Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 220, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1919 — COL. HEALEY NOT A CANDIDATE [ARTICLE]

COL. HEALEY NOT A CANDIDATE

ISSUES STATEMENT GIVING REASONS WHY HE CANNOT MAKE RACE. Col. George H. Healey, for many years editor of The Republican and recently discharged from the United States aFiny after “serving for “almost three years with the colors, and in whose behalf friends had started a boom to secure the republican nomination for governor, has determined that he can not make the campaign and in the following statement eliminates himself from further consideration; To republican voters of Indiana: It is timely that I should make a statement-relating to the suggestion coming from several sections of the state and supported ardently by many friends in Jasper and adjoining counties, that I make the race for the republican nomination for governor. In the outset I wish to say that I haye never been able to seriously consider such a step and that now, on the verge of entering t business that wll consume all of my time, I can not give any thought to matters that would detract seriously from my attention to business. It is, therefore, my duty to ask that no further consideration—he_ -given —£o_ me. I wish to thank those who have given suggestion or impetus to the proposal and to say that I am fully appreciative of the high compliment contained in their efforts in my behalf. ,If I may be excused for further extending this statement, I wish to say that during the months I was in active military service, which concluded with ten months’ service in France, I had only one viewpoint and that was rendering to the United States the best service of which I was capable and in qualifying those whom I had the honor to command to best serve-%nd to best understand the high motives that prompted Niberty-loving America to pnt.pr the war. In this effort I

found a marvellous response from the officers and men of my regiment, and also from the brigade which I commanded for more. than six months. This statement would be a bit aside from the text of my present duty were it not for the contingent effort I made during the past three years to - consider constructively every problem. confronting us as a. state and nation. I do not say this with any egotism, but during all the months of service in the training camp and the varied duties ,in France b observed and questioned and thought and studied with a view to forming opinioiis on every subject confronting America and the world. I did not do this with a view to becoming a candidate for any office and I have never to any person said that I was in any sense a candidate. The highest duty of citizenship is service. It justifies sacrifice. It influences with powerful favor the processes bf development that are awakened especially following a great crisis like the one just passed. It should solve to realize the highest opportunities that will be evolved from the woe and destruction and deviltry of war. To be a factor in any capacity in shaping the destiny of a nation is a high honor apd I am quite willing to admit that the suggestion of friends that I be a candidate for the highest office in Indiana was pleasing to me, but I nav® responsibilities that must be my firsi, consideration and these preclude me from engaging in a campaign that would jeopardize the interests of family and future. , , m Tt will be recalled, also, that four years ago I gave to Warren T. McCray my ardent support. He is again a camdidate and I am sure the reasons I ’urged ot that time_in his behalf are still sound and that he will conduct a winning campaign and justify the confidence I feel m him in his administration of the

office. It is quite certain that my reentry into business will take me to a new field and if this is the* case I will none the less have a deep interest in the welfare of every person whose friendship I have had m this dear old home town. I have made enemies here because I sustained policies that I deemed just, hut I hear no., ill feeling toward a single person. I have always had a vision of a greater Rensselaer. It is clearer to me now than ever nofore. During the past three weeks I have had an opportunity to compare it with a good many other cities of its class and J am certain that none have quite the future* that Rensselaer has. Let every person consider its future with an increasing confidence.