The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-17
NORTHEN FOR SENATOR.
he WILL NOT ACCEPT THE PREsI-
DHECY OF MERCER.

The Governor Has Not Announced
Himself Candidate for Colquitt's
Place, but His Declinstion Of the
Univsrsitys ProfFer Interpreted as
Meaning That He WIN Be in the
Race.
ATLANTA. GA, March i6.-Gov. Northeu,
in an interview with the MORNING NEWS
correspondents to-day, authorized thepub-
lication Of a statement which practically
announces his oAudidsoy for the United
States Senate 20 succeed Senator Colquitt.
The governor recently has been in receipt
Of letters from the trustees Of Mercer uni
versity of Macon, assuring him OF the presi-
dency OF that institution II he would accept
it. No formal tender OF the position has,
however, been made, but strong pressure
has been brought to bear upon the governor
TO induce him to yield TO tbe
call Of the university, and the
tender would then be made to him
upon his own terms There has also been
good deal Of newspaper publicity given to
the desire OF the Mercer trustees to secure
Gov. Northen for the presidency Of that in
stitution, and the silence Of the governor
has left the impression on the public mind
that there was a strong probability OF the
contamination Il the plan. IL Is we'll known
that Gov. Northen is devoted to the cause
Of education. His official career has been
marked in thls particular characteristic Of
the executive.
AN EDUCATOR ALL HIS LIFE.
All his life he has been a great practical
educator, and In view Of this fact the
presidency OF such an institution as Mercer
University where no studied and graduated,
his revered alma mater. ssem9d a fiJ posi-
ton for him on his retirement from the
gubernatorial chair, provided, OF course,
politics should have no further Allurements
10 tempt him, and no higher honors within
his reach. Siuce the published desire OF
Mercer to have him for president at the
expiration of his torn Of office as governor,
the plan being to keep the place open for
him until that time should arrive II he
should accept 1t, the governors silence
has been construed by a large portion
OF the public TO mean that he was giving
his future career very deep thought, and,
indeed, shis seems TO have been the case.
University presldenoies are not to be had
every day, but Gov. Northen has made up
his mind aud to-day authorized the state
ment made, that for reasons which he did
not explain, no could not consider the ac-
ceptRnce OF Meroer's presidency.
WHY HE SPEAKS NOW.
In discussing the situation he said such
statement coming before he had been for
mAlly rendered the position might be re-
garded as premature, but In his own mind
the situation warranted il. In the first place
the governor thought the university trus-
tees should understand his mind in order
that they might be free TO act In filing the
vacant presidency, and then, so frequently
had he been approached on the subject by
citizens whom, be said, he could not defln-
itely answer on account of the delicate posi-
ton IN which he was placed, he thought the
public was entitled to know what 20 expect
of him. During the interview with the
MORNING News correspondents Gov.
Northen did not refer to the sem
atorship or TO politics, but the cons
clusion Is readily drawn that
his positive refusal to consider the
presidency Of Mercer, an honor which he
admitted he would be proud Of means that
he is not yet done with politics. Gov.
Northen has made fine record as chief ex-
ecutive Of the state without making enc
mics. He has constantly increased In popu-
laritY with the people and politicians, and
his friends think he is the logical successor
TO Senator Col0uitt