Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-23
.RnVA A006
O'CONNOR SAYS
HE|;C'A!|'NNOTRUN
FOR CONGRESS
Local Attorney Declines Of.
fer Of Democratic
Convention.

1t became known today that At
torney j.. r. T. o'Connor has declined
to become Democratic candidate for
congress on the ground that his NOM
nation would interfere. seriously with
the war work in which he has been
actively engaged for many months.
a Democratic convention as
scmbled III Fargo or April 2, decided
that Mr.. O'Connor would be the best
mai to whom the nomination could
be offered, and a few days later. j. NJ.
Kelly of Devils Lake. chairman of
the committee to notify the candi-
date, wrote Il letter to Mr.. O'Connor
advising him Of the action Of the con
vent!on. Ag mr.
The letter in which Nj o,connor
declines to become a candidate, reads
as follows:, .
Speaks on tho War.
II ann in receipt of your letter Of
April S, advising me that was Sc
lected as the first choice Of the Dem
ocratic party for congress at the con
vent;on held in Fargo IN April Emo
one could be i%nsensible to this high
honor and the expression of conf
dencc which it conveys. The accept
ance or rejection of the high honor
must be determined entirely in view
Of the extraordinary conditions of our
country at this time. as to which at
titude will, best serve II common
country.
This important question has been
viewed from every possible angle 10y
me Since our nation entered into
the great world war, l have given a
great deal of time to speaking on the
Liberty Loans. Red Cross, ". NJ. C.. A..
Knights OF Columbus and other great
organizations, which are assisting tho
government i'll the prosecution of this
war. Since January, l. .191S, thirty
per cent of my time has been spent
out of my office in trying to. get the
firmly before, the people. AS soon
as my office work here will permit
| expect again to devote considerable
time to this work. In Oklahoma
Minnesota. Montana and North Da.
kota, it has been my privilege to
speak and / feel some good has been
accomplished.
Should l, ac%ceptsthe nomination
for congress from now until, the first
OF November, it would mean giving
up practically, all my war work. II
would mean leaving a field where ]
feel L can best serve my country, tc
engage in a contest, which If success.
full would bring with it much honor
Therefore, in view of all the ~circum.
stances l cannot accept the nomina.
ton to congress as l feel there are
hundreds of good citizens who car
fill that position with greater credit
to the state than myself. While I be.
lieve that I can be Of greater service
in continuing to speak on the war be
fore the people Of my country.
1T has been impressed upon m,
with considerable force, that this op
p%ortunity may never come again no
the honor conferred. While appre.
ciating this view point and ASSUMING
its correctness, IL after the years havl
passed a look back and feel tina
my decision was for the best interest
of, our boys in the trenches and al
our people at home, 1 shall be salts
fled. ..,' ~ 80.
Il am willing to serve my. countr,
in any capacity. There is a letter OF
file in Washington, which authorizes
the government to call me into an,
service, from carrying the gun in tn,
trenches to the work I am now doing
Beyond the draft g l have place.
my services at the disposal Of M,
country.
will you please thank the com
ynittee selected to notify me of thi
high honor of which you are tn
chairman and I sincerely trust tina
after a consideration of these fact
they will concur in my decision
Again thanking you for an homo
at a convention at which I was no
present, I am
Faithfully your friend.
81 r n 0~'ConoopN