The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-11
In Lengthy Document He Says
He Wants No Office.
WRITES TO SECRETARY MALONY
Declines In Advance TO Run for Con-
gress, and Says He Does Not want
TO he Governor-Takes n Quiet
Slap mt His Enemies, Who He
SAYS Are Circulating False Re-
ports About Him-IIis Long Letter.

a letter addressed TO Thomas Mallory.
q ,retary Of the Democratic state central
committee ex-Congressman Lewis de-
clines in advance the Democratic nominal
tion for congress this fall and announces
that he will not be a candidate for the
gubernatorial nomination In substance
Col Lewis states that considerations for
the Democracy Of the state and "a proper
respect TO the fusion forces, together with
a debt OF consideration TO the leaders or
the fusion movement have inhuenced
him in taking the step. In conclusion the
ex-congressman states that the Demo-
cratic party has "unfailngly" yielded to
his every ambition. and he feels that he
has appeared TO monopoize the honors
given 10 the Democratic party in the dis
tribution OF offices. For these and other
reasons Col Lewis feels. he says that he
should not become a candidate for any
office this fall.
Politicians say It is doubtful whether
any one Of the many letters which Col
Lewis has written since the organization
OF the fusion party OF the state will take
as high rank In the archives of the states
political history as his latest effort. Col
Lewis says he wants no office. This is In
face Of his oft-repeated declaration ,his
intimate friends that his great ambition
SIS to succeed Senator Turner as a member
az the United States senate He says fur
Their that there Is a prevailing opinion TO
the contrary extant among certain gen
tiemen who find Il agreeable TO use II as
n basis for unklnd expressions" Demo-
Gratis arc asking II this refers 20 Lee Hart,
who has publicly and privately declared
that Col Lewis would never obtain del
cgation from King county In support OF
his political aspirations.
VIII Not Cause Scrprise.
As matter Of fact the letter OF Col
Lewis did not occasion any considerable
surprise among the local Democracy. IL
Is well understood that Col Lewis would
rather pose as recipient OF honors at
the hands Of the Democracy than as So
liciting them. More than that there is
ground for belief. In the opinion of more
than one prominent Democrat. that Col
Lewis has planned to keep out of the
fight this fall for several good reasons
which bear particularly upon HIS own per-
sonal interests
Those Democrats who take this view of
the matter cite the fact that Col Lewis
has failed 10 place himself on record as
In sympathy with the position taken by
w. J. Bryan on the expansion issue They
say that Col Lewis has expressed himself
on this question as favoring tho estah-
lishment of American sovereignty I'm the
Philippines. IL Is even whispered that Col
Lewis has privately Informed his friends
that In his opinion a campaign Naged
along the lines laid down by Mr.. Bryan
would not prove a success IN this state.
II can be stated on the authority OF
Col. lowis' close friends that ne does not
Intend To sacrifice hls personal and political
Interests In this campaign. 1t is no secret
that Col Lewis does not court another
defeat as the fusion candidate tor con-
gress. His friends say that he could
much better afford to be nominated for
governor and be defeated than to make
another disastrous race for the position OF
congressman With little chance for the
election of either "a Democratic congress-
man or governor IN Washington this fall
1t would he unwise. Col. Lewis friends
cay. for him to become a candidate on the
state ticket
His Letter to Mr.. Mallory.
In full. Col. Lewis letter is as follows:
Seattle, April .. 1900
Hon Thomas Mallory Secretary. etc
Spokane. Wash.-My Dear MIR. Mallory |
am IN receipt OF your letter in which you
say that for yourself and for many others
who have made inquiries II r. desired to
he known whether | Will be a candidate
Tor governor or whether ] will take the
nomination for congress- | particularly
appreciate the portion Of your letter say
Ing that the Democrats over the state say
tha. whatever want / may have. and
that II IL for me to choose. | beg TO
say that ! am not a candidate for either
j want neither Office. / am not now ana
win not be candidate for governor nor
Tor congress. nor Tor any o5lce | do not
want any Office. | have said this frequent
ly since l returned from my late Official
duties, and | repeat Il o you / am aware
that IA prevailing opinion TO tho contrary
exists or Il Noic'd ~ certain gentlemen.
who md it agreeable 10 use e as the
basis for uuktud expressions toward mo
These do not concern mo Hut what has
principally Influenced me Is the regard
Tor the Democratic party and a proper re-
npect 60 the fusion forces together vita
tho debt pt consideration | owe 60 the
leaders ~ the fusion movement. they who
e. u.4. tU ma
at my every reQAVHt Tire Democratic par-
~ has unfa,trrnSiv yioldcd to every am
bition l voiced. and the fusion forces have
heartily accredited me amy pla-o Q sought
or which my friends oven HuEgcsted
Il feel that | have exhausted tHeiT cour-
tesy and that I appear in tho Hight %
portion ~ thrm golrs to tac Democratic
party For this Reason { must decline
longer tu bt go regarded TbVFu are ah.r
men lu the Democratic party as thsro
are in thu fusion ranks, capable oi flarg
Huy position. aui who upon thvir merits
can be- chosen ta The office hy Tbs Atsrrim
mating stuac ana iuaticr 0f ne people VI
the state 90 Washington. TIE apprdacbiu.
eie,tion a-suTps the success ~ ouT canii-
dates the cHHsr ard the issues involved
y b. Therefore attinw that az .a,s Sims iu
the calculation az the fgtufo &c Should bc
understood hy my tsicnts ans hy the az
ncd forDes ttat { am ncf tu ur au Item
IN thCir calculations ana H1 empafYass-
fueui ju t#e ARRANGEMENT OF thtlv plans
That / avn uot o. ee rcs 30 ltI as i tan3l.
date for AMY office ana that arrange ugnta
in connection wlta .hr distribution - thN
hon0rs mas Dee e6e,tvj wtaHaJ tAe iu-
convenience ot having to consider any gVr-
sAna} tuttunes
''oaly one consideration / ash shall re.
main ga tac minds at cuf people. a13 t1at
cause 10 every Way that may be Jemantcd
can De relied u4oa in fthat rt tH those
tn4t may oa chosen to thr Gal extent as
81 l were candidate an3 my personal
sfsss. Nfr A. ..f