The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-12-11
THE CALL is ALMOST UNANIMOUS
Senator in an Open Letter States That He
Cannot But Accept the Demands of
His Fellow COuntrymen.

Legislature. Ills letter follows:
1.-The Honora bles John M. Whitehead,
G. L. Valentine, Alexander White and
J. A. Britton, GAINESVILLE, Wis.-Gen-
tlemen: have received since my re-
turn to the State your favor of the 10Th
ult., signed by you as the Rock county
delegation in the Legislature of 1903.
''In it you assure me of your desire
that shall continue to serve the State
in the senate of the United States, and
that your desire in this regard is in
harmony with the sentiments of the
Republicans of Wisconsin. You in
form me that, responding to Repub-
lican sentiment, ninety eight Republi-
can legislative conventions instructed
the nominees to vote for your (my) un-
conditional return to the United States
senate and 102 Republican members
elect of the legislature have publicly
manifested their desire to the same
effect.
Advising me that because of my
communication to the Republicans of
Wisconsin two years ago announcing
an unalterable purpose to not again
be candidate for the senate, and my
silence upon the subject since then,
rumors are current to the effect that
| would not accept reelection, you
request of me an expression which will
remove all doubt upon the subject.
The circumstances warrant the request
and entitle you and the other Repub-
lican members of the legislature to be
fully informed as to my attitude.
Il find peculiar pleasure in the re-
ceipt of your letter, since it not only
testifies continuance of the con-
fdence and friendship so freely given
me many years ago by the Republicans
of Rock county, but brings relief from
an embarrassment which has lately
pressed heavily upon me, in that it
presents the first opportunity for me,
with propriety and publicly, to express
something of the gratitude which fills
my heart for the commentator given
by Republicans throughout the State
through conven tons, the press and
otherwise, of my work in the senate.
"Aside from the Endorsement of my
official career, so generously and so
generally accorded, of which I shall
always be proud the action of SO many
Legislative constituencies through their
respective conventions, and by public
committa1 of their nominees, neither
inspired nor solicited by me, declaring
| their wish that | should continue to
serve them in the senate, is, all things
considered, including my announce
ment of two years ago and my silence
upon the subject since then, an honor
which I had not conceived could pos
sibly ever come to me. It is more to
me than the honor of election to any
Office, and for it am inexpressibly
grateful
"Ordinarily one cannot consistently
with self-respect avow his own SINGER
| ity. Circumstances justify, however,
word here concerning my letter of
July 6, 1900, announcing my purpose
to retire. It was deliberate, explicit
and sincere. My determination was
impelled by a sense of duty which no
manly man could disregard, into which
there entered no element either of
business or politics. expected and in
tended to be taken at my word, and
since then it had been my expectation
to retire from the public service at the
expiration of the term. In fact, until
within half year, the condition which
moved me in the first instance to the
determination which announced had
not so far changed as to render posi-
Bile any change of purpose.
''In that letter, among other reasons
given for the announcement of my
purpose so long in advance, was the
| following:
"Again there are many Republicans,
among them longtime friends and
supporters of mine, well entitled by
reason of ability, integrity, party 10y
atty and dignity of character to be ia
vorably considered for the succession,
who might, by my silence, be deferred
from candidacy, to their detriment and
to the detriment of the public inter-
ests.
II have no reason to doubt, nor did I
/
cies would have been announced, which
would have precluded me from honor
ably permitting, even by silence, the
formal use of my name in any event.
No such candidacy has been an
nounced. I therefore find myself in
replying to your letter as free from re-
striction from any standpoint of honor
as if my declaration of 1900 had never
been made.
'sThe action Of the Senate and As
sembly conventions and the public
committal of nominees in response to
the sentiment of their constituents,
leaves me in no doubt that it is my
duty to say to you in response to your
request that if the members of the
Legislature shall, in accordance with
the instructions and other pledges to
which you refer choose me to be my
Town successor in the Office of Senator,
II shall consider such action as COM