The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-14
Mr.. LEAKEN DOES NOT SAY.
WILL NOT ADMIT HE WILL ACCEPT
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION..

Has Not Vet been Notified of His
Nomination and says His Reply
WIN Not Be Given UntiI the Notin-
cation u Received-G4c Did Not
seek the Nomination aud Endeav-
ored 60 secure Other Candidates.
ne Discusses SEINE Possibilities In
the Event He should Accept and
incidentally Ailudes Go the Candi-
dacs of Mr.. johnson.
sir. W. r. Leaken has not yet an
nounced whether he will accept the Re
publican nomination for Congress from
this disirics. In fact. Mr. Leaken has not
yet been notified Of his nomination and
he makes this a ground for declining 10
say what his plans are at present.
Mr.. Leaken arrived from Atlanta. where
he had been upon legal business. yester-
day morning. and vas seen. with some
difficulty. as there were private matters
which engaged his attention during the
day
Il only know Of my nomination through
the newspaper" said Mr.. Lcaken. Il
have not been called upon by any com
miitee and I do not know whether the
chairman has appointed committee. As
soon as the committee calls upon me my
answer will be given and It can be con-
denscd into one word"
A. 20 whether this one word would be
yes or no" Mr.. Lcaken failed 10 state.
II IL 90 b. presumed that It will be the
former n Mr.. Leaken did not say posi-
tvely that he would not accept. 1t Is
due TO the Republican convention to wait
upon It's committee before giving consent
or dissent 20 its action" he said. and 20
no one else will I give a." Mr. I.eaken
wished 10 positively stated that his nom
inatiou was not a pre-arranged aud un-
derrtood matter. n wish 10 state most
positively" he said. that | did not as
pire 20 this prominence and that / used
my best efforts TO obtain some one elise
who would serve as standard bearer A.
matter Of fact. up 20 the time OF my
departure for Atlanta Il was my under
standing that business man OF savan-
nah would be rendered the nomination.
II certainly was not understood that
would accept IL nominated
Mr.. Leaktn said that his nomination by
the Republican party. or one wing Of a..
placed him IA a serious position. Il have
always acted locally as a Democrat" he
said. and some OF my friends claim now
that the congressional office Is local
matter. There also s. ems to be an idea
Ia the minds Of some OF my friends. that
there Is something OF q division In the
ranks Of the Republican party OF the
district because Of the fact that Mr. Tom
lnson r. johnson Is said 10 have been
nominated hy the Doyle faction and al
though MIR johnson. 80 Il g. reported
10 me. has never accepted the nomination
10 far a. the public IS aware. the situa-
ton presents an interesting question as
90 whether there will be an independent
candidate as against the candidate OF
the organization recognized by the Re
publican National Convention Of isoo.''
Whether I accept the nomination or
not. said Mr.. Lsaken. the important
questions for a congressional candidate
from this district are whether he favors
a tarin on rice. and on long staple cot
ton. an isthmian canal. aud last. but not
least. sound money The question OF i'm
perialism and the doctrine Of Is 10 ! will
not cut any large figure In this district.
However. the Democratic sentiment in
this district Is so strong that man who
accepts the Republican nomination must
fsce the music"
MIR. Leakeu said that he had been charg-
ed before the National Republican Con-
vcntisn with being a Democrat afiidavits
having been offered 90 the effect thar he
had voted for Democratic state and county
officers In the recent primary. The com
mittee had held. however that as there
were no Republican nominees ne was a.
Thirty TO vote locally as he pleased. either
for aldermen. county officers. state OFF,
GERS. or even for congressman and sena-
tors where no Republicans we're nomi-
mated.
Mr.. Leaken minated that should he ac-
cept there might possibly result contest
between the two Republican nominees 81
the district in which the Intervention OF
Chairman Bahcock Of the Republican Con
gressionai Committee might be required
70 decide who was the accredited nominee
OF the party. In this case the two nominees
would have 70 show sheir credentials and
the chalrmsn's decision would doubtless
be Anal he said.
Mr.. Leakeu declared IN the most positive
manner that he had no designs Whatever
unon the collectorship or the postofiice
and chat should be accept the nomination
Il would not be with any intention OF fur
thering amhis ions IN these directions.
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