New-York tribune., 1900-04-24
WHY sILAs WRIGHT DECLINED.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Permit me to call attention to an error of
statement in your editorial Of this date, entitled
AN Example for Roosevelt" Silas Wright who
United States Senator from New-York IN
1914. was not present. as you state. at the Dem
oeratic convention which nominated James K
Polk for President He remained in Washing
ton, and the announcement of his nomination
for the Vice-Presdency by the convention came
TO him over the telegraph line. which had short
ly before that time been established between
Washington and Baltimore, and was one of the
first messages flashed its wires. 1 have In
my possession a letter from Mr.. Wright to my
father. who headed the Democratic delegation
from NewYork to the convention in which he
says. under date of May 30 1874: Through the
telegraph I am informed that the convention
has conferred upon me the honor Of its nomina-
ton of the office of Vice President" He goes on
to say that the circumstances under which the
convention had acted forbade him from accept
ing the nomination. and later, under date Of
june g. 1914. he writes To my father again, ex-
planning at length that with his declared views
and votes on the question of the annexation of
Texas. even more pronounced in opposition TO it
than Mr.. Van Burens, his acceptance OF the
nomination 10 the ce-Presidency would be an
act of treachery TO the chief who had been dis
placed from the head of the ticket and Of COM
plicity with the party leaders who had secured
that result, and he says: These reflections
cleared my mind of all doubt as TO the course of
my duty l was. therefore prepared to give YOU
an answer before the news came: but whAn a.
came. and found that Mr.. Walker had brought
forward my name. instantly suspected that the
effort would be made to dissolve the convention
before / could be heard from, and thus to throw
upon me the responsibility of serving or leav-
ing half ticket. | went instantly TO the tee-
graph and made my communicati tion and YOU
cannot imagine my relief when found by the
responses that Colonel Young and Mr. Finn
were there To communicate with me, and that /
was fully understood"
The circumstances under which Silas Wright
declined were entirely different from those
which confront Theodore Roosevelt, but his firm
adherence 10 his convictions Of duty Certainly
presents an example of honest and high toned
craftsmanship
WILLIAM ALLEN BUTLER
Round Oak Yonkers April 23 1900
sILAs WRIGHT DECLINED THE NOMINATION
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In New-York newspaper of TODAY apnears
the following statement;
Never in the history of the country has any ma,
refused Al party nomination for President or Vice-
President after II had actually been made by a
National Convention.
In 1874 SiIas Wright vas nominated for Vica
President on the ticket with James X Polk by the
Democratic National Convention and declined the
nomination. and November s. 1874 was chose,
Governor OF NewYork. by his candidacy for Gov
srnor defeating the election to the Presidency OF
Henry Clay and securing the election OF Polk ana
Dallas thus changing the whole future history OF
Nsv.ToTk. April n. 1soa