The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-23
LAST EDITION
WON'T DECLINE.
Lapham Consents to Be the
Congressional Nominee.
Democrats are Disguised With AciIcn
OF Charles n. Page.

Hon. Oscar Lapham has today told the
Democratic State central committee thgt
he would not decline the nomipasion
given him at the First District Consres-
sional convention one week ago to day.
The nomination papers were filled ycstsr-
day, SO Mr.. Laphsm has become the ac-
cepted candidate without the formality o1
letter or an address.
M. Lapham says that he had practical-
ly made up his mind on the mattcr vxx-
terday, but did not SEQ at 20 annou nco'
his intentions until today. He will run
and do tho best he can for what ho fully
realizes is forlorn hope.
The action of Mr.. Charles II. Pare n
waiting until the last minute bsfors b.
told anyone that he had his letter Of rcsi.s-
nation already written, and, for no rsasoI,
whatever, shortening the time In which
another man might be found, a very Sc
verely denounced by the members OF IL,
party which he has left in the lurch.
Hon. Mr.. Lapham, his colleague a
Washington, said today that the rsfuonl
TO be candidate had been very much Of
q surprise to him. He had thought that
Mr.. Page was merely holding OF and pers
haps waiting to be urged, but ho
had not at any time considered
that he would decline at tho
last moment. az don't know OF anyone
they Will be able to get now for candi-
date in the western district" said Afr.
Lapham. In the opinion of the Usmo-
Gratis themselves it doesn't make much dif-
ference who they get, or whether thsy gou
anyone or not.
One ardent supporter OF Cleveland. Hill,
and until yesterday of Page, said that the
withdrawal OF Hon. Mr.. Page xeminds
him very much Of the --Congrsssman'
war record. Then he told this story and
his listeners believed it.
"Charley Page enlisted In the Twelfth
Rhode Island Regiment Of Infantry, which
went to the front October Is, 1862. on
Nov. 1, IL days afterward, the soldier boy
from Scituate went into the hospital aud
from there came home where hs stayed
until peace was declared. But he wus
with his regiment once more after No
vember l., 1862. In the following xumner
the Twelfth, after hard fighting and g&s.|
liant service, was mustered ouI a.;d
came back to Providence. Charley
Rage was convalescent then II.
was even safe for him to 60 out 80 he took
down the old musket that he had shoul-
dered for those II long days outside OF
Washington, donned his uniform and
knapssck, buckled his belt aad wsnt
boldly forth to the wharf at Fox Poipt
where he met the members of the Twsis h
that had enjoyed better health and
psoudly marched with them up WeA.
minister street and was one Of the brkves(
in that line.
"Colonel Browne reported him as de-
serter, and on the roster in the adjulant
generals department today the word
against the name of Charles H. Page Il
'deserter.' 1t has been scratch.d ACROSS
since with line OF rel
ink, and in the revised records as
Washington the ex- Congressmgn sscssd-
tied with having been honorabiy ti-
charged, but on the officials wrlttsn ~
port the entry is just as old Cc.orel
Browne said that It should and ougnt 10
be-"
And one OF the group Of politicians who
had listened to the story of 1862, asked Il
that was why they called Page the "oi1
war horse of the western district"