The age-herald., 1900-03-22
FULLY EXPLAINS HIS ACTION In a Signed Statement He Re- bukes the Governor EUT TWO CANDIDATES NOW LEFT The Action ot General Oates Was Not Great Surprise as Many of
 His Friends Had Ex-
 pected It.
EuT TWO CANDIDATES NOW LEFT

Age-Herald Bureau, Hotel MaDsoh, Mohl- gomery, March 21.-(Special,) ,)-General Will liam c. Oates tonight announced his With ,1ra wal from the race for the democratic nomination for United States senator. Since the death of Colonel John D. Roque- more the withdrawal of General oates leaves but two candidates In the senatorlai race-senator John T. Morgan and Gov ernor Joseph F. Johnston.
 The withdrawal of General Oates creates but little surprise here, for to his friends General Oates has repeatedly stated that he realized the fight to be a personal one between Morgan and Johnston, and that he preferred the reelection of Senator Nor gan. After a conference with his friends today he finally decided to withdraw
 General Oates Letter
 General Oates stated to representative of The Age-Herald that since his with drawal he would, so far possible, throw his strength to Senator Morgan, and that he proposed to take the stump in Senator Morgans behalf. He will make a number of speeches in the Wire Grass section.
  withdrawing his name from the race:
 "To the Democrats of Alabama:
 When I announced my candidacy for United States Senator I had no appre- henson of the conditions which have since developed. I felt that my services to my state, my country and my people in war and in peace entitled me to seek and re- ceive from them liberal support for one of the highest offices in their gift. l knew that Senator Morgan was a candidate to succeed himself, and that he justly stood high in the affections and confidence of the people, I supposed that generous and friendly rivalry between us would ensue in which great national questions would be discussed before the poole of the state, and that I might have a fair opportunity of be- ing elected. Subsequently Governor John ston announced himself as a candidate for senator, and having control of the party or ganization in many of the counties he en- tered vigorously upon an active campaign.
 "On the Eth of October. under the pre- text of giving to the people glowing ac- count of the great things he claimed 10 have done as governor, he published an i'm mense circular letter filled with unwarrant- ed assumptions and vain boasting of his wonderful achievements By inuendos he attempted unjusty to reflect discredit upon my administration as his immediate pre- descessor In the office of Governor. lie as- sailed Morgan's record as senator, charged him with inefficiency and holding the Nicar- agua canal scheme a lure to secure his ra.election and both of us he condemned for favorng the holding of constitutional convention, notwithstanding he must have known that it was desired merely to se- cure much needed and wholesome changes in the fundamental law of the state. I suspect that his sensitiveness was mainly attributable to our non-concurrence in his marplotic work to keep the people from an expression of their preference at the polls for or against the convention.
 The Governors scheme
 '"The governor, by his we'll devised screen, intended to identify, as far as practicable, Senator Morgan and myself in the issues of the campaign, and so far succeeded that the supporters Of each or us are certainty opposed to him.
 'Tn November the campaign opened ac- lively in North Alabama with joint discus sions between the senator and governor, in which there were some sharp and unpleas- ant criticisms. The warmth of these de- bates gave emphasis to an opinion, then rapidly developing in that section of the state. that the chief contest for senator would be between those two gentlemen. 1 addressed a circular letter to you briefly defining my views touching the principal political topics claiming the attention or the public At that time and for several weeks thereafter my prospects Of election were not at all discourag1ng.
 'I reasonably antlclpdleu cdIfylHS nearly all the counties of the Third congressional district and all of the Wire Grass counties of South Alabama, which would have given me in the democratic legislative caucus at least twenty-two votes, to which expected to add seven or eight more from other counties This would have been large and respectable minority, and would doubt less have constituted the balance of pow CT But now the contest seems to have narrowed down nearly all over the state to Morgan and Johnston, and is not gov erned by any national question or state policy, favored approved or opposed by either, but is largely personal.
 Caused Embarrassment
 "A considerable number of prominent gentlemen who have always been my friends and active supporters heretofore nave at different times request ed me not to run ticket i'm their respective counties. which com pletely handicapped me- Of several in- ulrired, Why not run me and let Morgan's s friends, who are not as numerous as mine fin your county, vote for me?' My friends reply that I am still their preference. but fine opposition to Governor Johnston cannot afford to divide, and that there are free silver democrats and populists who would vote for Morgan, but would not vote for me. because he is more ultra free silver