Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1896 — BEN NOT A CANDIDATE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BEN NOT A CANDIDATE

INDIANA STATESMAN DECLARES • / HIMSELF. ■ ‘ i ‘ Harrison Writes a Letter to Chair mar Gowdjr of Indiana in Which He Declines to Have His Name Presented at the St. Louis Convention. White House Has No Charms; Gen. Harrison has given his final an- - awer. He will not allow bis. name to. go before the St. Louis convention. After a long.talk with prominent Indiana members of his party, he wrote the following letter to John K. Gowdy, chairman of the Indiana Republican committee: 1 “Hon. John K. Gowdy, Indianapolis, Ind.: In view of the 'resolutions passed by the State Central Committee at its recent meeting, and of the fact that delegates to the national Republican convention are soon to he chosen iii this State, I have concluded that some statement frotn me as to my wishes and purposes should now be made to ray Indiana friends. Hitherto I have declined to speak to the public upon this matter, but scores of friends to whom I have talked ana many scores more to whom I have written will recognize in this expression the substance of what I have said to them. To every one who has proposed to promote my nomination I have said ‘no.’ There never has been an hour since I left the White House that I have felt a wish to re-

turn to it. My Indiana friends have been most devoted and faithful, and I am their grateful debtor. The Republican party has twice in national convention given me its indorsement, and that is enough. I think the voters of our party are now entltled to have a new name. For the sentiment, great or small, that has been manifested for my nomination I am grateful; and of that wider respect and kindness — breaking party lilies—which have been shown me in so many ways, I am profoundly appreciative, “I connPt consent that my name be presented to or used in the St. J,ouis convention, and must kindly ask. my friends to accept this as a sincere and final expression on the subject. “BENJAMIN HARRISON.”

GENERAL HARRISON.