Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-12
BARNES rs DONE.
THE GENERAL WILL NOT HELP
RATIFY.
his Reward for working for the Re-
publican Party for Twenty
Ave Years.

Still another letter from Gen. w. H. L..
Barnes has caused q mild sensation.
His latest was addressed to the Repub-
lican state central committee and is
being carefully concealed by the few
members who have read it, for its con-
tents displeased them greatly.
The letter was written in response to
an invitation to speak at ratification
meeting in San Francisco when the Min
neapolis convention should select a
presidential nominee. General Barnes
has always been one of the speakers
upon such occasions, and, in fact, has
always been looked upon as an old
standby of the state central committee.
That is why the committee was so much
put out when it received forcible yet
polite notice in which the general de-
clined to take part in the celebration.
The letter is addressed to Judge Fitz-
gerald, chairman of the state central
committee, who. by the way, is law
partner OF M. M. Estee, for whom Gen.
eral Barnes has had dislike ever since
the Stockton convention. The San Fran
cisco Report makes the following state
ment about the matter in it's issue OF
Friday:
II have received your kind invitation
to crate at the meeting in ratification OF
the great Gas yeti unknown" Gays the
letter, "but would inform you that the
state of my health is such that must
decline to crate. I might add that as
my disease is chronic it will be useless
for your committee to look for change
or urge me to reconsider my decision. /
am done with your committee's political
affairs for good" etc. The letter shows
plainly the generals anger, and how
bitter he feels toward the g. o. p.'s lead
ers in this state, with whom he used to
be so friendly and popular.
The communication was such sur
prise and shock to the committee that
when Judge Fitzgerald met General
Barnes on the street this morning he
mentioned the subject.
''Do you see those gray hairs?" re.
piled the general. "Well, they have
turned gray in the service of the Re.
publican party, and what have l got fol
it? Nothing. 1 meant what l said in
that letter, and want nothing more to
do with politics."
A reporter who had heard of the let
ter, asked Judge Fitzgerald, Secretary
Bassett and Assistant Secretary Step
pacher for it today, but they would not
show it. They were quite anxious to
keep it's contents secret.
General Barnes himself would not give
out copy either, saying that the letter
was the committees property. and that
the officers should furnish it to the pub
lie if it were wanted. :.
"I'll never speak for them again"
said the general, forcibly. II have
worked for the Republican party for
twenty-five years and never asked them
for anything Yet when took it into
my head that 1 would like to 20 to
the national convention at Minneapolis
whole pack of dirty dogs had to jump
out and bite at me. They assailed me
at the state convention, and by foul
means worked against my interests
They wouldn't let me go to Minneapolis
just because they got it into their heads
that wanted to get the nomination for
United States senator. Why, wouldn't
take the Office if it were done up in a
nice little package and placed here on
my desk. Just the same I'll get even
with them. I've spoken at all their
meetings and always been ready to work
for the party. No more such political
speaking for me. Hereafter will work
for Barnes and his business, and not for
~. -