The evening world., 1893-10-26
R.MYERS'SR REASONS
Apathy of the Average Citizen
Caused Him to Decline.
Independent Movement Begun Too
Late TO Promise Success.
Full Expression OF Public Sentiment
Could Not Be Obtained.

Comptroller Theodore W. Myers re
turned from Chicago at 2l5 O'Clock this
morning. He did not go to bed, hut sat
up and devoted the remaining hours Of
the night to the preparation of a state.
ment setting forth his reasons why he
declined the nomination of the City club
for Comptroller.
The statement was made publis thio
afternoon.
A copy of the statement was sent to
the City Club. 1t is rs follows:
CITY OF NEW YORK, FINANCE DEPARTMENT,
Comptroller's once, oct. 20, 1879.
Dear Slrs: ] beg to acknowledge the receipt ~
your telegram OF the ?lst inst informing me of
my nomination as Comptroller Of the city Of New
York at a ~ass-meetinG Of citizens held At Cooper
Union. Oct. 20. 1922. and also of your communal
tion Of tho 2d inst. fully explaining the origin
and purposes of the public spirited movement YOU
have been deeply impressed hv the honor
which attends this nomination. since T., assures
me that howsoeever humble may have been the
past six years. they have met with the approcia-
tion and appreciation Of fellow citizens, whose
the compliment is, ] am neN"rtheless fully aVar"
that he real purpose n this nomination. ~
stated In. your letter. IL the trial Of a political
issae. tho importance NJ which uitorlv dwarf
any thoughts of a personal character, and have
therefore endeayored In determining upon tho
nature OF my reply to he guided solely by what
i conceive TO be the practical interests Of the
citizens OF New York.
It has been n noticeable fact In eli tho sn-
called 'indcpendent in the poiiti-
ca. history Of this city that whenever they have
been attended with ni-surcess their failure has
been BarBeiy attributed 10 wide. spread apathy
or Indifference on the part Of the average citt.
ton. and from which he is sroulsd too late 10
give effective expression to his wishes Al the
polls As a consequence Of this. there Ia. resulted
on utter lack OF organization, without which It Is
impossible 4, meet ON equal terms the highly
efDcitnt methods Of those following poIitics az
n nrnfan0lnN md n 10 n q ~ 1INl1 al
From this and other rangcs there has. In nv
Judgment rarely. II ever. hen a time When an
from the great body Of independent voters would
meet with so many insupcrahle obstacles as nov.
10 carry snch a campalGn 70 u successful con
eiusion At ms iate DAT" ana undGr rAlsilnE eur.
imnossihiiitv JUN """""' ''""'"N' '"' Wv
Ian we'll aware that to decline n nomination
90 we'll intentioned and 80 honorable as that
which you have rendered me on the ground o.
Improbable success is to expose myself to the
charge Of ysluing personal prestige abor" public
duty. and ] can only assure y3n that whosoeyrr
uaas reads my intentions "no''y m'Sjfs'' NJ!
eampatrn i cpUId IN s N WY MD tSc '"9 Of
rood munisinsI eoyernmept, youI,i rIadIv and
Willingly do 50, regardless Of the question Of sue
csp or failure. ] believe, however. that to I'M
deftake the representation Of a cause In u way
predestined TO fall In yocing the real strength
Of the public sentiment behind IT, is to undertake
"1 m'srep'e ~ ,Ss nr,o !. c,r,,-,., so,0,, h.,
ine VIII OF inc people " construed soIeIy nv
a., .%S tn %an ssr t S1 as sa Sna0sIosm sf nat "a, the mn rS %, r.
tim, when Tor any reason its rs mi mi c.pr,ssion n
cannot be obtained il to icGpardizc useIessiy ami
neediessiy the principl.s unon which an issue
10 based. In a word, | believe that my cGnd,.
dacy. under the conditions which prevail, would
but rerult In adding to the feeling OF political
hslplsssHe.swhieh now possesses 50 many Of our
cI.1sns, aha thereox osieHt Tue very oplect
sogsn. 70 DC as,omp',sned' WIN ooovo. :, ~,
c,,,,sns q rsnr '"n, 'rm 49, 'p .nn w. ~, n'r
a, the rrsSt honor ,bsy hsvr dnna m. > y tonI I'M.
relied. Tor the reasons above s.ntsI 10 rouHTr
my telegram Of the I'D inst. and to derltus tn,
nomination you have offered. With great respect
believe me. very truly Yours.