Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-01-01
Yields to Requests and Enters
the Battle.
His Letter TO Thurman Was Written
70 Relieve tae Democratic Party
Didn't Want to Hamper 1t with His
Candidacy For the senate-Refutes
the story About His Leaving the
Chicago Convention.


the result of the announcement of the
candidacy of Hon. J. L. Rawlins Tor
the position. His candidacy and the
reasons therefor is announced in an in
terview printed in the Herald, which is
as follows:
ais 1t true" asked the newspaper man.
"as reported in yesterdays Herald, that
you were called upon by number of
gentlemen and urged to become can
didate for. the. senate, and that your
consent was obtained?"
eyes," replied Mr.. Rawlins. "Since the
election have received numerous Of
fers of support for that Office from peo-
pie in different parts of the state, and on
Wednesday evening Messrs. J. H. Movie,
S. R. Thurman, J. 6. M. Barnes, R. w.
Young, A. w. McCune, Waldemar Van
Colt and others, including several mem
bers-elect of the legislature, met at my
residence and joined in requesting that
my candidacy be announced to the
people, and kindly pledging their sup
port"
"Such assurances have come to me as
to afford reasonable grounds for belief
that nv election would give general
satisfaction. l, therefore, feel justified
in SAYING that l am a candidate, and if
elected, will undertake to serve the state
in the senate to the best of my ability"
allow do you reconcile vour candida
cy with your letter to Mr.. Thurman last
summer, in which you said that you
would rot permit your friends to make
another sacrifice in your behalf, and re-
quested that your name be withdrawn
from all calculations in connection with
the election of senator?" was asked.
Eyes. wrote that letter, and its lam
guage is quite clear and free from am
biguity. l meant every word of it,
though its purpose has failed of fulfill
ment The motive which prompted it
was in brief, that in 1892 I had been
nominated for delegate. After serving
one year, during which statehood had
ures of value to Utah had been passed,
in 1894 the party again unanimously de-
manded that l become its candidate.
Again in 1906 the democrats of eN cry
county in the state, except Weber, con-
CURED in my selection as one of the
party's candidates for senator. In each
of these three campaigns l was an is
sue. During this time some political
enmities and jealousies were engender-
ed. After the late Chicago convention
the question of my nomination for sem
ator by the coming democratic conveu-
ton was again mooted and discussed.
didn't want that. l wanted to eliminate
myself as an issue in local politics and
relieve my friends from embarrassment.
Hence'the Thurman letter. In this
soon found 1 was mistaken, and l have
been an issue, Notwithstanding"
"For some time past" said the Herald
man, "the story has been quietly circu-
lated that you ran away from the Chi
'cago convention in disgust at the nom
ination of Bryan. Have you anything
to say upon this subject"
81 do not know by whom that false
hood was originated. Iremained in the
Chicago convention attending all its
sessions las we'll as that of the commit
work was completed, with the excep-
ton of the nomination of a candidate
for vice president. The convention had
adjourned until Friday evening, when
it was supposed its work would be com
pleted and final adjournment taken. AS
a result OF severe cold on Friday even
ing, l was too i'll to undertake to make
my way through the crowds to the con-
vention hall, and decided to remain in the
suite of rooms occupied by Messrs. w
H. Dale, R. P Mo iris, A. w. Mcclure
and myself Messrs. Dale and Morris
decided to leave for home at 1890 P,
m. I had business to attend to at Oma
ha on Saturday and thus avoid being
detained over Sunday. After discuss
ing the matter with Dale and Morris
concluded to go with them, and did so,
after going to democratic headquarters
and leaving word that l was going.
"Since my first acquaintance with Mr..
Bryan added Mr.. Rawlins, 1--WE have
been warm personal friends. The Utah
delegation decided to support Mr..
Bland and did so on account of his well
known integrity and long and faithful
service to the cause of silver. But from
the time Mr.. Bryan was nominated