Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-16
MR.. BUTTONS POSITION
NOT CERTAIN IF HE WILL WITH
DRAW JAS A CANDIDATE.
Proposition Presented to Him at Hot
Springs Has Been Withdrawn
His fprmaI Statement.

Representative Burton OF Ohio returned
to Washington from Hot Springs Va. to-
day. In discussing the matter Of hts with
drawal as zNandidate for reelection Mr..
Burton SAIL TIA Star man today that the
proposition which had come to him from
Cleveland wfh{S.he was at Hot Springs had
since been wfsAdrawn. and the matter Of
his withdrawal was practically where It
was when he first made the announcement
that he should take such a step. II this
proposition had not been recalled Mr.. Bur-
ton limited that It. would have formed the
basis for a satisfactory settlement OF the
diMcslty.sSAz4ed as TO exactly what this
proposition was MT. Barton said:
1T was a dfstinek proposition. made by
ex-Chairman Hopkins and Chairnnan-elect
Odell, to the effect that the candidates
might select a committee to have fun con-
troll and management Of the fall campaign.
ana that the officers elected should remain
inactive until after that.
This proposition was conveyed to me at
Hot Springs by mutual friend, but l I'M
derstand now that those who were behind
the movement for the election of these OFF,
GERS now repudiate this proposition. Such
proposition might have furnished a basis
for adjustment"
MIR. Burton said he regretted that the
matter had been given SO much Importance
When asked the direct question II he still
intended withdrawing he replied that there
was no change whatever in the situation
since he first announced his intention; what
might transpire later in the way of an adj
justment he could not say. 1t is not unlike
ly that Mr.. Burton will acquieSce in the
desire Of his friends that he go to C1eve-
land before any further action is taken.
His Formal Statement.
The following formal statement was is
sued by Mr.. Burton on the subject today:
n hyfo Il CT tor rot IF
sition of the republican candidates at Cleve-
land has been clearly made, it seems to
have been very commonly misunderstood
Their protest against the selection of a
chairman at the dictation of federal Off
Gals did not originate from desire to die
tate party management, nor to assert any
prerogative of theirs. They recognize
that the party at Cleveland was divided
into two factions, unfortunately, opposed
to each other. The voters in the city and
county. had, in the preceding two or three
elections. shown their disapprovai OF this
facticnal fight. and this disapproval had
rested quite as much upon the committees
chosen to manage political campaigns as
upon the candidates themselves
THE present candidates not identi-
fed with these factions, and they earnestly
desired to select for the head Of the party
committee man not identified with either
The personal element had very little to do
with their choice. They chose, after con-
sultation with men of all factions, Mr..
standing. who met the demands of the sit
uation. To;shew, that personal choice had
little to do with his selection, it may be
said that one of the three federal officials
who afterwArd made up the opposing slate.
conEratulatas himself that he was the very
first to suggest the name of Mr.. Rowland,
upon whoms at later time, all the candi-
dates agreed. and this agreement seemed
to be everywhere acquiesced in.
Another one of the three federal office
holders, in a list of available chairmen. in
Guided Mr.. 4Howlapd's name. The action of
the candidates was thought TO afford the
means of entering the campaign without
the handicap of party division, but their
wish was rudely disregarded The naming
of a man by three or four federal officials
who regarded as identified with one fac
ton Of the party. must cause revival of
the factionai fight which has continued for
some years. and would threaten the result
of the election The course Of these Off
Gals, we are sure was a very grave error,
particularly in view of the fact that they
had agreed upon Mr.. Rowland, and his Sc
lection met with general approval"