The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-22
Definitely Announces That He Will
Go to West Baden.
SOME REFUSE TO BELIEVE HIN
Even His Close Friends Suspect
Ruse to Divert At
tentiOn.

If he stands by his present announced
Intentions, Mayor Ames will not be can
didate for denomination, Yesterday aft
ernoon he announced to the republican
county committee, through one of his ap-
pointees who is member of the commit
tee, that he would not be candidate for
another term. To-day he made the same
announcement to personal and political
friends, and later talked to b e j o u r.
| | to the same effect.
1t will be remembered that not longer
than week ago Mayor Ames declared
| emphatically that all statements that he
| intended to withdraw from the contest for
the republican nomina ton were bold
faced lies, without the semblance of truth.
Since then he has visited West Baden,
Ind, talked business with the owner of
the big new hotel at that place, and now
he states that he has entered into busi-
ness deal that will make it impossible for
him to remain in Minneapolis politics.
The Mayors Statement.
Here is the way he puts it:
I have made no contract with the manage.
ment of the West Raden hotel as has been
| stated, but have engaged to take the posi-
ton of medical superintendent of the hotel
and I now expect to begin my work there
Aug. l or Whereabouts. l shall be more OF
less foot-loose, however, and shall be in
Of my term as mayor for part Of the time
enough at least to look after my duties as
mayor, and after that time will still be "a
legal resident OF the city and be back here
frequently.
The story that is going the rounds that
have put in $50, 5000 Of ILL gotten gains into
stock of the hotel company is a lie. OWL
just $1,000 of stock in the company, and
paid for that with money that came to me-
from her. homestead
AS said before, I shall not be candidate
for denomination, and shall make official an.
nouncement to that effect shortly. I hope
however, that my enemies will not try tc
rub it in to me, for if they do l am just as
likely as not to change my mind and run
anyway I cannot say whom 1 shall favor for
the nomination. I shall claim the privilege
in this regard as of any other citizen. No,
l shall not keep my home open. l do rot own
it, only rent, and there would not be any
object in doing that. 49,.
A "String' Strongly Suspected.
While Mayor Ames insists that his
statement Of his withdrawal is positive
and final, there are those, even among
men who are in positions to get admins
tyation matters pretty straight, who be-
lieve that there Is ''string" to it. Mayor
Ames is much troubled over the activity
of the grand jury. He is concerned both
for the indirect effect to himself and
those near to him, and would gladly well
come any chance to abate the zeal of the
grand jury and get a fair measure of
peace for the administration during the
coming months. They see in his an
nouncement of withdrawal a scheme to
effect this and at tho same time turn a
shrewd political trick. Mayor Ames has
already filed notice as a candidate and
his name is bound to appear on the pri-
mary ballot. After the grand jury has
the field, there will be nothing to prevent
him from reversing himself again and
jumping back into the race. If his present
withdrawal should have the expected re-
suit of heading off further hostile action
by the grand jury his friends think this
plan could be made to work to perfec-
tion And that, they insist, is the may
or's plan. The prominence given by the
administrations semi official organ to the
probability of his withdrawal is also fig
ured as part of the plan to make his re-
tirement seem genuine.
But, whatever the mayors inner mo-
tives,' the administration gang is certainly
'up in the air." They are badly ratified
lot to-day and hardly know which way
to turn in their perp1exity.
VIII He Resisn.
While Mayor Ames will now go no
farther than to state his intentions to
there is a we1l-defned belief among those
in position to know Of the mayors real
intentions that this statement is but pre-
liminary to more positive action later,
nothing less than actual resignation of
the offiie of mayor.