Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-23
COLONEL RICKETTS, RETIRES.
HE IS NOT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
FOR GOVERNOR.

Plenty Of Good Material In the Party
without Calling Upon Him-He Ex-
presses Preference for Judge Stanley
woodward-A Lengthy Letter.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, June 22.-Colonel
r. B. Ricketts,, who was the Democratic
candidate for Lieutenant Governor four
years ago, and has been prominently men
toned for Governor this year, made the fol-
lowing letter public to-day:
@. Ben Johnson:
DEAR SIR am deeply grateful for the
mapy kindly expressions the mention of my
name as a possible Democratic candidate for
Governor has elected. The large number OF
NV peipbbors and of others In all parts OF the
State who have urged that consenI 70 pe =
candidate. have my warmest thanks cannot
possibly, however, avail myself OF sucn chances
for nomination as their too-indulgent measure
of nv fitness for so exalted statlon
might afford. l entered the campaign
Of four years ago very reluctantly anu
loss, and my private interests are at this time
in such condition that could not, in honesty
to others concerned therein, accept the nomi-
nation, even in the most unlikely event OF 1ts
being rendered me unanimously and without
solicitation. And want to add, In all fairness
to myself and to the party. that the leadership
of the latter in the approaching campaign Pc
longs and should be accorded to one better
skilled in party management and better quali-
fed to treat 1ntelligently and forcefully from
the stump the great and vital issues now dlvid-
ing the parties in the State and nation.
There is no dearth of such material In the
Democratic party in Pennsylvania. But, In
asking as personal favor that You Will klndly
see that my name is not even presented az
Scranton, let me presume to add that, II there
be in the opinion of majority OF the conVen-
tion when assembled any good reason why none
of those already named should be MADE tne
-. IT, N6a inn n
Stanley Woodward. one who would satisfy all
factions and fill every requirement, both OF the
candidacy and of the Governorship. The son OF
an eminent ex-Chief Justice OF the state, VINO
was once accorded the nomination for Gov
ernor of his party, and was even spoken OF Tor
the Presidency; the nephew of another Judge
of the Supreme Court; himself an honored IN
terpreter of the law from the bench of the
Eleventh Judicial district, with a reelection
by assent of both political parties awaiting his
acceptance of that unusual tribute to integrity
and learning, Stanley Woodward's, 1t seems to
me, would be most fitting name with which to
head Democratic State ticket in crisis like
the present. And the man himself, genial
gentleman, an experienced campa1gner, an
eloquent orator, sturdy and useful sympa-
thizer, as many of his decisions show, with the
old-time Democratic doctrine that the rights
and interests of the masses under the C0nsti-
tuition, must always be paramount considera-
tion with all who are intrusted with the func-
tions of public Office such a man would surely
lead a contest that would reach to victory. IL
victory be possible under any banner, and at
any rate would put such renewed life and vigor
into the ranks of the Democracy of this State
as it has not witnessed in many years.
Repeating the request that you take such
steps, in my behalf, as are necessary to make
the Scranton Convention fully aware that am
not an aspirant for and could not possibly &C
cept the nomination for Governor, and with re-
newed assurance of my gratitude to all who
have had share in the putting forward of my
R. B. RICKETTS,.