Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-04
HENRY GEORGE DECLINES.
Prefers 10 Write Fathers Biesraphy 70 Run
ming Tor Governor q Now York.

New York. Oct. 3--Hcnry George has
declined the nomination for Governor
on the ticket placed In the field by the
Chicago platform Democrats and the
committee having authority to fill the
vacancies, nominated Henry M. Nc
Donald, OF the county OF New York,
FOR the place. Mr.. Georges letter OF
declination made public. tonight. Is as
follows:
Fort Hamilton, N. r.. Oct. 3.
Messi,s. VIM. j. Abbott, Samuel Sea-
bury and Ezra A. Turtle. Notification
Committee:
Gentlemen: 1t is great honor to be
judged worthy of the suffrage OF one
fellow citizens, and Ut Is an especial
honor to receive the nomination OF a
party striving for pure politics and
economic freedom and ! deeply appre-
ciate the action of the party Of Chicago
platform Democrats in nominating me
for the high office Of governor OF the
state of New York. But after a care
full consideration, ! must decline the
nomination for ] am persuaded that by
pursuing uninterruptedly the duty Of
writing my fathers ibiography--a
duty to my fathers memory and to the
cause TO which he gave his life, ! can
do more for the principles OF the free
dom than could by engaging actively
in pay.
For at time when THE two great
political machines must excite public
attention over the question Of the war
and the criminal scandals growing out
of 1t and over the questions OF Official
corruption and missnanagement in the
state, the more remote, though Tar
greater economic questions would be
lost sight of, and thus an dependent
fight would not stand on the merit of
its principles. but get only such scaat
attention In the public eye as might be
diverted from the fight over political
debauchery.
/ should say. moreover. in justice to
myself and those who honestly advance
the silver question to the rank OF first
Importance. that / am. no more than
my father was. an advocate of free
coinage. He condemned it's economic
soundness. being In fact believer
neither OF gold nor silver. but in cred
itor paper money. He supported the
Chicago platform. not on account of.
but in spite OF its advocacy OF free
silver, because he believed that In 9th
er respects is stood for the people of
freedom. because ii took the side OF the
weak as against that OF the monopo-
lists, because ii sided with the hou;e
of want against the house Of have.
l am In entire accord with those
views and / think 1t proper to state
them frankly and that there may be no
room for misunderstanding on the part
of any. With renewed expressions okI
appreciation for the great honor con-
ferred upon me by your party, and
with sentiments of high regard for the
members of your committee. ! am
yours respectfully,
HENRY GEORGE, JR.
Henry NJ Mcdonald, the man NOM
mated to I'LL the vacancy of the ticket
by Georges declfnation was the chair
man of the convention which placed
Mr.. George IN nomination. He was
born in Caledonia, Livingstone county.
N. Y, in 1851. Left an orphan at an
early age. Mr.. Mcdonald earned his
living as farm hand until IL years of
age. He attended night schools and at
the age of is began to teach school.
He made money enough to take him
through Princeton college ard was
graduated from that institution in 1878.
He studied law in Rochester and was
admitted to the bar in 1879. He prac-
ticed law for four years and then went
to Pierre. s. D., where he engaged in
banking. He returned to New York in
1891, and has since been in various
financial business. Mr.. Mcdonald is /
president Of the New York Bimetallic
Association.