Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-07-30


PEOPLE OF OHIO, SETTING
FORTH HIS AIMS AND REA-
SONS FOR CUTTING LOOSE
FROM THE OLD POLITICAL OR
GANIZATIONS-WI CONDUCT
| A CAMPAIGN IN THE INTEREST
OF A LARGER HUMANITY.
TOLEDO, O., July 29.-Mayor Jones
to-day addressed an open letter to the
| people of Ohio explaining his position
as an independent candidate for Gov
! ernor. The following is the letter in
part:
During the past two months have
received hundreds of letters from ali
classes of people in every part of Ohio,
/ urging me to become an Independent
! candidate for the Office of Governor Of
J the State.
These letters are not addressed to
me because l possess a peculiar fitness
| for this high Office that is not common
to many of my fellow men, but because
| it seems to me + happen just now to
stand in a prominent position, advo-
eating principles of human liberty that
| are as old as time and as enduring as
eternity.
| 81 believe in all the people, and en-
! therefore a man without a party.
| believe in the people as people, not as
partisans, not as Democrats, not as
Republicans, not as Populists or Pro-
hibitionists, nor union Reformers, but
as people, as men, as brothers and sis
interests and common needs.
Standing on these declarations. l
claim no privilege for myself or for my
children that / am not ready to do my
utmost to secure for all others on equal
| terms. This is. what mean when l
declare for equal opportunities for all.
| Believing thi4z& be fundamental
truth, I, there declare that will
never again va label of any party
or claim poll byalty to anything
less than all people.
| In this wa "a always be free to
vote and ad vi snciples, whatever
i ssrtss' 'i + n nsap Be- e.
on the other; and the whole people
shall always have the first claim On
my service and affection. rather than
fragment Of them named a political
party. The interest of all in the great
idea now claiming the attention of pa
| trots everywhere.
There are many indications that the
present is the time for an independent
political campaign of education in Ohio.
On June 10, the Republican convention
met in Columbus and named a ticket
that many thought and believed was
practically arranged by two men, the
people having no choice in the matter.
| On the same day a convention of work
| ingmen, representing all parts of Ohio,
! was held in Columbus. To many or
| these toilers, the trip to Columbus and
| the loss of day meant degree OF
| sacrifice that can be but dimly under
stood by those who live idle lives upon
the fruit of the toll of others. Those
workingmen formulated a platform,
setting forth relief they hope for and
demand through political action.
| Every demand of their platform is
strictly in the line of progress, and no
candidate for office who does not be-
/ lieve in the principles therein set forth
should lay any claim to the votes OF
/ the workingmen of oAio. The Repub-
lican convention ignored the demands
| of the convention of workingmen, ig-
! nored their presence in the city.
| Not long afterward the Democratic
| State Committee met to arrange the day
| for the State convention, and its action
was worse, if possible, than that of the
Republicans. Realizing that there wds
| a strong sentiment in the State Tor
/! independent political action. they set
/ the date of the convention late that II
| would be impossible to get an indie
pendent ticket into the field after the
| Democratic convention, their purpose
| evidently being to compel the people
| to choose between the two old parties.
| I'm view of this situation, | announce
| that for the purpose of testing the quail
| ity and extent of the sentimtnt for an
Independent candidate, | invite those
who feel that such a move should be
made to write to me for blank petit
| tons of correct legal form, upon which
to secure signatures, petitioning the
| Secretary of State to place the name
upon the ticket. By careful study of
the response to this letter. we shall
! be able TO decide whether the sentiment
is sufficiently pronounced to warrant so
great an undertaking If the decision
| shall be affirmative. | will enter upon
the duties of the campaign in the in
/ terest of a larger humanity, wholly in
| different to the consequences to me
| personally.
"Signed) SAMUEL NJ. JONES"