Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-31

To the Editor of the Register.
Weston. w. Va, July 9O.-My at
teDtion has been called to a recent edl-
forial in the Register in continued ad-
.yocacv of the nomination of Gen. Watts
by the Democratic party for the Office
of Governor. and with reference to me
in the same connection containing an
inference which l think l should not
allow to pass unnoticed.
Il Despite the fact that my position
with reference 10 this high Office was
plainly stated many months ago by
correspondent OF the Register from
CIarksburg. and again made public
month or so afterwards by a reprint OF
the communication upon request OF
friend from Doddridge county, there
seems to have been and yet is, miscon-
csption Of it in the minds Of some, II
not purpose TO misconsrue ii.
That communication bore date the
14th of January last, and among other
things said:
The position of Judge George Ben
nett, of Weston, upon the gubernatorial
question has not been correctly stated
to the public. True, he is not a candl-
date for the position in the sense OF
making a canvass for the nomination;
vet it is equally true that if the party,
in convention, shall regard him as an
available candidate and shall nominate
him he will accept the nomination ana
make an active, energetic campaign.
The publication OF this communica-
tiCn in the Register twice, without dis
sent from me, seems TO me should have
been sufficient to have removed what
the Register afterwards termed the I'M
certainty as to whether or not he would
accept the nomination" but whether
this is so or not, this communication
penned. as l afterwards learned, by a
distinguished citizen of Clarksburg,
tersely and correctly stated the position
I then, and have all the time occupied
upon the gubernatorial question.
felt then, and even up 70 the date OF
the Chicago Convention, that political
affairs were in too chaotic a condition
to wisely determine who our candidate
should be- One available prior 10 that
time might be entirely unavailable af-
forwards, and | thought it would be bet
ter in the interest Of party success to
send representative unins;ructed dele
gates to the convention, in the hope
that with some degree Of deliberatiOn
and unaided by the manipula.i0ns of
professional politicians the very best
man for the occasion might be selected.
I was aware that this position would not
strike the practical politician very IA
vorably, yer | submit that il was not
altogether unworthy of consideration.
Other and paramount consideration,
however, determined my course. -Four
years ago. as is well known, I made an
active canvass for this nomination. Wis
iiing nearly every county in the State,
and was defeated. For reasons of an
entirely personal nature, Of no interest
to the general public, but which I made
known 20 such of my friends as saw fit
to inquire concerning them, I felt i'm
peratively prohibited from engaging in
another contest of like character.
I wish to say. however, that no
thought of possible defeat at the polls
influenced my determination in the
slightest degree as to whether or not |
would accept this nomination if given
to me and I am unwilling to rest under
such an imputation for one moment.
But for the fact that of la,e such an
impression has been indirectly sought
to be conveyed TO the public by inuendo,
comparison and otherwise rs well as the
idea that I was not only Indifferent but
averse TO the nomination this letter
might not have been written.
I have never for one moment been
averse or Indifferent to the honor Of a
nomination for this office by the Demo-
cratic party. Il is an honor 7 have de-
sired. and one which no Democrat ought
to decline.
SO highly have I regarded It, that
there has never been q time that I
would not have been perfectly willing
to accept #, even if had believed that
inevitable defeat stared me in the face.
Very recently my friends have, with
renewed eaTnestness and interest. in
sisted that | should abandon the posi-
ton I have taken in this matter and be-
come an active candidate for the nomi-
nation and their sincerity and zeal have
been made so apparent 10 my mind that
| have given their wishes careful con-
sideration. but l have come to the con-
clusion that ought not at this late day
to reconsider my determination, and so
I feel compelled to adhere to my original
position.
desire, however, to embrace this op-
portunity of saying to them that / am
In no manner insensibe nor unappre-
ciative of their kind interest in my be-
half. and that feel highly honored and
complimented by the knowledge that
am still so favorably regarded by them.