The Helena Independent

HAS NOT BEEN ASKED,

National Committeeman Botkin and the Question of His Resignation.

For some days eastern and western papers have contained in their dispatches statements to the effect that the Harrison people were anxious to have National Committeeman Botkin, of Montana, resign, to fill his place with Land Commissioner Carter, and then make the latter chairman of the national committee. The following from the Pioneer Press gives the situation as it is seen by its correspondent at Washington:

"There has been a deal of discussion to-day over what should now be done in regard to the national republican committee. The best suggestion yet made is that Committeeman Botkin, of Montana, resign his place and allow the state central committee to select Commissioner Carter for the place, and then he would be made chairman of the national committee, which would be a great honor for the new state. It may be that it is now too late for action of this kind, yet it is certain that if Carter had been placed on the national committee by the Montana delegation he would now be its chairman and there never would have been any of this trouble over the resignation or declination of Campbell, of Illinois. It may be that the executive committee will go outside of the membership of the national committee for the chairman, in which case Carter would probably be selected. It is stated here by persons acquainted with Montana politics that Botkin would not get out of Carter's way and that he is really opposed to the president, and even sent his proxy to Sanders because he did not want to give Carter much consideration."

Col. Botkin, after reading the above yesterday, said that he had received no official or direct information that his resignation was desired. "When I was in Minneapolis," said the colonel, "a strong Blaine republican came to me and said there was a movement to have me resign and put Mr. Carter in place. Beyond this and the newspaper reports I know nothing. The position is not one I particularly desired, but I was unanimously chosen at Missoula and I am the net and only visible result of the Blaine sentiment in Montana."

The man who told me my place was wanted for Carter urged me not to resign.