The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1900-01-18
TREASURER CRAIG TALKS
Clear and Convincing Statement of His
Position Regarding Resignation.

IIe0I ana convincing statement OF His
Position Regarding Resignation,
The Chattanooga News of Wednes-
day printed the following interview
with the Hon. E. B. Craig, in reply to
questions put by one of its reporters;
81 have never attempted to use my
office for any political purpose, in the
interest of any man or any faction
When thought Of resigning my office
some weeks ago no question OF politics
moved me. Ny course was simply die
tated by my desire to do the best thing
possible in financial sense for my
wife and children. l had no idea of
my intentions being misconstrued, and
l regret that some newspapers and pub
lie men have impunged my motives.
"The morning l got the offer from
the Virginia Iron. Coal & Coke Co.
went Immediately to the governor s
Office to lay the matter before him and
discuss my acceptance of the position.
The governor was not in his office at
the time; hence ] could not see him.
Later l went to the office of Judge Jno.
w. Chilress and requested him to ac-
company me to the governors room at
the Tulane. He readily complied, and
he heard every word that passed be-
Gov, McMillin and myself on the sub
ject In that interview ! acquainted
the chief executive with the offer had
received, and told him in all probabili-
ty l would resign as state treasurer to
accept it. My only request was that in
case resigned the governor should ap-
point some one of his friends who was
in sympathy with the line of policy i
have pursued in my Office. Knowing
the warm friendship that existed be-
tween Gov. McMillin and Hon. W. NJ.
Brandon, I suggested his name in con-
nection with my successorship and re-
quested his appointment. I did this
for two reasons. Mr.. Brandon is in
sympathy with the policies l have pur-
sued in the Office, and is also warm
personal and political friend of Gov.
McMillin. So far as demanding that
he be appointed, 1 certainly have too
much sense to make such q demand
upon the governor, This was all that
passed between us, and Judge Childress
heard every word of the interview.
81 am in possession of many letters
from the best business men of state and
some of the states creditors in other
states, indorsing my position, I think
/ am justified in all l have done. The
policies l have pursued in the conduct
of the office have met the Endorsement
of the people, and of the best fnanciers
in New York, and had only the inter
est of the state at heart in asking that
some man be appointed my successor
who understands and indorses the
policies l have found 30 successful. /
did not seek to dictate the appointment
Of Mr.. Brandon; simply indorsed him
for the place in case Of my resignation.
81 had no intimation from the gov
ernor as to what he would do-expected
none. When the story started that
politics was at the bottom of the matter
l went to New York to confer with the
officials Of my company. did not
want to resign with any suspicion Of
politics attached to the resignation
My official course has been indorsed
by the people of my state so thorough
ly that I could not think of having my
last official act subject to the criticism
that was appearing in the press of the
state. My company, when made ac-
quainted with the situation, advised
that serve out my term as state treas
urer, agreeing that selct any man I
wanted to act for me as treasurer of the
company until the end Of my term.
have selected W. r. Wills, my deputy
commissioner of insurance, who has
been elected assistant treasurer Of the
company, and Mr.. Wills left Nashville
yesterday for Bristol to assume his
duties. He is one of the best young
business men in the state, and can dis
charge the duties of the Office as salts
factorily as I could myself.
"I will continue as treasurer of the
state to the end of my term, and will
give the office in the future as close at
tention as / have in the past. At the
end of my official term L will move to
Bristol to discharge my duties there, "
Mr.. Craig left at 9:55 o'clock this
morning for Bristol, after passing
few hours with his Chattanooga friends
and admirers.