The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-01-01
Congressman Wheeler Will Again be a
Candidate.

The Washington correspondent of the
Warren Daily Mirror, writing under date
of Dec. 10th, has this interesting news
for the constituents of Mr.. Wheeler:
The statements sent out from here re-
Gently to Pittsburg newspapers to the
effect that eXCongressman Sibley while
absent in Egypt was to be forced back
into Congress Ivy his sdmiring constitu-
ents and that Congressman Wheeler had
agreed to the plan and would be satisfied
with one term are misleading and the
latter part Of the assertion is false.
The writer has talked on this subject
several times here during the last month
with both Mr.. Sibley and Mr.. Wheeler
and knows whereof he writes. In the
first place, Mr.. Sibley insisted that he
was out OF politics and that he did not
expect to be a candidate again for any
on a trip to the Holy Land and the follow
ing December to start on trip around
the world which will take up at least
year.
Now as to Mr.. Wheeler. He admits
frankly that he would not have been a
candidate for Congress If Mr.. Sibley had
not declined last year, but now after hav-
ing been elected and having Just COM
menced his work here he believes that it
is the sentiment of the Republicans of his
district that he should be given another
term and not forced out of the race in
favor of man who is not a candidate.
Mr.. Wheeler intends to he candidate
before the Republican primaries in April
for denomination and will accept the
decision of his constituents and not that
of those who are trying to force Mr.. Sib-
ley back into political life.
Ever since Mr.. Sihley voluntarily de-
clined last year to be a candidate for
another term, some of his personal
friends, aided and abetted by the federal
Office holders in the district, or some of
the latter class, have been working hard
to nominate him against his will. Last
year they tried it on and after visit of
one of the practical workers over in Elk
County, they were confident that they
could deadlock the convention until all
of the other candidates would agree to
withdraw and renominate the man who
had declined But when the convention
met on the very first day it developed
that some of the delegates would not
stand without eing hitched, or in other
words they took Mr.. Sibley at his word
and nominated Mr.. Wheeler the first day
of the convention. And the reports re-
ceived from the district indicate that at
the April primaries the voters will re-
peat what the delegates did last year and
renominate Mr.. Wheeler. This will be
because they take Mr.. Sibley at his word,
and not because they love or adm ire Mr.
Wheeler any more than Mr.. Sibley.
So far as Mr.. Sibley personally is con-
cerned, some of his warmest friends be-
leve that it would be unwise to force
this nomination upon him even if il
could be done. He has made such rec
ord here in political life that higher
honors await him, and if either Speaker
Cannon or Senator Knox is nominated
and elected president, Mr.. Sihley will bt
invited to become member of the Cab
met. And a similar offer is likely Il
come if Vice President Fairbanks, ol
Secretary Cortelyou should be the mex
President Thus to nominate and re
elect Mr.. Sibley to Congress might iDjur'
his chances for higher political pre-
ferment.