The Portland daily press., 1897-09-04
PRESIDENT LOW ACCEPTS.
VIII Become Candidate for Mayor of
Greater New York.

Northeast Harbor, September 3.-Presi-
dent Seth Low, of Columbia University,
today accepted the nomination of the
Citizens Union as candidate for mayor Of
greater New York. He was officially
notified of his nomination at his cottage
here by J. G. Clark, a special messenger
of the Citizens Union, just before IL
O'Clock. There was no ceremony attend
ing the affair. Mr.. Clark simply said
''Mr. Low, 1 have the honor on behalf of
the Citizens Union, to tender you the
nomination for mayor of greater New
York.
He then read the letter of notification
from the Union, to which Mr.. Low
listened attentiyely. When the reading
was finished, President Low said Mr..
Clark, 4 am deeply moved by the paper you
have just read to me. l realize the
solemnity of the call that is made upon
me, and my decision has been reached not
lightly or thoughtlessly. but soberly and
in fear of God. By way of reply have
prepared a statement to the public which
will be followed in few days by formal
letter of acceptance"
President Low then read the following
document: "
''As soon as II can, l shall prepare a
letter formally accepting the nomination
for Mayor Of New York offered my by the
| Citizens Union. acting on behalf of its
| own membership of $4,000 citizens and
al SO on behalf of 1921 00 other citizens,
rcfv or.1 ~, iofi
have expressed over their own signatures
the desire that should be nominated and
| elected.
Gin my view, the nomination has thus
been virtually already made by the people.
| No patriot, under such circumstances,
could decline to stand, unless he were
| prepared TO discourage, even in local
matters, all spontaneous movements by
the people outside of the limitations of
p arty. There seems to be an Importance
attaching to the order of nomination at
this juncture on the part of those ap-
parently inclined to be controlled by this
expression of the. popular desire, that,
What seems to me vital is that those who
nominate me should understand my
position in the campaign and the spirit in
which shall administer the government
OF the city In the event of election. On
these points, my letter to the Citizens
Union of June 7th, supplies most of the
information that is necessary. What is
lacking shall try to supply In my formal
letter accepting the profered nomination.
Political campaigns are, in this re-
spect, like real battles They are seldom
fought out on the plans originally laid
down. The situation with which am
called upon to deal is essentially different
from that which contemplated in June.
Others also must face the changed con-
ditinne II and oil vUb a1so nr,, cd
must make their choice in the presence of
conditions as they are, not as they may
wish they are.
II am not SO vain as to believe the I'M
precedented expression of popular conf
dence on which my candidacy Is based,
and for which am more grateful than
am atle to say, Is in any overwhelming
rather means that the people of the city, as
they contemplate all that is at stake, are
deeply moved by the desire that when the
great city begins it's new career, it shall
do SO with a mandate from the voters to
the officials of the city that the welfare of
the city, not of any party, is to be their
first concern.
For that principle + am known to
stand; for it shall contend in the coming
campaign with such allies as time may
bring, but for 1t shall stand, be my
friends few or many. Because the
Citizens Union stands for this principle,
and because I am in sympathy with it's
general purposes, / shall gladly accept it's
nomination. and shall welcome all sup
port from any quarter that recongizes the
position that occupy"
The final sentence of President Lows
statement ended the formality of presen-
tation and acceptance of the nomination,
The entire proceedings occupied only
short time, and at the close President
1<,xxr L-A H.
and make public his letter of acceptance
by the middle of next week.
Messenger Clark left on his return to
New York this Afternoon.