Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-13
ROTAN REFUSES
NOMINATION. BY
INDEPENDENTS
Can't Head Town Meeting
Party Because of Pledge,
He Says
WILL BE KEPT ON TICKET
District Attorney Declares He Is
in Full Sympathy With
New Movement

District Attorney Samuel p Rotan has
ueclined the nomination of the Town Meet
ing party fer reelection to that office.
Mr.. Rotan already is Republican nominee
for re-election He notified Thomas f.
<Afmstrong, chairman Of the Town Meeting
pSmnittee, that he could not conscientiously
accept the nomination, as he had entered
INTO an agreement with his colleagues on
The Republican ticket before the primary
election. They had all agreed to stand to-
gether, he said.
Criticism Of District Attorney Rotan for
his refusal to accept the nomination of the
Town Meeting party is given in statement
issued this afternoon by Judge Bonniwell,
OF the Municipal Court. He contends that
the action OF Mr. Rotan will restore courage
70 the Ware forces and that his attitude
Is Inconsistent in view of the developments
Of the last week.
Judge Bonniwell urged the nomination
Tor District Attorney of any lawyer Of char
acter and standing, and predicted that such
man would be elected. Should the Town
Meeting party fail to nominate a candidates
for the office. Mr.. Bonniweu suggests that
The Democratic party nominate man Of
standing in the community He suggested
sx-Judge Gordon, Henry Budd and several
other prominent Democrats.
NO OTHER NOMINATION
Mr.. Rotan is virtually assured of re-
election for the reason that he is the
organization choice and, Furthermore, will
have the Endorsement Of the Town Meeting
party
This was emphasized when number Of
the members of the executive committee
met last night and agreed upon the issuance
Of the following statement by Chairman
Armstrong:
I have received Mr.. Rotan's letter.
regret that he regards his situation as
precuding him from taking his stand
where the logic of events would place him
in this great movement, 1t goes without
saying that the unfortunate promise he
has made will in no way affect the ac-
complishment Of the purpose of the Town
Meeting Committee.
As the nomination papers containing
all the names indorsed by the committee.
are now in circulation for signatures, they
must be completed and fled Mr.. Rotan
can then file his declination. ] will hand
his letter to the committee tomorrow
RoTANs LETTER
Mr. Rotan's letter of declnation was
written to Thomas F. Armstrong as chair
man OF the Town Meeting party, who has
been nominated for the Office of Receiver
Of Taxes The letter follows:
NJ / read in this mornings papers that
a .he Town Meeting Committee has an
bounced its candidates for the coming
election and that the committee has Sc
lected me its candidate for District
Attorney
This announcement was made. as you
know, without consultation with me or in
quiry whether l would accept from your
committee the nomination for District
Attorney i appreciate the honor your
committee has conferred on me and real
ize that my acceptance OF your nomina-
4ion would probably mean my election
without any effort on my part.
l am iE full syApatny and accord with
All movements for the publication OF pO-
litical condition in Philadelphia, but be-
lleve Il Is my duty TO decline the nOmina-
tion you tender me for two reasons;
ont AT @ sSNeEas eIec,i pTior 10 tne
fully discussed TO whether the candi-
dates should accept nominations on other
tickets, IL they were offered, and all the
candidates were of the opinion Il was best
not to accept nomination from any other
dates were nominated and indOrsed. At
the time the candidates felt they should
that understanding / do not see how
can repudiate It., Notwithstanding the re-
repudiate the understanding would put me
word, and / certainly should feel that /
had acted most dishonorably.
Second. Yesterday certain cases were
returned to the District Attorneys office
ef great public Importance. probably more
Important than any that have come to oil
fhe District Attorneys Office in many
years. 1t Is my duty as public prosecu-
which duty 1 must perform fearIessly, |
impartiaIly and in accordance with the
faefionaIism.
ACCEPTANCE IMPROPER
Your committee and party owe their
existence primarily to the facts involved
IN the prosecutions arising out of po-
fiticRl conditions in the Fifth Ward.
UDOn those facts the defendants Will |
be tried by this office. ] believe. there
fore. it would be highly improper for me
to accept the nomination of your party
and reap the political advantage which
such nomination would give me. 10 do
that have mixed politics with my OFF,
cial duties public prosecutor
have considered the question from
every aspect. and, after consultation with
many personal friends who are in no
way Interested or identified with local
politics, l have come to the conclusion,
for the reasons / have stated, L cannot
accept your nomination.
desire, or course, the support Of all
law-abiding citizens regardless OF party,
men who believe in the enforcement OF
the law and the maintenance OF order.
thank your committee for the honor
you wish TO confer, on me and appre-
ciate the confidence you repose In me.
COUNCIL CANDIDATES INDoRsED
The following fusion nominees for Coun-
ellis have been indorsed by the Town Meeting
committee
Forty-sixth Ward-Common Council, 1
waiter Thompson, 4S07 Regent street;
Francis F. Bureh, 249 South Fifty-frst
street. W. It. Colborn. 623e Washington
arenae; Dennis ]. Grace, 1908 South Six
tl6th street. and Louis Karstaedt. 5S63
Chestnut street.
Thirty-fourth Ward--Common Council,
Prank Gray, 22s North sixtietb street; j.
Melvin Smith, 1885 North f'ifty-second
1root; Jacob r. Shelter, ss30 Vine street
nd Harry r. Hannum. 5606 Lansdowne
fhnua. Messrs, Gray. Smith and Shelter
ntre elected on the Franklin party ticket
two years ago
twenty third ward--seIect Council, VIII
Ham RI Horn, In Common Council from .
'I1II 10 1915 Common Council. John A. i
Lewis. l358 Paul street, In Common Council
I.1nl 1914 70 1917. and Levi T. Cain, for
II0 years treasurer Of tho Independent ward
4IH|In|tfee
IU1nty-Heventh Ward-Common Council
u4 b Price. Jr. as ST. Marks square
Nnelne DeraiIed. Engineer Killed
.... Il