The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-10
FORMAN FOR GOVERNOR.
BIack Declined the Nominal ton OF IL
Huois Gold DemOcrats.

CHICAGO Sept 9.-General Black form
oily, declined the nomination of the gold
standard Democrats for Governor to-day,
and w S. For1nan, of st. Clair county,
was put on the ticket in his place. Ihe
vacancy caused by the shifting of Mr. For
man from the foot to the head of the
ticket was flied by the nomination of ID.
" Samues, of Chicago, for the office of
Attorney y-general. William S. Forman
made much reputation for himself recently
by the authorship of a couple of letters to
Governor Atgeld in which he called atten-
ton to the management of the State treas
ury during the incumbency Of Rufus Ram
sew Mr. Forman is native of Kentucky,
is a lawyer of East ST. Louis and has rep
resented the old Eighteenth district two
terms in Congress. Daniel V. Samuels is
a Chicago lawyer. He has been prominent
in Democratic politics for many years.
General Blacks letter Of declination fol-
lows:
Dear Sir-On the 25th of August the
convention of homes t-money Democrats of
whose State central committee you are
chairman, nominated me for the Office OF
Governor of the State of Illinois At the
time of this nomination l was absent from
the State and had been for nearly three
weeks. During that time / had received
not one word from the State of Illinois
relating in any way 10 political affairs un-
til the 21st. when L received telegram
from you and kilograms from other gen
tlemen advising me of the probable action
of the convention. With absolute absence
of information as to the situation, L wired
you suggesting obstacles in the way of
nv candidacy which, If not obviated,
would be conclusive upon me, but l was
inclined to abide the Judgment of your
of those objections On the 26th. upon my
arriVel al Detroit / learned by Chicago
paper that 1 had been nominated Reach
ing Chicago on the morning of the 9th l
I have since that time and until Saturday,
the 5th of September, faithfully sought for
information as TO the situation, that l
might know what my duty in the premises
was. l hope this interval of nine days, SO
occupied by me. has not been an unreason-
able time in view of all the circumstances.
On the 5th 1 advised the secretary of your
committee. Mr.. Respangle. that I could
to secure an interview with you on the
7th. that I might formally so state to you.
I'm the interval spoken of I used every
means at my command to ascertain what
the situation in this State was and what
would be my duty. l am convinced by my
investigation that IN this State the cleo
ton for Governor lies between Messrs.
Tanner and Altgeld. recognize the dis
interested character and lofty aims of your
organization: that it seeks to establish
the Democracy upon its ancient founda-
tions and build amidst its ancient princi-
pies a refuge for it's erring brethren in the
future and as safeguard of free govern
ment ! recognize the unselfsh devotion
principle and Democracy. but ] am further
convinced, beyond a reasonable doubt
that the only effect in the election of my
candidacy would be to diminish the
chances of one or the other of thesz gem
tlemen for election. Men differ in their
opinions as to whose chances would be
most seriously impaired. but in any event
the whole effect of my candidacy so far
as the election is concerned would be
what I have stated above, namely 10 di
minish the chances of one or the other of
the two candidates. So believing. ] feel
opinion of the gentlemen who placed me
in nomination, TO decline to be a candi-