The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-03-03
WHY FARMER SMITH DECLINES.

| "A. w. GLHliu, VI MCI ueISOu, WHO re
ceived the nomination of the Republi
cans two years ago for governor, with
draws or declines to enter the rae
again, as was announced in our dis
patches day or two since. Mr.. Smitl
was not seriously in the race SO far a
the Republican party is concerned. Il
was laid on the shelf in November. '92
Farmer Smith stood not only as an ex
ponent of the ism element of the Repub
lican party but in addition he carried
the ''farmer" hobby. The sacrifice h'
makes for the party and tht
party's good is more seeming than real
However, he is all right as a man and
as citizen, and no doubt he stands
ready to make ar many sacrifices for his
party as anybody else. The following
are the strong paragraphs Of his with
drawai letter, in fact the letter almost
| complete:
A. w. Smith, ss predicted by the State
Journal of Monday, has withdrawn from
| the race for the governorship on the Re-
publican ticket. Farmer Smith was
| never seriously on the track. His
chances were killed at the time of his
defeat in November, 1892, and since
then his candidacy has never been re-
garden as having any strength by either
the leaders of the Republican party or
its rank and file. Farmer Smith says
in his letter of Withdrawals:
''In 1890 the Republican party in this
state was almost swept from the face of
the earth. and for the first time in
the history of the state we found our
selves minority party, with ma
Jority of 1854 piled up against u.s.
To overcome that Immense majority
in one campaign, with solid fusion
of all the anti Republican elements
against US, could hardly have been ex-
pected. Yet we entered the canvass
with zeal and determination, and
with the whole fight centered upon me.
embarrassed with bad platform and
handicapped in other ways, l led the
ticket in a majority of the counties of
the state and ran several hundred votes
ahead of the presidential electors. We
gained one congressman and regained
the house of representatives, which had
been taken from us in the campaign of
1890"
MIR. Smith finds a compliment for
himself in the vote of 1892, strangely
enough. He says:
"a careful analysis of the returns of
the last two general elections inclines
one to believe that there is large inde-
pendent farmer vote in this state.
SIN 1890 Mr.. Willetts received that
vote, running him up to 107, 900 as
against Mr.. Humphreys $4,000. In
1892 received that vote, running me up
to 100000. 1t is well established fact
that the farmers are the great conserva-
tive element in American politics, and
in a state where 80 per cent of its voters
are farmers, it is only reasonable to sup
pose that there is a fair Per cent that
would prefer to vote for one of their
own number. The same ties of affinity
exist among farmers that prevail among
men and gentlemen engaged
Ill other vocations of life"
Mr. Smith continues as follows:
"The time for calling our next state
is near at hand. The press is
already discussing candidates for the
head Of the ticket, and see my ncme
those spoken of. l am also re-
ceiving many letters of inquiry as to my
intentions Therefore, deem it but
right and fair to my friends to say that
my name will not be presented to the
next state convention for governor.
While frankly admit that it has been
the ambition of my soul to be gov
ernor of this great agricultural common
wealth, l realize that my candidacy at
l,ic hnu,nror or nd q h1o
claim for the nomination may be, would
provoke bitter fight in the party, and
whatever be the result, the contest would,
to some extent impair the chances of
success Of the Republican ticket.
''What we need most now is harmony,
q getting together of all the Republican
clements of the state. To accomplish
his somebody must make sacrifices.
Notions, prejudices and cherished ambi-
ions must be subordlnated to the sue
cess of the Republican party, and l call
Upon my friends to insist upon and as
'ist in making Republican platform in
he next state convention that shall voice /
she progressive Republican sentiment of |
he state without any isms excepting Re-
and then nominate good,
;lean, well-distributed representative
ticket, and when the battle is on, wher-
.yer the smoke is thickest, there I will |
DC doing what l can to uphold and de-
END the principles of the Republican
party.
1.-The campaign of 1892 has passed into
history and shall always look back to il
With only one regret, viz: That we did
lot have a few thousand more Republi-
AN votes. To the 15S, 900 who gave me
heir votes return my heartfelt thanks.
10 the press of the state for your kind
md generous treatment and your loyal
support shall always feel greatly in
lebted. And for my personal friends
hat have always stood by me, with me
md for me in all my political ambitions
entertain regard akin to that which
bear for my comrades who stood
houl,ler to shoulder with me in the
lark hours of our nations life.
''In conclusion, l congratulate the Re-
'ublicans of Kansas upon the fiattering
prospects of a sweeping victory next
all, which is largely the fruits of the
ampaign of 1892 and partly the result
f the criminal blunders of the present
tate administration. With respect fer
II have the honor to remain yours for