Omaha daily bee., 1896-04-08
ALLEN LEAVES THE FIELD
Positively Declines to Stand as a 0andi-
date for the Presidency.
HE PREFERS TO SERVE IN THE RANKS
Expresses His Qualification Mt the
High Commentator He Has Re-
ceived from His Party, but
Refuses Promotion.

LINCOLN, April 7.-(Spec!al) United
States Senator William V. Allen positively
declines to become a candidate for the presi-
dental nomination on the popullst ticket.
This decision was communicated to Governor
Holcomb on March "a. The letter was in
reply to a request from the governor for a
statement of the senator's position. A great
many letters have been received by Senator
Allen from influential popullst politicians in
other states prior to and since the letter
was written. In consequence the letter to
the governor has been held in the hopes that
Senator Allen would reconsider his purpose.
He has been stoutly urged to do so since de-
clining to Governor Holcomb, but he abso-
lutely refuses to reconsider. His letter of
declination is as follows:
WASHING ron, March "a, 1S96.-Hon. Silas
A. Holcomb, Lincoln, Neb.: My Dear Gov
ernor-I have just been reading he very
pleasant plea mt things said Of me inn IN lor c the presil
dency, in your recent interview. published IN
the press ,dispatchss, for which please aes
my name with the high office of president
of the United States by the chief executive
well qualified by education, temperament
and experience to fill the exalted position,
possesses double value and is truly graft
l nave not been unconscious, for several
months, that a strong sentiment existed In
the populist party throughout the nation
favorable to my nomination, and L will not
disguise from you that 1t has given me
much pleasure to know hat my services in
mental in prompting the use of my name
in that connection. 1 have also observed
in the public press, and l have been the re.
cipient of hundreds of letters asking me If
would be a candidate for the nomination.
Fully realizing that ordinarily it is to be
considered indicate to either accept, or
dered. still l feel that the time has come
when, in the interest of the party, l should
speak openly and frankly, as desire above
populist party, and by that means the in
| s wau ID m psy C eo dt n iRbssPlSS o samsf tic be the he
founded on the principles of eternal justice
ment, soon succeed to the administration of
our national government, nevertheless
deem it unwise to permit my name to be
1 think every true citizen should, at this
time, consult the interests of the country
feel that my experience has been such as
to warrant me in being a candidate for the
be fendefedi @ or in T hheTep are MANY a u d i shq amd
Well qualiaed to make the race, and i feel
confident that i can do the cause greater
good by, remaining where am, fighting in
the nomination II 1t should be rendered.
The welfare of the party, and, therefore,
the welfare of the country, is to be con-
suited at all times; PRINCIPLES count for
everything, and men fer nothing, in our
struggle.
Permit me also to say In this connection
that there are personal reasons why l should
important fact that l have a family of
children whose education must be looked
after at this time, and who need my per-
sonal supervision more now than they ave
ever needed it before. or will ever need 1t
again; tb nnI i | mus. n9 sor permit mu ow mys nran' TO nm
Profoundly grateful to my fellow citizens
of the state and nation for the fattering
mention of my name in connection with the
highest office on earth, l sincerely trust
that hereafter attention will not be CEN
qualified to discharge the duties of the posi-
tion in the event of an election, and that
wicdom will characterize the formation of our
platform and the nomination we may
make. ! have the honor to be, very truly,
your friend, WILLIAM V. ALLEN.