The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1890-10-10
PULLS OUT.
The Bosses Finally Force Will
kinsOn Out of the Con-
gressiOnal Fight.
The Field Left for Baker.

Hon. NJ. S. Wilkinson has sent the fol
lowing letter:
To Hon. J. E Porter, Chairman of the
Second Congressional Democratic
Committee, and the Electors of said
Observation-Disclosures
I was nominated for Congress In the
Second Congressional District without
any effort or suggestion from me or any
desire on my part to secure such noml-
nation. did believe and l st Ill think
that the present is a very important
election, not only for the Democratic
party, but for the people at large, and
especially of all the agricultural inter-
ests of the West To me it seems plain
that the monopolists and high protec-
tionists of the East are combined and
confederated together to plumber and
despoil the people of the West. and that
the managers of this wicked confedera-
ton have the control of the Republican
party, and are using that party In Con-
gress to rob and plumber the people,
and particularly the farming interests
of the West.
With this belief I was willing to do
anything in my power to break up this
combination, which can only be done by
defeating the Republican party. l be-
lieye the people of this state see the
danger before them and are anxious
and determined to avert it, but they are
not united in one solid phalanx, as they
should be, in order to defeat the State
ticket of that party, as well as every
member of Congress who betrayed the
interests of the people OF Minnesota
when they voted for the Infamous Nc
Kinley bill. / have to some extent Ia
Ia, af hn find a
large majority in the farming districts
dissatisfied with the Republican party
as it is now controlled, and anxious to
defeat it, but in some districts they are
divided between the Democratic and
Alliance parties, both working to secure
the same end.
I have, therefore, after consultation
with men in different parts of the State,
in whose judgment / have much conf
dence, concluded that it would be wise
for me to withdraw from the canvass,
as by 80 doing all who are opposed to
the present misrule of the Republican
party can present more united column
against it, with greater chances of sue
cess at the coming election.
Being proud of the esteem and conf
dence which the convention expressed
by my nomination for this high Office,
and with the assurance that l shall con-
tinue in the field to do battle as best
may for the people, I withdraw from
the canvass as a candidate for Congress
in the Second Congressional district. 1
am, gentlemen, yours faithfully,
M. s. WILKINSON.
Judge Porter received the above let
ter Wednesday morning, dated at Mer-
chants Hotel, st. Paul. Oct.6. He had re-
ceived no intimatlon that Mr.. Wilkinson
intended to take such a step, and was
consequently as much surprised as any,
one else. He will call the Congressional
Committee together at an early day, to
consider what action, if any, may be
best, and to talk over the situation. It
is not thought by Democrats in the city
that the committee will place anyone on
the ticket to succeed Wilkinson, for the
re ason that it might be difficult, if not
impossible, to find man to accept the
nomination at this time and under the
circumstances.
The party workers who do not wor-
ship at the st, Paul shrine are thorough
ly disguised with Wilkinson's with
drawal and do not hesitate to say that
ne has gone back upon all the assuran-
ces which he had given them that he
would not withdraw. He stated plainly
that he would continue on the ticket un-
less the rank and file of the party ia
vored his withdrawal. He has since
then received letters from many parts
of the district urging him to remain on
the ticket. The wrath of the Democrats
reaches to the sanctum of the bosses in
St. Paul who have seen fit to usurp the
management of affairs in the Second
district. There is another class of Dem
ocrats who rejoice over the result, be-
heving that the outcome will show the
move was good thing for Wilson and
the rest of the state ticket.