The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-14
Capt. English Would Not Accept.

When asked the direct question whether
or not he would accept the nomination for
Congress, Captain English replied last night
in the most direct and emphatic manner
that he would not under any circumstances.
He said:
Il appreciate most deeply the general dis
position shown by my partial Democratic
friends to nominate me for Congress, but L
must state most positively and emphatically
that l cannot accept the nomination. In
the first place l return to the army Aug.
rs, when my leave expires, and the signing
of the peace protocol will not likely cause
the disarmament of the volunteer army for
a long time to come, as a large force will be
required this fall and winter in Cuba and
elsewhere for occupation purposes In the
second place my state of health is such
since my return from Cuba as to make it
almost suicidal for me to enter upon the
strain and annoyance of a political cam
paign. and in the third place, while l was
born in political atmosphere and love ac-
tive participation in politics when am not
candidate, there is nothing l dislike so
much as office-seekng for myself and
have not the slightest desire to be candi-
date for Congress, mayor or any other Of
flee. Activity in politics on my part does
not mean that / want office. l have for
twenty years continuously been member
of the Democratic county committee Qonger
than any person) and during all that time
most active in the political arena, and yet
in that entire twenty years have but twice
been candidate for office In those two eff
forts had the good fortune to be success
full and am satisfied. / recognize the right
of the party 10 demand the services of it's
members under certain juStifying condi-
tons tons but In this particular case such con
Dunn are both able and brilliant young
Democrats, worthy the suffrages of the vot-
ers of the district. and the party will not
have cause to regret the selection of either
Of them.
There is, in this connection. still another
the congressional nomination, and
that that is that | assured both Mr.;
R RonG no and ho Mr. c DuTH that tofor
their names were announced. / said this in
a conversation with Mr.. Dunn months ago
when his name was first suggested, and the
day before Il started for. the front Mr..
Bailey waited on me in person and said.
with great kindness and frankness, that he
to be candidate he would not allow his
name to be used. and would gladly support
me, but if / was not going to be candidate
to frankly say so to him and he would en-
ter the race I assured him in the most pos
tive language that l would not be a cam
didate, and told him 1 would say so in a
letter over my own signature to Mr.. Taggart
as chairman of the district committee. This
did in a letter mailed to Mr.. Taggart from
Port Tampa the morning sailed with the
army for Cuba, and / am in honor bound to
abide by II if there were no other considera-
tions-and there are. desire also to say a
word in reply to charges that r. 0. Hawkins
at the reception rendered me by the Column
bia Club. There is not one word of truth in
these statements Mr.. Hawkins was one of
the most active and kindly gentlemen pres
ent in his endeavors to make the reception a
success, and it was a most generous and
considerate compliment in which all the
leading members of the Columbia Club took
part. They were none the less Republicans
in rendering it, and I was none the less a
Democrat in accepting it, / value this gra-
cious testimonial from my friends among
my political opponents more than have
words to express, and shall treasure its re-
membrance while live"