Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-02
WILL WORK FOR THE PARrr.
Gen. Clarkson Makes . Formal statesmen
as 10 His Position.

Gen. C1Arkson Makcs . Formal Statement
~ 10 His Position.
Gen. Clarkson has furnished the following
formal statement OF his position with relation
10 the party organization for the campaign
work;
81 have been In q pretty dtfscuit position
since the resalt at Minneapolis, and have tried
TO set through 81 With personal good grace and
party loyalty. I never wanted, and never In
tended 70 accept IL rendered, the craftsmanship
Of the national campaign committee. ] came
10 Washington fully resolved upon this. When
the MEMBER Of the national committee came
on and, 10 my surprise, rendered me very gcner-
ally THAR support for chairman, and insisted
that should accept. told them that the
Wishes Of the candidates for President and
Woe President should control. and that could
not accept, as did not want the place ard felt
satisded the President would desire some one
else. There was no distinction as 20 faction In
the members who rendered me their support
Blaine men and Harrison men alike urged that
It was "a duty TO accept When refused they
asked II I Was sore over the defeat ct Blaine and
II proposed to sulk. They Insisted that Tho
party interests required a non-factional or
ganizaton, and proposed that the practice Of
the party previous 20 1855 should be followed
by the election Of two ohsirmen, one OF the
national committee, to serve four years. and
ono of the campaign committee, to
serve during the campaign. II was sue-
gested that the President should be
allowed to select the campaign committee
inside or outside the Membership Of the ma
tional committee itself, as permitted and sug-
gested by the rule of the national convention nj
Minneapolis, and that the national committee
should delegate It's entire power 20 this cam
paisn committee for the campaign. This would
give to the candidates the fun control and
power of the committee for the whole campaign,
ond yet leave the national committee TO resume
after the election its original functions and be-
come representative Of the party itself and its
future, not of the past and merely its two re-
cent candidates for Office At least forty of the
ffsy-two members desired this plan, and il was
this that they proposed 20 the President. lie
was not willing TO accept it, said he desired the
organization for four years, as in 1sss, and a.
soon as be told me this INSTANTLY agreed with
him that his wishes should be complied with,
and that l should not be the man for the head
OF either committee. There was no misunder-
standing or even argument between him and
me as 20 the plan, and our whole conversation
proceeded on the understood fact that a sIronS
majority Of the committee desired the plan Of
two chairmen and my election as chairman Of
the national committee. lie exercised his right
under party custom and his own jGdg-
ment, and I agreed with him. and informed
the committee that could not accept il elected.
The majority of the committee were not so will
ing as I to accept the Presidents deciGion, aud
] wa sharply criticised and censnred By them
for having told him / would follow his wishes
and not the wishes of the comrnit;ee itself. I
Joined with other personal friends ard urged
Mr.. Campbell 20 accept the Craftsmanship. after
he had declined il several times during the af
ternoon. He had been my personal friend for
years and my colleague on the national commit
tee, where had learned that he was a master in
political details. therefore | knew he was COM
petent. No man has ever assumed the chair
manship of the republican national committee
with larger or better qualifications than he pos
sesses, and the party can have implicit conf
dcnce in his ability. his Judgment and discre-
tion his fidelity and his power to do his part TO
command success. Mr.. Carter. the secretary,
is qualified for either chairman or secretary.
He is a discovery in politics and the bes.
politician in the United States Of his
age. The combination Of Campbell and
Carter is as strong the party could
provide, and they are worthy OF the
enthusiastic and constant support Of all good
republicans Mr.. Campbell has asked me to
take place on the executive committee. Per-
sonEl inclination would lead me to decline.
Party duty requires l should accept Loyalty
is due to party and rot TO men. 1 have no
apologies to make for my course at Minneap-
oils. am proud of the four defeats and the
one victory haze had with Mr.. Elaine since
1876, aud / would rather have the recond of
having supported him in five contests thnn TO
have been in the cabinet of the five Presidents
meantime. 1t is Blaine men who know how TO
take defeat and how to be loyal. The ticket
this year is worthy the support OF every man
who has n trace of republican blood in his
veins Mr.. Blaine was the first man to speak
20 the country, through the Associated Press,
after the ticket WIS nominated. TO urge all re-
publicans TO Join in its support. The party in
all its factions car do 20 with honor and self
respect, and shall ehcerfully 90 my part in
whatever way can bear hand"