The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-12-06
WELTY URGED TO
RUN FOR GOVERNOR
COLUMBUS PAPER REvIvEs THE
STORY OF HIS CANDIDACY.
Said to Be In Receptive Mood--WouId
Have No Opposition at Homo.
Not Ready to Talk.

Not Ready to Talk.
The Columbus Citizen has a story of
some length giving the information
that Hon. John c. welty of Canton is
being urged by his friends to be the
Democratic candidate for governor. In
other years the rivalry between ex-
Mayor James A. Rice and Mr.. Welty.
both being aspirants in 1897, inter-
fered with the ambitions of both. but
now 1t is said that Mr. Rice Is friendly
toward Mr. Welty and there would be
no local entanglements.
1t Is claimed that this is the year
that Democrat can WIN. HerrTck has
antsgonized the church people, the
temperance element and In trying to
square himself has stirreS UP opposi-
ton among the horsemen Of Ohio.
Welty would not be Objectionable to
any Of these elements and would be es-
pecially strong with the horsemen. who
are no inconsiderable element in Ohio.
He is a member of the national board
At the present time Mr.. Welty has
no statement to make for publication,
although 1t Is known that he is recelv-
ing letters from representative men in
Cleveland. Columbus and in Cincin-
natl, who urge that this is the time to
down Herrick and George B. Cox.
The story In the Columbus Citizen
Is as follows:
Letters have passed between John
G. Welty of Canton and prominent
Democratic party leaders, in which the
former has been urged to stand for
the nomination for governor next year.
Mr. Welty was a formidable candidate
before the convention which nominat-
ed Horace L. Chapman In 1897, but the
bitterness Of the convention campaign
prompted Mr.. Welty to withdraw as
candidate when Stark was called in the
Its of counties.
up to that moment he had been
very much in earnest. He had not
only maintained elaborate head
quarters, at the Neil and Chittenden
hotels, but had brought one or two
train loads of people from Canton and
Stark county to help his candidacy a
long. Too late he found to his sur
prise James A. Rice, then mayor of
Canton had loaded the train down with
his friends instead of Welty's."
Since then Mr. Welty has been de-
voting himself to the practice Of law
and the building of traction lines in
northern Ohio, practically eschewing
politics. But now it is said he is lis
tening with willing ear and bland
smile to the suggestion Of his candi-
dacy next year, and has gone so far
as to say that he will accept the nom
ination IL 1t Is rendered him.
He comes from that section of the
Is strongest and prominent party lead
ers are of the opinion that he is the
very man to hold the saloon vote in
line, and at the same time command
the enthusiastic support of the anti
saloon element and church people. Mr..
Welty is just at this time enjoying the
additional prominence of being one of
the attorneys of Mrs. Cassie Chadwick
of Cleveland.
/ CAMPAIGN OF MONEY.
"Mr. Welty is man of large means
and If he should become the candidate
of the Democratic party in opposition
to Governor Herrick, the campaign
would no doubt be as lively as that
between Foster and Bookwalter in
1881, when money was first introduced
as a strong factor in Ohio politics and
has since continued TO be the dominat-
ing one.
But If the temperance people per-
sist in their fight on Governor Herrick
and oppose his election at the polls, he
will be given the active, earnest sup
port of the brewers of the state This
has already been determined upon.
They feel that 1t is incumbent upon
them to do this and that they could
not do less without being guilty of
gross ingratitude to the governor.