The Oskaloosa herald., 1907-03-07
.SPOONER RESIGNS
FROM THE SENATE
WISCONSIN STATESMAN is TO
RETIRE MAY I NEXT.
HIS LETTER TO GOVERNOR
Cannot Afford Longer to Serve Public
Action Causes Surprise
In His State and In
Washington.

Washington, March 4. - Senator
Spooner has written letter to Gov.
Davidson of Wisconsin rendering his
resignation as senator of the Unit
ed States to take effect May l next.
The letter was dated Saturday, but
the fact that such letter had been
written or that Mr.. Spooner contem-
plated resigning did not become
known in the senate until late Sunday,
when it created great surprise and
the Wisconsin senator at once found
himself the subject of many anxious
inquiries. To all he replied that his
mind was fully made up. He had
found, he said, that to continue in his
present position would require a sac
rifice on his part that he could not
| Justify himself in making.
In reply to questions he said he
would resume the practice of the law,
but declined to say whether he would
be located in Wisconsin. He did say
however, that he would continue to
be a citizen of that state as long as
he lives.
Vice President Fairbanks was one
of the few public men to be made
acquainted with Mr.. Spooner's plans
before he wrote his letter. The knowl-
edge came to him through the person
al confidence of the senator, but the
latter made no official communication
on the subject to either the senate or
&c, frpr off hn low n
no. require that a resigning senator
should do more than Mr.. Spooner has
done, but some senators who have re-
signed have given notice to the SEN
ate.
Text of the Letter.
Following is the text of Senator
Spooner's letter to the governor of
Wisconsin; .''i.-
Washington, D.. c., March 2, 1907.
The Honorable James o. Davidson,
Governor, Madison, Wis. Sir: Il
hereby resign the office of senator
of the United States from the state of
Wisconsin, this resignation to take
effect on the first day of May, 1907.
Both by law and custom the fore
going formula suff1ces, but l cannot
bring myself to surrender the trust
with which Wisconsin has so long
and so highly hon5red me by a curt
sentence, which includes no word eth
or of explanation or of gratitude.
"On the fourth day of March in
slant, shall have served in all six
teen years as senator. This is
long time for one, neither willing nor
financially able permanently to aban.
don it, to take from his profession. 1t
has been taken from mine, for have
not thought it compatible with the
full and uninterrupted discharge of
public duty to pursue it, and l have,
therefore, during my service, with two
or three trihing exceptions, purely
local, absolutely abstained therefrom.
Tried to Resign in 1908.
For years private duty has plainly
demanded of me an early return to
the practice of my profession, and l
have never since last took the oath
Of office wavered in the determination
to retire from public life on the ex-
piration of my present term, March
3, 1909. l might we'll content myself
with a public declaration of my pur-
pose so to retire if it were not for
like declaration made on former and
similar occasion, and what followed
1t.
"In the year 1900 announced
through the press over my signature
to the Republicans OF Wisconsin that
had "unalterably determined" to re-
tire from public life at the expiration
Of the term ending March 3, 1903,
unless should deem it my duty to re-
sign at an earlier date. justified the
announcement so long in advance
upon the ground that the people, and
those who might aspire to the office
were entitled seasonably to know
from me that l would not accept a re-
election. Despite that declaration,
circumstances, with which the people
Of the state are familiar, and which,
therefore, need not be here recounted,
seemed to make it my duty to accept
reelection, preferred as it was in a
manner which rendered 1t at once a
command and a finer honor than
any / had ever dreamed would
come to me; one indeed which
ought to satisfy the pride and am
bition of any man. A similar declara-
ton by me at this time, however
strongly phrased land it could not be
be more strongly phrased), would, |
am persuaded, prove unayailing to
withdraw my name from considera-
ton during the next two years as did
that which / SO publicly and unreserv-
eddy made In 1900.
Is Bound to Retire.
"As my purpose to retire from pub
lie life is and has been irrevocable,
am unwilling to be further consid-
cred in connection with an Office
which / could not in the circum-
stances accept.
A senator will be chosen for the
term beginning Oh the fourth of
March. 1909. and there will be. and
should be, during the next two years,
grave and wide consideration among
the people as to the person upon
whom the honor shall be bestowed.
After much thought deem 1t to be
4Lt..... :.