Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-02-21
SPOONER SPEAKS OUT.
The Ex. Senator Talks on the Subject of Wis
COnSin Politics.

John c.. Spooner viii not be candi-
date for the Republican nomination for
governor this year. Mr.. Spooner de-
clares that he would not under any cir
cumstances be candidate. In an in
terview published in the Milwaukee
Sentinel he said:
l have but a moments time, but
that is sufficient. 1t has not entered my
thoughts to be candidate for the NOM
ination, and to the numerous gentlemen
who, within the past few months have
spoken to me upon the subject, | have I'M
hesitatingly and with perfect frankness
stated that / could not and would not be-
come q candidate under any circumstances
One or two of the editors, who have recently,
for purposes of their own, been discussing
my availability as a candidate had already
been so informed by me.
In 1892 | was not a candidate for the NOM
ination. | not only did not desire the Of
flee, honorable as it may be made by able
and faithful administration, but | realized
as fully as anyone [ think, the Overwhelm-
ing odds against which the party must con-
tend, as did the chances and personal re-
suits of defeat. had, long before the con-
ventiOn assembled, announced in inter
views, in conversations, and through over q
hundred letters, that | was not q candidate
and did not desire the nomination. | had
told at least one of the gentlemen who de-
sired to be nominated that | did not wish 1t
and would not accept it, unless the situation
became such that to refuse it might sub
ject me to the inmputation among
selfshness, ingratitude and unwilling
ness to make personal sacrifice for the party,
which / could not tolerate. | came to the
convention fully determined not to accept
the nomination if | could with honor re-
fuse it, and no small number Of men, who
l,o,y io1,t no HOY oh my
purpose, But delegates in large numbers
from different portions of the state pressed
upon me the demand that become q candl-
date coupled with the constant suggestion
that / owed it to the party for the honor 1T
had conferred upon me by sending me to
the Senate, and this was earnestly seconded
by Gen. Rusk and others in whom | had
confidence. At last consented to say that
if the nomination came TO me III
a manner which made it a party command
| would accept, stipulating however, at the
same time, that it must be unanimous. |
was informed that it was unanimous, al
though | learned after | had appeared be
fore the convention that two delegates had
voted against me. The other candidates for
the nomination knew from me that l did
not desire the nomination, that any ac-
ton by them tending to that end would
be no favor to me, and that on the con-
trary the utmost favor they could do
me, would be to adopt a course which
would honOrably relieve me from being
a candidate. | gave up my business plans,
involving much of sacrifice and in a
condition of health which did not war
rant the necessary eNertion, entered upon
the canvass. As far as | was able to
do so, | redeemed the pledge which | made
to the convention to carry the flag as far
and hold it as high as it was possible for
me to do | went through the campaign in
4 storm of falSehOOd and of calumny, the
like of which has not been known III the
politics of this state for many years endeay
oring to make the campaign upon the prin-
ciples of the party, and TO free it from de
grading personalities and vitupcration. [
turned aside but twice, as | remember it. to
meet false charges and insinuationS, but
this did in the interest of the party whi Sc
candidate | happened to be. For myself /
have not asked, nor will | ask, any quarter
from enemies political or personal. l have
nothing to fear from the truth, and | have
felt as | feel now, that one who needs not
to fear the truth, needs not in the long run
TO fear lies.
Although the ticket failed of election, it
has seemed to me that III view of the result
throughout the United States. the party
might justly feel that under the circum-
stances, the greatly reduced opposition ma
iOrity in Wisconsin was in reality a victory.
The result brought to me no tinge Of per-
sonal grief nor modification. | had made,
Sparing myself in no wise, upon what con
Sidered perhaps enormously, the command
Of the party, the best fight in my power for
an office which / did not personally wish.
If any sorrow came to me for the defeat it
was for the party, not Tor myself, and | was
proud and shall always be proud, of the re-
ception accorded to me throughout the
state, and of the vote which l received
In these good old Democratic times" the
condition of my personal affairs is such that
it is needful for me to practice my profess
Sin md If aJ-tiE inatn Of 81 on4i,
office Of governor was rendered to me [
should deem it my imperative duty respect
fully to decline it, So discussion as to my
availability as a candidate is a waste of
time.
| may be permitted however, to express
the hope for the sake of others and for the
public good, that it is not the sentiment of
any honest man in either party, that for one
to accept public service at compensation
less than he could earn in private life, war-
rants suspicion of his integrity, or the belief
that he will betray for selfish interests tho
confidence of the people, as some news
papers suggest.
Now you have my position without any
reserve about the governorship what else?
Who is your choice for governor?
Many good men have been mentioned. |
presume | shall be allowed, in common
with all other Republicans, to have prefer
ence when the time comes. | hope and do
not doubt that the convention will select
some strong and honest man who will I'M
derstand his duty to the people, and will
realize that only by an able and faithful dis
charge oft, can he well subserve the inter
est of the party.
VIII you take part in the campaign?
Pardon me, but that seems foolish CUES
ton. [ am a Republican, not for the sake
of party fayors but because / believe that
the success of its principles and policies is
for the best interest Of every class of our
people and of every section of our country,
and [ shall expect to do, if my health holds
out, as much upon the stump and in every
honorable way for party success as if were