The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-10
WANAMAKER WILL RUN
CANDIDATE OF PHILADELPHIA BUsI-
NESS MEMS LEAGUE.
Will Accept the Nomination for Gov
ernOr and Make the Race Against
the Quay Machine.

maker will be the candidate of the Business
Mems Republican League for Governor.
He gave out his letter of acceptance to-
night, addressed to the notification commit
tee appointed at the meeting of representa-
tives from nearly all the counties in the
State held in this city on Feb. Z. Mr.. Wana-
makers delay of over a month has led
many of his friends to believe that he
would decline the nomination He has been
Ill for some days. but is now much better
and he stated tonight that he will begin
active political work at once. 1t was inti-
mated that Mr.. Wanamaker viii be his own
campaign manager The letter of accept
ance is as follows:
''To the committee of notification of the
bourse meeting:
Dear Sirs-I consent to be a candidate
for Governor in pursuance with your re-
quest presented to me Feb. Z. My reply TO
you has been necessarily delayed. These
are the reasons: have not wanted to be-
come candidate and add to my labors
the duties OF personally conducting a cam
paign. have been endeavoring to persuade
you to select any one of dozen men of the
State available for the place.
II ardently hoped that the leaders of the
Republican party would accept the notices
served upon them by the bourse meeting
that the people intended to have something
to say as to who should be their next Gov
ernor. The Developments of the past two
weeks have been invaluable to your cause
and conclusive upon me in determining my
action.
THE crisis upon US is serious in its bear
ing upon the future standing and prosperity
OF the State. Since the last three county
conventions have had a clearer vision of
and of
taking ample time to analyze existing con-
Nditions, and having carefully considered
every phase of the situation from all politi-
cal standpoints have arrived at this final
conclusion with comprehensive knowledge
OF what the confess involves personally and
what the chances of success are.
II am neither deceived nor Influenced by
false hopes and know full we'll what my
prospects of success are, with the delegate
election machinery in the hands of the
enemy, with the primaries and conventions
so manipulated as to defeat instead of reg
lister the viii of the voter; with the same
high-handed methods that were employed to
send an almost solid delegation to the last
national convention instructed for Senator
Quay, when an overwhelming majority of
the voters OF the State were for Mckinley;
with manufactured contests and bogus
claims to be sustained by a state commit
tee that can be relied on to seat enough
contesting delegates to give the machine
candidates majority-as was done at last
years state convention with the delegates
of the Twenty-seveEth district of Philadel-
phia-and the contest that is now set up,
without a scintilla of regularity or legality
In the Twenty-fourth district of Philadel,
phia, involving six delegates, and with
chairman who gives timely warning that
the state organization will be against me il
nominated.
But L am no more moved by these con-
ditions than by the rumaTed deals OF poll
ticians, the threats of character assassins,
the tongue of slsnder or the fact that near
ly one-third of all the delegates to the next
state convention have already been elected.
/ ignore ali personal considerations / ac-
cept your invitation as cali or duty, and
making the issue one of principle, not spoils
l am ready to go forward with you in your
battle for political emancipation, convinced
that the right will ultimately triumph and
that the people desire to settle the question
themselves and settle it this very year.
IF this action of yours in bringing me
into the field creates disorder within party
ranks, l take no blame therefor, as 1 have
not solicited the nomination. Neither is it
eSSenua1 that L be elected Governor. 1t
will cost me nothing to step aside at any
time for such a man as you and your asso-
ciates agree to, who represent something
more than slate or the viii of a perpet-
uating boss. / simply hold it to be inpera-
tive that some one shall be selected to whom
the interests OF the State can be safely in
trusted, who shall represent The people, not
the etict of any one man.
Therefore. let there be no misunderstand-
ing as to where the responsibility rests,
and let the Republican voter demand a
strict accounting. With school funds long
past due and personal property taxes with
held from counties to allow the state treas
urer TO farm out millions of dollars to ia
vorite banks, with a capitol commission
breaking down the restriction barriers
erected by popular sentiment and planning
a building that will cost millions when com.
rleted, with the knowledge that indemnity
bonds, padded pay rolls. Lexow bills. exec
utive Junketings and mileage grabbers. will
be paid out Of the state treasury IL the
machine elects its Governor. 1 am con
vinced from proofs in my hands from all
parts OF the State that the people are ready
70 unitt with you in driving back the bosses