The state capital., 1892-03-05
ILLINOIS POLITICS.

state Treasurer wilson viii Not Re the
Democratic Candidate for Governor
rhc Australian Ballot Law and the
Town tlections.
State Treasurer Wilson has issued the
following:
To THE DEMOCRATS OF 1LLrSoIs-In an inter-
view had with me- which was printed on Janu-
airy 23, in answer to the question: IF nominated
for governor, would you have any hopes Of
election,' said IF did not believe an elec-
ton not only possible, bat probable. would not
b, d candidate. That Is; believe the state of
Illinois day is un republican, and that 1t has
beeii. so for many years. The difficulty has
been that our party has been unable to ctIni=
bine together the elements that think as We do;
but that have heretofore affiliated with other
parties and if the proper nomination is made
in 1892 all be united"
When gave out the interview, ] thought
was the proper PARTY; the democratic Moses
that should lead the party out of the wilder:
ness. Since then have had occasion to change
my mind most radically. now deem that am
not the party, that my nomination would be a
mistake.
I still believe the party can succeed in the
coming election, but that some other than
myself is the proper leader.
Several matters have tended to make me un-
fit. had occasion to certain parties be-
longing to the central committee, and. while the
matter was personal many persons and papers
in the party will not SO understand.
The party platform on which / ran for the
office of treasurer contained plank pledging
the party to pass law M Mapthoring the treasurer
to loan public funds This was not done, and
and more or less of the responsibility of this
failure is charged to tne. Many papers in the
state, not under standing the law OF the facts,
have S criticised my course IN in this matter Ritter
what | said prior to the election, in which /
quoted the law bearing upon the matter, they
would see no objection to my candidacy on that
score, yet they would be placed in q seeming
~ false position if required to defend ME from
charge of doing what all my republican prede.
cessors are charged with having done:
However innocent may be OF loaning funds,
it is char ged that so loan. and il were norni.
mated my campaigh would be coupled In the
minds of MANY democrats with taeit defense
on this question.
have no mere personal ambition to be gov
ernor of Illinois, that should stand in the way
of the success of the party in 1892 To carry this
state the democrats must nominate ticket
combining all the elements of strength and one
that can make bold, aggressive fight from the
adjournment of the convention to the closing of
the polls, and each candidate must be man
whom the entire party can fight for aggressively
and continuously.
believe that the attacks that have been made
on me by the press of my own party in the last
few weeks destroy my availability as candi-
date. There are others who have not been
placed in so unfortunate position as myself,
and who possess the necessary elements that
lead to success. Let the party choose from
among them.
have ono regret in making this announce
ment, and that is: have many warm political
friends, who still deem that am the most avail
able candidate, and who would probably insist
that should ntfue my candidacy, and who
will blame mo wheii they read this, because !
did not consult them before making so radical
announcement. To such | will say that am
better prepared to know my strength than any
one. While they would have fill confidence id
me as leader, and l would equally eonfide i'll
them as followers. there are still others in the
party who would be slow to become converted
to this faith, and i'll the meanwhile the aggres-
siveness of the campaign would be lost.
The democratic party to-day, as in the past
is in the right all political questions agitatng
the minds of the people. A party in this posi-
ton should make bold, aggressive fight. Nom
mate such men as you have full faith in, who
are brave in their faith, and who are armed at
all points, and ready to make this fight. With
such leaders you will necessarily drive from
place the party who has tnisruled our state and
nation for thirty years l will not be one of
your standard bearers, but you will find me in
the ranks, shoulder to shoulder with the most
honest, upright and best equipped political
phalanx that ever marshalled itself under any
political banner. EDwArD S. WILSON