Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1902-08-21
HENRY WATTERSON
In An Able Editorial Declines to Make
the Race 70 Governor Of Kentucky.
lCourier-Journall.
Exclusively Personal. ,.
To the Democrats Of Kentucky


Since 30 much has been said { n
the subject without authorization
of mine, it seems proper that |
should in some public manner de-
clare that | shall not be a candi-
date for Governor of Kentucky.
When the suggestion was origi.
nally made gave it entertainment
and consideration. 1t was repre-
ssnted to me that il l consented l
might rely upon substantial una
nimity in the nominating conven.
ton. and although l am too old a
hand at the bellows to take stock
in any such nonsense I confess
that the thought of uniting the
party in u new departure on high,
broad lines Of public policy. lift.
ing the State out OF the ruts Of
faction and restoring il to its for
mer place at the head of the mar.
ching column of National Democ-
racy was not without its allure
msnts to one who has always held
Office, and officialism in all its
fol ms, 10 sincere aversion. There
was especial attraction in the idea
OF going out among the Democrats
Of Kentucky, aud from one end Of
the State to another proclaiming
the doctrines of the Father Of De
mocracy rs the sole hope Of the
future of the party; Of meeting
all corners fsss to face in the sub-
sanitation Of lraths, in the de-
nunciation of falsehood, and In
the defence of my own record, and
by direct appeal. addressed to the
good sense and good feeling, the
higher nature and the loftier as.
piration of the people, to win q
vote of confidence after lifetime
of arduous, disinterssted service
| did not doubt what their verdict
would be after they had heard me,
nor do l doubt this now.
| think | know the Democrats
of Kentucky we'll. They are a
cranky lot; but am something OF
a crank myself. We have had our
ups and downs. They will give
me credit at least for padding my
own canoe. Whether in the mat
ter of 1896 they were right, or l
was right, We all paid the penalty.
IL they were right they whipped
me, and as on a certain occasion
old Sam Houston observed, they
whipped me good" That ought
to satisfy them Ii l was right.
and they whipped me wrongfully,
Heaven knowns l forgive them. .
Many things have happened
since then. Many things are like
ly to happen before the end of the
chapter. In my appointed sphere
and place l will endsavor to lead,
as have always lead, with the
fear of God before me, answsrable
at all times only to God and my
own conscience.
Preferment is not for me.
Brought to the point where must
look the situation full in the eye,
l am appalled, BY the conditions
which the successful candidate for
Office must meet and overcome;
the rogues and cheats he must
court or cozen; the ssrvility he
must effect, or practice, the obi
cations incur; the personal solicit
tation, ignoble and humiliating;
the use of money no less corrupt
and corrupting; for. though he
have an overwhelming majority of
the people at his back there stands
the machine, first to be captured
and then to be deploye cd, with all
that this implies.
Although l never had a ma
chine l am not stranger, either
to the character or the efficacy of
machine methods. Nor do l lack
some points of vantage in case l
Il ~ oanat-.r - A. .x..L:. r.