The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-04-08
WEAVER SPEAKS.
lie Writes a Letter to "Jerry J"
and Tells Where he Stands.
Is Not, and Has Not Been a Candi-
date for ongress at any
Time.

The Minneapolis Journal of Friday
evening contains letter from Mr..
Weaver, of this city, which should
put to rest for all time the rumors
that have been rife regarding his sup
posed candidacy for congress. The
Free Press has been in possession of
the fact for some weeks that Mr.
Weaver would not be candidate for
congress, and probably not for any
other office, he preferring to give at
tention to his business affairs rather
than to tackle politics with all it's un.
certainty and worry.
Here is what Mr.. Weaver says:
81 notice that you continue to draw
conclusions to suit yourself regarding
my connection with the recent con-
ference of Second district Republi-
cans. as well as my supposed candi-
dacy for congress. In the first place,
l have no desire to shirk any respOn-
sibility for my position in the confer
ence matter. and never denied having
a part in it's call. On the contrary, I
was one of it's promoters. I did not
originate the idea, and found that
when apprised by letter Of one pro-
posed, that it had been under way
SIX weeks. 1t met my approval after
was further informed of the num-
Der and class of Second district men
who were BEND it, after which I as
sisted in it's promotion. My sympa.
thies were and are in accord with the
sentiments embodied in the action of
the gathering. I am confident the
conference was good thing and hope
others will be held. If the time has
come when Republicans cannot voice
their protest against the domination
Of one man or a select few without be-
ing excoriated, their motives i'm
pugned, and their liberties threaten
ed, things have, indeed, come to
pretty pass.
GAS regards my so-called aspirations
for congress. No anti-McC leary meet
ing ever occurred at Redwood Falls.
nor at any other point that I am
aware Of. When at Redwood Falls,
Feb. 7, on business, I naturally
enough talked politics with a few peo-
ple-an everyday occurrence-and at
this time the Mankato conference had
not been called and was not until a
month later. No announcement of a
congressional candidacy was even
thought of or talked of then, or at
any other time or place, and no man
living, ever heard me say that I was
or would be candidate, as I have
said, I had been honored by no small
number of Second district Republi.
yuhn houn fo IN
also urged me by letter, to become a
candidate, pledging me loyal, active
support. To these l have listened,
and have right to feel as I do-com-
plimented-but in no instance have I
ever, by word or action, given such
friends to feel that was or would be
candidate. [ have not been and, if
pressed at any time for an immediate
yes or no, would have said no. If an
effort had been made to work up an
McCleary sentiment at the con
ference. l can say to you in all frank
ness and sincerity that would per-
sonally have stopped it if possible, and
l don't believe that any Republican
came here with such an object. Re-
suits show that nothing of the kind
was contemplated.
IF you feel that continuation OF
your frequent references to myself and
what am supposed to be doing politi-
cally will help make North Star
Politics more readable and The Jour-
nal more salable, you are welcome to
keep it up.
There is ocertainly no Office that
want, whether or not could get it.
Iprefer successful business to political
wreckage."
There is no doubt that Mr.. Weaver
has been misjudged, as people are apt
to be who.engage in political matters
to any appreciable extent. There is
no doubt, also. that he has been un-
justly charged with many sins of omis-
sion and commission of which he is
not guilty. as is often the case with
others. Now that Mr.. Weaver, over
his own signature, has defined his
position, the public should be salts
fed, and accept the same.