The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-07
|,o..tbau Lane NiIl Accept Nomina.
ton IL rendered Him.
EXPLICIT STATEMENT OF HIS VIEWS,
.,. noes Not Believe In Nor Favor
thc Free and unIimitcd Coin
age of silver at 16 to 4.
:, 81 democrats Of the Tenth congres-

Nd influence TO become candidate for tn
s.moeratic nomination for congress in tn
ran,b district. Many of them, making tn
request are my close. personal and earn
at political friends. All of them, so IA
.s know. are loyal and active democrats
rsev have assured me that they desire M
a. make the race because they believe /
!. FOR the best interest of the party tina
: shnuld do so. To this reason some havl
.dded their desire to confer persona
honor upon me. l feel deeply grateful 10
their expressions Of confidence aud friend.
min and take this occasion TO express ny
appreciation.
erd party loyalty of these men Is sdcl
that no right thinking man could treat
their wishes with indifference, and / will
not do so. Under favorable circumstances
would be much pleased to be chosen i
member Of congress, but under existing
priyate conditions, 1t will not be profitable
or even pleasant for me to enter the race,
nor to serve in congress should be nom
mated and elected.
Therefore, the only thing that could in
duce me to enter the race, would be TO
show that it is best for the party and the
country that | should do SO. Many OF my
friends now contend that such is the case.
do not agree with them. | think there
are other men in the district who fill the
requirements better than / do.
There is one thing, however, that would
convince me that l ought to make the race,
and to which l would yield. and that Is
10 be nominated without any effort on my
mart. And now say to the democrats or
this district and especially to my friends.
+ il you nominate me as your candidate I
will accept the nomination and make the
best fight ! can for the success of the
party will not enter into any scramble
/ for the nomination. The nomination so
| gained would be of no value to either my
marty or myself. This district is close
one and in order to win there must be
practical unity In the democratic ranks
concerning the choice of the nominee.
shall not attempt to canvass the district
nor make any personal effort to gain the
nomination. My time will be occupied in
the district court every day from April 13
to the middle of June; hence / could not
make q canvass If were inclined 10 do
so II the party should nominate me,
then promise that 1 will canvass every
voting precinct in the district.
| am aware of the fact that some people
will discount my motives as above ex-
pressed on account of the fact that their
natures are such that they can not con-
ceiye Of tho existence of such purposes.
Up to this date I have told all who have
asked the question. that l would not b,
candidate for congress. have asked no
one to support me, nor to say or write
word fayoring me for the position l
have not written a letter even inqulrins
About the matter. / have never spoken or
written upon the subject except In re-
sponse 10 inquiries.
As some of my friends seem determined
to try to nominate me, whether become
candidate or not, and as desire that
no one should support me without full
knowledge of my views, | think 1t proper
that I should in this letter express myself
upon at least some of the vital issues now
pending before the people. l am so tired
Oh political trlmmers. time servers and
oemagognes. who profess belief in any,
.hing In order to get in line with the ma.
'orlty that would almost as soon be con-
sidered a thief as one of them; hence |
mant all to understand my purposes and
AIMS, that no one may vote for me under
an erroneous impression.
am not now and have never been in
10 as'or OIL the free and unlimited coinage
y. slVef by this government at the ratio
vi ", 10 to l, independent of all other nations.
ms is what our leaders construe the Chi
taso platform to mean. believe that such
poiiey would not be to the interest and
"v',are or our people. ] opposed it in our
psrey councils before its adoption by the
National convention; / lost The fight. the
majority Of the democrats were against me.
,t ney thlnk the policy a good thing and
m M, lis adoption would benefit our people.
.ney are as honest and as capable OF judg-
ing OF the effects of the policy rs / can pos
sipiy ne. The question involves no demo-
eraue principles. 1t is one of expedioncy
Shs ana Is Just such question as should
NOD - H.,
1cipants. VI 'no parry pa
me minority should yield in this matter
me VIII of the majority. and no man
snouiu quit his party on account of the
. -. In which this question is settled
~ ieast so 1t seems to me. For my part
settled this question nearly two years
aSo' When the party declared for free
snser went forward and supported the
sntire democratic ticket and did all could
70 induce others to do so. feel certain
mat mat the great body of the democrats who
we're opposed to free silver" Loyalty sup
pu1ted the ticket. In this county am sure
.aey oid If all OF the democrats in this
sounty WHO opposed free silver" had voted
asalhs' Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Shelburne, in
my judgment. they would not have re-
seNed 1000 votes out OF The 1000 cast; nor
would they have received anything like the
trict. sN'"N
merely because some of my friends have
suseested that am the proper man to b
animated for congress in this district some
,rueople, whose names are unknown. through
me public press have charged that am a
v,hSner and man of bad character and
mat 1t would be an insult to the democracy
TO nominate ms.
!, concerning these charges l simply wish |
y say mat the good people OF my county, |
',t, nave lived and operated all me- |
w., ,s nave pronounced them absolutely false
~ ana again. ] believe II the names OF
hoe who so alander me should be given |
, ne. J can prove that have spent moro |
,Iuney and more tins in behalf OF tie
''Hhn a. ticket at every campaign since
oeen man than all III them coa-
,,ssn, As 10 being boiler. they evldsuilyI
So, iny conduct il the siiponr, nf Jui4e
..a,., 80 ~ 1872. They COMPLAIN that this
'9,uld have 10 be explained.
ns. LOW say 70 t;s people. have never nn-
a. 10 explain my conduc, IN iba.
~, - ,pa'gn; have never apoiogizFd rherafor
~, I'VE ss1 yi,l never % 80. ! bsllavel
fftCl az a.. Ia