Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-04-29
SAVAGE PULLS OUT
Governor Formally Announces Els With
drawal as Candidate.
WILL NOT BE BEFORE STATE CONVENTION
Declares Action Prompted to Relieve
Friends Of Embarrassment.
TILL DEFENDS PARDON OF BARTLEY
State Press Had Made His denomination
Practically Impossible,
PUNCTURE OF REIMBURSEMENT YARN
Public withdrawal Not Entirely I'm
expected, Yet Hardly Looked
for at so Early
Date.


LINCOLN. April 2s.-(special)-Gover-
race for denomination. his formal an
rouncement having been made public late
this afternoon. This movement has not
been unexpected, and the general express
sion is that IL relieves the governors
friends from much embarrassment. The for
NAL announcement is as follows:
Executive Chamber Lincoln, Nebraska.
1t now seems TO be the proper time to
announce as nnal my decision IN regard TO
being candidate for denomination for the
office Of governor.
After thoughtful considerable of the
matter ! have concluded 1t best not to fur
ther embarrass my loyal friends and more
the field, thus standing In the way of
some one who could bring more peace and
harmony into the convention.
give the state an honest. strong and eco
nomical administra ton. Looking back over
the year already spent as Nebraskas chief
change one important official act.
My action in committing the sentence of
| many, most of whoru are less conversant
with the facts than and to most of whom
opinions now state frankly that
vii with all 1.-the the results results OF that act before before
Fully apprecatlng the honor of being
the governor OF great state, and of hav-
through many avenues. under existing cir
cumstances hereby announce myself not
a candidate for office.
Hoping TO see some strong. honorable
republican nominated and elected as my
successor and. with malice toward none
and charity for all, l am, respectfully,
'E. p. SAVAGE"
Expected to Come Later.
While the elimination of Governor Savage
| from the list Of candidates before the re-
| publican state convention was hardly ex-
pected at this time II is known that con-
| siderable influence has been exerted upon
| him by political friends and influential
| party leaders to bring about this result,
which was confidently expected would be
| accomplished before the time set for the
| nomination.
| Ever since the pardon OF BARLEY was an
nounced the republican press of the state
has been almost unanimous In declaring
that the governor mad by that action
made his nomination politically impossible
and the decided stand taken by many OF the
most outspoken party organs indicated that
| oven II nominated he would lack the
hearty support necessary to election. Not
withstanding the adverse conditions Cover
nor Savage had up to within a very few
! days repeatedly reiterated his intention to
| stand before the convention and ask an en-
| dorsement OF his official record. His origi-
nal announcement OF his candidacy was
made nearly a year ago, within few
months after he had succeeded to the exc
cutive chair, vacated by the promotion OF
| Governor Dietrich to the United States
senate.
stories which Have Been Rife.
Following upon his release OF Bartley.
gossip was rife that the consideration had
been promises of political support from
people interested in Bartley's freedom, in
cluding certain large railroad corporations.
When 1t became apparent that these prom
ises were not to be fulfilled intimations Of a
| new campaign upon the issue OF railroad
| taxation came from the executive mansion
but while the plan outlined was disclaimed
by the governor as coming from him. he
yet expressed Shis sympathy with the
idea.
Another story was to the effect that Bart
Icy and his friends would startle the state
on the eve OF the republican convention by
paying into the state treasury the cash. the
$500 O00 for embezzlement Of which he had
been convicted, relying on the momentum
OF the reimbursement to carry the COVER
nor into unanimous denomination. That
this story was the work OF more or less
fervid naginatlons was plainly dscernlble
all the time, and is cllnched by the gov
ernor's withdrawal.
What effect the new turn will have on
the political chessboard is not easy to fore
cast. People here think the atmosphere
will be clarified noticeably within the next
few days Five OF six aspirants for gov
ernor are already In the field and may be
expected 20 increase their activity. None
OF the county conventions have yet been
held and only a few have been called. The
state convention is set for June is aAd is
sure to precipitate a brisk competition for
Governor Savage's succession.