The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-05-17
WHEELER'S REASONS
For Not Being a Candidate For
Congress At This Time,
WRITES LETTER TO HIS CONSTITUENTS
Accepted Army Commission With the
understanding That He Was To
Be Relieved In Time.

A Washington special says: General
Wheeler Monday prepared letter to
his Ala aoama constituents announcing
that he would not be a candidate for
the congressional nomination this fall.
Although he had heretofore made 1t
plain that he would not be candidate
for the short term, many Of the people
of his district urged him to become q
candidate for the long term, giving
him every assurance of nominations;
but the general has decided that he
will not. He gives his reasons in the
following letter:
WASHINGTON, May ITO The Con.
stitution: I have hesitated to address
you because I coAd not find words to
FULLY express my heartfelt gratitude
for the kind and generous support you
have given me. When the insurrec-
tion broke out in Luzon, February 4,
1899, I was holding o commission in
the volunteer army, and feeling that
I ought to perform military duty until
the meeting of congress, I promptly
applied for active duty in the Philip
pines with the understanding that I
was to be back by the time congress
convened.
In October it became evident that to
leave in time to reach Washington by
December 4th would necessitate my
leaving my command during opera
tons, while I.saw clearly that a delay
of two or three weeks would enable
me to remain with my command while
it was performing its part in capturing
or dispensing the insurgent govern
ment, thus aiding in the practical ter
mination of the war. I could then
have entered congress before the ap-
pointment of the committees and be-
fore the commencement of legislation.
In November T resigned my COM
mission, as it was generally express
ed opinion that such action on my
part would prevent the possibility OF
my seat in congress being jeopardized.
A series of unlocked for events delay.
ed my reaching Washington, and you
have already been informed of the cir
cumstances which surrounded me and
made it seem that justice to my con-
stituents, to whom I was indebted be-
yond possibility of requital, made it
necessary for me to resign my seat
that they could Immediately elect
successor.
lam doing everything in my power
to attend to the wants of my constitu-
ents before the committees and the
departments, and with the aid of our
senators and representatives have done
and will continue to do all I can re-
garding legislation in which the eighth
district is interes ted, but realize the
people of the district are entitled to
an active representative upon the
floor of the house.
The many letters I have received
urging me to reconsider my action and
become o candidate for reelection
have touched me very deeply. Nothing
could give me more pleasure than to
continue the pleasant relation as
representative which has so long
existed with people among whom
all my mature years have been
spent and with whom during the re-
mainder of my days I hope it will be
my good fortune to be associated, but
I feel can render some service to
them, even though not in congress,
and it will always give me pleasure to
devote myself to their best interests.
Regretting more than I can express
the circumstances which now prevent
my becoming candidate to represent
you, and again expressing to the people
of northern Alabama my appreciation
and assuring them that their interest
and welfare will always be of the deep
est concern to me, I am, gratefully,
JOSEPH WHEELER.