The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-18
is HARRISON A CANDIDATE?
TWO CONFLICTING REPORTS SENT
OUT ON THE SUBJECT.

a COngressman to Whom He Was
Reported to Have Announced That
He Would Not Have the Ohice De-
nies That He Has Any Information
on the Subiect-The ex-Prcsident
Declines TO Attend G. 4. II. Rally.
Old Forge. n. Y, July 17.-Benjamin
Harrison has broken his silence as re-
CARDS the presidency. He has said that
under no circumstances will he become a
candidate for that Office. These state
ments were made in his cottage last eve
ming in the presence of two OF his old G.
A. r. friends. Their names ore Congress-
man Poole of Syracuse. n. Y, and Jo-
seph ]. Sayles Of Rome, n. Y.
Congressman Poole came here for the
purpose of inviting Gen. Harrison to go
to Syracuse on Grand Army day. which
will be during the week of the state fair
Every grand army post in the state will
be invited to visit the fair on that day
and preparations are being made for the
event. Previous to the coming of Con-
gresham. Poole. ex-United States Senator
Frank Hiscock Of Syracuse wrote to Gen.
Harrison. extending him a very cordial
invitation to come to Syracuse during the
state fair week and make a speech on
Grand Army day, Congressman Poole
knew that Senator Hiscock had written
such letter and when he came here yes
terday he was very confident of being
able to get an affirmativ response to the
oral invitation which was extended to
| him.
After Mai. Poole had introduced his
friends he made known to Gen. Harrison
the object of their mission, which was, he
said. to have him attend the state fair and
address the old soldiers. Gen. Harrison
in reply said that he is always pleased at
meeting his old comrades in arms, but he
could not promise to 80 to Syracuse at the
time he was asked.
Il have come into these mountains" said
the general ''for rest and recreation. and
do not intend to leave them until my
| vacation is ended"
Maj. Poole afterwards renewed his ef-
| forts to have the general promise to go to
| Syracuse. Gen. Harrison again said he
would not go. Then there was a moment s
| hesitation, which was broken by the gen
| eral himself. Turning to Mai. Poole Mr..
| Harrison slowly began saying: Major
l will tell you why do not care to go to
| Syracuse at the time you want me to. If
| L go anywhere now and make a speech
| the candidates for the presidency will say
/ that am a candidate for that Office and
am going for political purposes"
! Then with a voice that carried with
it all the earnestness and positiveness
that is to be found in the generals make
| up he continued: 'I am not a candi-
date for the presidency, have not been.
! will not be. i DO not want the office and
would not accept it,"
| These are the exact words the general
nd haT. Ia haI f,,E@ all
| the question of his going to Syracuse
was Immediately dropped by Maj. Poole
| and Mr.. Sayles, who, as another steamer
came in view, took leave of Gen. Har-
rison.
Syracuse, N. Y, July 17-At a late
hour tonight Maj. Theodore L. Poole,
! who has just returned from Old Forge
was told of the press dispatch which
stated that Benjamin Harrison had brok-
en- the silence which until now had been
maintained regarding his candidacy for
| the presidency by declaring to Maj. Poole
that under no circumstances would he
accept a denomination. When asked
whether the ex-President had made this
positive assertion Congressman Poole
said: Gen. Harrison did not in my pres
ence in any way directly or indirectly al
lude to the possibility of his entering the
race for the nomination"
He said the general gave as his reason
for declining the invitation to speak iD
Syracuse the fact that he had received
many invitations from different parties
to take part in various celebrations and
demonstrations but as he could not ac-
cept one and refuse the rest he would
be unable to attend the gathering of the
Grand Army veterans in Syracuse Mai
Poole said that Gen. Harrison did not in
any way refer to any subject other than
TO the matter of bis attending TIE Grand
Army of the Republic celebration, to
which he was invited: