Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-02-09
John S. Wise Did Resign.

John >. WISE, OF virginia ana New
York, came up the bay on the Cunald
steamship Servia on Tuesday afternoon
after five weeks soiourn abroad. lie
wore very loud check and very long
cape ovcrcoat, which gave his short
figure q conical, not to say comical ap-
pearance. When reporter met him
at the Cunard pier and asked him how
about that Southern Society row, he
said
That's the greatest tempest in a tea
pot ever heard OF. It's nothing ut all
and very little of that. Pve seen the
newspapers to-day and Eve written
down all | want to say about the mat
ter
The little difficulty between Mr..
Wise and Mr.. Wilton Randolph in tie
Southern Society has made deal OF
newspaper and club gossip, and itneed-
ed Mr.. Wises presence in America to
round out the story. Both gentlemen
are Virginians, living and practising
law in New York. Mr.. Randolph is a
democrat. Mr.. Wise used to be, but be-
fore lie left Virginia he became an anti
Malone republican. Last fall Mr..
Wise made tour of Virginia in Harri-
sons interest, delivering speeches
throughout the State. Mr.. Randolph,
it is said, objected to Mr.. Wise's polit-
cal course, and this led to a quarrel in
the clubhouse and the subsequent re-
port that Mr. Wise had resigned from
the Southern Society. Members OF the
Southern Club denied the reported re-
s;gnation two weeks ago. but it was
confirmed by Mrs. Wise, who is one OF
the Worlds Fair lady managers of the
State of Virginia. Mr.. Wise was in
Europe while all this gossip was going
on.
The eloquent cx-Congrcssman con-
lirmed the story of his resignation yes
terday. The statement for publication
which he dictated to his stenOgrapher,
Mr.. Edwards, as the Servia was coming
up from quarantine was as follows;
Il do not desire to be interviewed as
to why resigned from the Southern So
ciety or the occurrences leading to my
resignation. regard my intercourse
with the authorities of that society as
of the most confidential sort, and would
consider that had been guilty OF o
gross breach of decorum if [ discussed
it outside the society.
II resigned for reasons satisfactory TO
myself, after considering my course for
some time, and my action was
taken without the slightest heat or pre-
cipitation. AS to Mr. Randolph,
have not syllable of criticism
to utter. The statement that
the lie has passed between us
is absolutely without foundation.
What did occur, while not pleasant, left
not the slightest ground or cause to pur-
sue it further. Certainly / have not
and never had any intention to do so.
1t must be well known by this time that
nothing on earth would induce me to
fight duel.
"Of course, deeply regret the pub
licity given to the episode of my resign
ing from the New York Southern Soci-
ETY., not only because l would have
liked to do so quietly, but because such
publicity is very disagreeablc to me,
and because it may be construed in con-
nection with other things to the preju-
dice of the society, in which ] have q
great many very warm friends
The general objects of the society
are excellent. and ! am sure that il
there be instances in which its members
allow their political views to affect their
relations with fellow-members, they are
rare in the Southern Society. Ofcourse,
it is a pity that any such instances
should exist, if they do. Still, am not
asserting that they do or indicating how
they should be dealt with if they do. [
do not feel that any explanation of my
course in resignins is necessary to any
one or that my social or other status
can be affected by an incident so abso-
lutcly devoid of any public interest or
significance"