The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-04-01
MR.. SLATER EXPLAINS.
writes Letter to His Friends Telling
why He Does Not Run.

Why he Does MOI nun
To My FRIENDS: - cannot find
words to express my thanks and feel
ings of gratitude to the hundreds of
electors of the city and county of Keno
sha, irrespective of party, who have so
urgently requested me to accept a non
partisan nomination for the important
office of county judge.
Your expression of confidence, your
endorsement and approval of my past
official services and the honor you have
conferred on me by this magnificent
call is a source of pride and gratifica-
ton to me that time can never efface
from my memory.
It is peculiarly gratifying to me when
| have the assurance that the move
ment in my behalf emanated from those
differing with me politically, without
any solicitation or encouragement from
me, directly or indirectly, and actuated
only by their zeal to eliminate partisan
considerations and to elect a judge
without reference to politics.
To all who have importuned me to
become a candidate, | have said |
would not be a party to a political
contest for this important position.
The pride and boast of the people of
Wisconsin has been, that in the selec
ton of its judiciary political consider
atoms have generally been ignored.
This sentiment so prevalent in Wiscon-
sin heartily approve, and years ago
the electors of Kenosha county discard
ed political preferences in selecting
county judge.
To have been chosen by my fellow
citizens unnhuenced by political con
siderations to this important and re-
sponsible trust, would be an honor be-
yond my highest aspirations.
After it had become definitely known
that Judge Van Wyck would decline a
denomination, certain officials of Keno
sha county, conceiving that perhaps
they had a party duty to perform, con
stituted themselves the representatives
of their party, and together with the
henchmen and party workers who were
called in, virtually declared by their
action that political considerations
should be controlling factor in the
approaching judicial election.
do not question the right of this
self constituted convention to nominate
or influence the nomination Of candi-
date, but to attempt to conceal their
action under the mantle of non parts
anship, for political purposes, it seems
to me is open to criticism.
sincerely regret the existence of the
present conditions SO contrary to the
purpose for which so many contend and
do dot care to be party to a political
scramble for this important trust.
TO the members of the bar of Keno
sha county, who have SO generously
offered their support and so urgently
requested me to accept a nomination,
/ am particularly thankful.
thank all who have unsolicited,
taken such an active interest in my
behalf all who have so earnestly re-
quested me to become a candidate and
regret that | could not accept a nomi-
nation at this time, and trust that if
called upon at some future time, under
different conditions. | may be able to
accept.
In declining this nomination, assure
the nominees and those who were in
strumental in placing them in nomina-
ton, that | cherish no feeling of ami
mostly towards anyone for their actions
in this contest, and trust that our rela-
tions in the future may be as pleasant
as in the past
Yours &c
JNO. C. SLATER.