The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1897-09-09
GOV. TAYLOR AND
THE SENATORSHIp.
A Garbled Interview Forces the
Executive to Talk.

1 would not be a candidate against
Senator Bate, nor did l say l would be
candidate if Senator Tprley stood for
reelection.
81 did not say in that conversation,
which was private, with no thought or
dream of its being published, that 1
could not run against Mr.. Turley, whom
I had appointed.
"In making the appointment Of a
United States senator l did say I was
determined that Mr.. Bate and his
friends should not have grounds to say
I had taken advantage of him and made
the appointment in his own district to
forward my own ambition.
eff I fight Mr.. Bate will fight him
as 1 always have fought him-under q
clear sky and in an open field. Inever
handicap my competitor.
THE SUN INTERVIEW.
The idterview published in the Sun
follows:
1t is by no means certain that I shall
be a candidate for the United States
senate. While, Of course, it is natural
that I should desire to round out my
political career by being elected to the
senate, there are weighty reasons that
deter me from seeking such an honor.
In the first place, / am heartily tired
of politics. l am sincere when / say
that politics, with its personalities and
its acrimony, has grown to be extreme
ly distasteful to me. I have tried the
lecture platform and I find it more
peaceful and inviting than politics.
Then, too, I have an ambition to be
great orator. would rather have the
reputation of Bob Ingersoll than to
hold any office in the gift of the people
As lecturer was supremely happy,
and it is pursuit for which I am not
only fitted, but which thoroughly en-
joy. I do not enjoy being governor.
Sometimes l think its duties and re-
sponsibilities are more than can
stand. The public can never know the
worries and heart-burnings I have un-
dergone since my Inauguration. / said
some time ago that was going to re-
sign. was sincere in that. / long TO
throw away the cares and responsible
ties of pblic Office and mount the
platform I love sowell.
Again, there is another side of the
matter. can not live on the salary l
receive as governor. just before I was
nominated last year I was offered con-
tract by a reliable and responsible
syndicate which would have paid me
$1O0 night for 15O lectures. II I had
DECLINED THE NOMINATION
and accepted the contract offered by
the syndicate I would have made $15,-
900 during the past season. The same
offer was open to me again this year, SO
may say that my acceptance of the
gubernatorial nomination has cost me
$50, 900.
am q poor man and, of course, this
was fearful sacrifice to make l made
the race for governor from sense OF
duty to my party, which in the past
had been SO kind to me. or course, to
have been elected governor Of Tennes-
see for third time is an honor which
can not be measured by dollars and
cents, and only mention the financial
sacrifices have made because it rend-
ers me unable to enter long and bit
terly contested race for the senate.
Aside from the natural distaste fee
against entering such a contest, from 8
financial standpoint 1 am unable to af
ford it. 1t would be inevitable that I
race for the senate against Senator Bat'
would be long and severe struggle
| Even if I felt certain that l could wiz
in such contest Iwould be averse Il
engaging in it. 1 will not say, how
ever, that shall not be candidate. I
depends largely upon contingenc.
which may or may not occur.
Under no circumstances will l be
candidate against Senator Turley. FL
is my appointee and l should conside
it a breach of propriety to enter tn
!, lists against him. However, il Senate
: Turley were not candidate, it is pot
!. sible that might ask
THIS ADDITIONAL HONOR
from the people Of Tennessee, althoug
it is by no means certain,
lam in absolute ignorance of Senate
Turley's designs. I have never hear
n a word from him in regard to his il
is tentioDs. I appointed him without q
n intimation from himself or his frient
: as to whether or not he would be = ca
$ didate to succeed himself. / exactt
e no promise from him and expects
;, none. He is entirely free TO act. I q
J pointed him from the best and pure
= motives and without single thougl