The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-30
THE KEYSTONE STATE AN
SWERS HIS, ENEMIES.
DECLINES TO BE ousTED.
HE DECLARES THE STATE CON-
VENTION HAS NO POWER IN
HIS CASE.
HIS DEMOCRACY SUNaUEsTIoNEI
Though Not of the Narrow Type That
Must Accept Any and Every
Dogma.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Aug. %
William F. Harrity tonight sent let
ter to John M. Garman, chairman Of
the Democratic state committee, defin-
ing his position on the movement agi-
tated by certain factions of the party
to GUST him from the national COM
mittee. After referring to the call is
sued by Chairman Garman for meet
ing of the state committee at Read
ing, Pa, tomorrow night, the eve Of
the state convention, "for the purpose
of considering the question of the va
cancy in the membership from Penn
sylvania in the Democratic national
committee and of filling such vacancy
if the same be found to exist" Mr..
Harrity continued: 1.-THE language of
your call practically assumes that
there is no vacancy in the Pennsyl-
vania membership of the Democratic
national committee. and as matter
of fact there is none. l was elected
to that position by the Democratic ma
tional convention upon the unani-
nous recommendation of the Pennsyl-
vania delegation to that convention
national committee of 1896, pages 167
to I'D. I have not resigned and l
have not been removed, nor is it in the
power Of any convention, committee or
person to remove 'me except in the
Democratic national committee ITSELF
In the campaign of 1896 the Demo-
cratic national committee delegated to
it's campaign committee the power to
declare vacancies. In pursuance of
that authority, Chairman James K.
jones, on behalf of the campaign COM
mittee, on Oct. Is, 1896, raised the
question of my attitude toward the
Democratic party, and made reply
to him under date of Oct 20, 1896. My
answer was accepted as entirely salts
factory by Chairman Jones, and he
so declared and so decided. He de-
clined to make a vacancy or assent
that one should be made. Enclosed you
will find copies of the letters which
passed at the time, which I trust will,
with this communication, be submit
ted for the consideration of the men,
bers of the Democratic state commit
tee"
Mr.. Harrity then refers to the reso-
luton defeated at the state conven-
ton of Sept. 10, 1896, requesting Chair
man Jones to declare Harrity's place
on the national committee vacant. Pro-
ceeding, he says:
1t will thus be seen that at the proper time
for the consideration of the matter in contro-
Yersy, if there was any reason for raising the
question at all, namely, in the presidential
campaign of 1896 the Democracy of PennSyl-
vania expressed its opinion in my favor, and
the Democratic national committee, through
it's chairman, decided that there was not SUI
ficient reason for my removal from member
ship in the Democratic national committee.
Even within the past few weeks, namely, on
July 20, 1897, Chairman Jones has written me:
"Your letter of last fall impressed me as
Straightforward, candid and manly, and &C
cepted it as being entirely satisfactory to
me-"
In pursuance of the public declaration made
by me over a year ago, that did not intend
to thereafter actively participate in politics,
as l had previously done, l have not desired
to have much to say concerning political
management or organization. l have had no
candidates to suggest and l have no DISPOSE
ticn to interfere with the legitimate work of
the state convention | have, however, VEN
tured to suggest that hoped that wise coun-
sells would prevail at the Reading convention,
and that the outcome would be OF that charac-
ter that would be an invitation to all Demo-
Gratis to take an active and aggressive part
in the coming campaign, which may be fairly
regarded as the preliminary SRlrIniSH OIL the
gubernatorial and senatorial contest OF 1898.
| regret to notice, however, that the indica-
lions are that some of the Democratic leaders,
among some who are officially connected with
the organization of the party, are bent upon
course which they mistakenly think Will
benefit themselves regardless of its effects
upon the party itself or it's future.
The attack made upon me by some of
those within the Democratic party in Penn
sylvania is unjustihable, and in the main it
is prompted by selfish, unworthy and ma
misrepresentation they have misled some
others into the belief that in some way l
have been inimical to the Democratic party
and its interests But such is not the fact.
have never voted any other than the Demo-
cratic ticket, and have never supported any
other than Democratic candidates. That has
been my habit 1 have no desire to change
it, and do not intend to do so. 1t is my hope
and expectation to vote for the nominees of
the Reading convention. Allow me to add
that I do not believe that success ought to
or can attend the efforts of those who are SO
narrow and bigoted as to insist that the
declarationse of political convention are
so binding upon the political consciences OF
the members of party as to drive from
it's membership all those who do not account
cept implicitly every line and every letter OF
its every dogma or doctrine. Chairman Jones
himself was broad enough to express TINS
same belief when he declared my letter to
him was "a straightforward, manly letter,
which seemed to cover the case completely. -
If at any time in the future the Democratic
national committee the only Dooy now nav
members since the work and life of the cam
paign committee to which 1t had delegated
its power in the premises ended with the
campaign of 1896, shall think 1t proper to
further consider the matter, shall cheerfully
submit to its authority and bow to its de-
cisior. Respectfully, W. F. Harrity.
The enclosed correspondence con-
sisted of a letter from Chairman Jones.
Oct Is, 1896, asking him to state his
position in the national campaign, and
Mr. Harrity's reply declaring his be-
lief in the sound money" platform
adopted in the Democratic state con-
vention at Allentown, Pa, April 20,
1896.