumstances, and | think LIE "ouh
have TO accept .
some papers intimate that thus letter Is oniy
'teeler. -
do theyr said Mr. Jones. with laugh
"Wel. do not look at II that way. thIuK MI
Blame IS tired of tGe fight and wants to retire
sui. am not prepared to say what may &c the re-