Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1898-07-22
MR.. KELLISON WILL NOT BE IN
THE RACE FOR CONGRESS.
Reasons Assigned for Declining to Ask
Second Race-Urges Democrats to
Keep Abreast of the Progress of
Events.


that l am rot candidate for the dem
ocratic congressional nomination and
that | could not accept the nomination
if given me. My disinclination to be
candidate for denomination has been
frequently made known to those with
whom | have conversed, ever since the
campaign of 1896, and | had supposed
that my views were generally under
stood; but, as there appears to be some
misapprehension on the subject, deem
it proper to make this public announce
ment.
However much j may regret the
necessity that determines my course, |
am constrained by the imperative de
mands of professional and private busl-
ness affairs, together with other reasons
not necessary to be stated, to ask that
my name be not considered in cOnnec
tiOn with the congressional nomination.
To my political friends throughout
the district, who by precept and ex-
ample have proven their devotion to
the principles of true Democracy, who
have loyalty supported the democratic
cause in its hour of greatest trial, and
who have expressed their desire to see
me renominated, l am profoundly
grateful, and desire to return my sin
cere thanks.
Two years ago regarded the nomi-
nation, coming to me in the manner it
did, as a call to discharge one of the
highest duties of citizenship. Cleve-
landism had brought the great demo-
cratic party almost to deaths door and
with a so-called democratic administra-
tion installed in power, in 1894 the
country was swept by the opposition as
with cyclone. Indiana gave one of
the largest Republican majorities in its
history, and this congressional district
returned Republican plurality of over
forty-two hundred votes.
Such was the result of the unpatri0tic
course of president who made prac-
tice of going fishing on Decoration
Day, and who attempted to commit the
Democratic party of the nation TO the
policy of gold mOnometallism. This
resulted in the nomination of a second
candidate for president, and the revolt
of those who were willing to receive
their financial ideas and political doc
4 ho Of hn hltoa m
party.
There was no reasonable hope of sue
cess in this district, and many of my
political associates will bear NE out in
the statement that l regarded it in that
| light at that time. | made the race at
great professional and financial sacri-
flee, and may be pardoned for saying
that the republican majority of 1894 in
the Thirteenth congressional district
was reduced in 1896 in as great or
greater proportion than in any other
district in the state.
While do not claim credit for this
result, it proves that the party suffered
no injury at my hands and furnishes
food for reflection for those persons
who appear to think that men ought to
be required to beg for nominations and
for the privilege of spending their time
and money in engaging in desperate
and doubtful political contests.
So far as relates to myself, the battle
Ioc in hn hof
might contribute something toward
arousing the industrial classes from the
political ethargy that was fast binding
their senses, and in the hope that the
affairs of the government might be
placed in the hands of men who would
make an honest attempt to correct
some of the evils and injustices that
were threatening to destroy the pros
perity of the masses.
The task was herculean and well nigh
hopeless, and had | viewed 1t from the
standpoint of the practical politician,
there would have been no motive TO
have induced the attempt.
| advocated what | believed was best
for the masses of my countrymen, and
earnestly labOred for principles that
believed were calculated to promote the
welfare of the great majority of the
public who constitute the plain people
of the land. That record is made.
could not change it if l would, and, SO
far as the motive and purpose that ac-
tuated my conduct are concerned,
would not change it if could,
While the spirit that inspired that
campaign endures, there is no occasion