A. Shurman to Richard Yates

Evening Journal Office

Chicago, Jan 2, '65

My Dear Hopkins:

I was surprised to learn to day that the story has been set afloat among the friends of Gov. Yates, at Springfield, that I have been among the opponents and slanderers of that honorable gentleman. I wish you would do me the kindness to see the Governor at the earliest opportunity, and say to him, for me, that any such representation, in respect either to myself or the Journal office, is utterly and wickedly false, and I desire him to know and understand that it is so before the decision

of the pending contest for the Senatorship. Any one who may have asserted that I have ever uttered an unfriendly word in reference to the Governor, or any one who construes or misconstrues anything that I have ever said or written, as inimical to him, or as designed to bear unfavorably to him, does me gross injustice, and I desire now and here to correct it. I wish to be understood. Whether Gov. Yates is elected or not, no candid man will dare accuse me of having been among those who arrayed themselves against him. I wish you would say this to him. Gov. Yates has always been friendly to me, and I do not wish him to think for a moment

that ingratitude or an ungentlemanly disposition is a part of my nature.

I presume this story was invented by those who are opposing my appointment to the position of penitentiary Commissioner, the object being to provoke Gov. Yates to interfere against me. I trust that he has not been induced to do so. I should feel very sorry if he had.

I should like Gov Yates' influence to help me get this appointment. His friends & supporters are my friends & supporters. You, Mr. Bangs, Mr. Forrest, & Eastman - who are the Governor's friends - Know that I am not an opponent of his.

Respectfully yours,

A. Shurman

A. Shurman of the Evening Journal