The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-28
BRANTLEY DECLINES
HE WILL NOT MAKE THE RACE
FOR GOVERNOR.
WANTS A SOUTH GEORGIA MAN
WHY HE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN
SECTIONALISM.

The Popular Congressman From the
Eleventh District Gives Ont a
Statement in Which He Sets All
RumOrs at Rest-Appreciates the
Many Evidences of Friendship
and Esteem and Offers of support
but Feels That His Hest Work
Can he Done and That His Duty
Lies in His Present Field.
Brunswick Ga, July 27.-Congress-
man Brantley to-day sets at rest all
rumors regarding his proposed candi-
dacy by issuing a written statement
in which he declines to run for Gov
ernor and at the same time makes a
powerful plea for a South Georgia man.
The statement reads as follows:
II am not candidate for Governor,
and will not be. / would like very
much to see a Governor elected from
our end of the state. but situated as
am, the real inducement to me to con-
slider at all. the question of becoming
candidate. would be on the idea of
locating TIE Governor in South Geor-
gia. My name, however, is but one of
several from South Georgia, suggested
for the office, so that this inducement
does not seem to exist, and no duty
appears to rest upon me in this re-
gard to become a candidate. / do
not believe in sectionalism, nor do I
think any man should be elected Gov
ernor who would be sectional in ad-
ministering the duties of that high Of
nee; but, because | am opposed to sec
tionalism, / am in favor of a South
Georgia candidate, for 1 do not believe
that any worse form of sectionalisnn
could exist than that which, for so
many long years. has prohibited at all
times one great portion of this state
from furnishing a Governor. SO far
from favoring sectionallsm, am so
| opposed to it that ! want to see IL
wiped out forever and l know of no
better way to wipe ii out than for
the balance of the state now
and then TO unite with us in selecting
Governor from South Georgia. The
sentiment against the sectionalism that
mas so long operated against us is not
confined alone to South Georgia, but
exists In growing strength in North
and Middle Georgia, and sooner or later
that which is so justly due us in this
particular will be accorded to us.
His Field of Usefulness.
I'm announcing that will not be a
candidate 1 want to say further that
am Influenced to do so not alone be-
cause l discern no duty calling me to
such candidacy, but because so many
of my friends in the Eleventh congress
sional district have manifested to me
their belief that my greatest field of
usefulness at this time is in the posi-
tion / now hold, and have asked me
not to abandon it in order to run for
Governor. The evidence of esteem and
confidence that have accompanied
these requests establish their sincerity
| beyond all question and make them a
law unto me. The sincere friendship
thus shown is more gratifying to me
than l can express and moves me to
sense of appreciation too deep to
describe.
II want to say, too, that the fiatter-
ing mention Of my name for Governor,
the cordial reception it has received
and the many voluntary offers of sup
port that have come to me from all
over Georgia have each and all been
deeply gratifying to me, and while for
the reasons already given cannot en-
ter the race for Governor, can draw
from these testimonials of esteem and
good will inspiration and encourage
ment for more and better work in my
present field. not only on behalf of
my immediate constituents, but as well
on behalf CT our entire state. of which
there is no more loyal part than South
Georgia"