Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-03-08
sin but could not say whether he would
have his business headquarters there.
Spooner's Letter to Governor.


In his letter to GOV. Davidson, Mr..
SpoOner writes:
WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 3.-To the
Hon. James o. Davidson, governor OF Wis
ConSin-Sir: | hereby resign the office of
senator of the United States from the state
of Wisconsin, this resignation TO take effect
on the list day of May, 1907.
Both by law and custom the foregoing
formula sutiiccs, but ! cannot bring myself
to surrender the trust with which WiScon-
sin has so long and so highly honored me
by curt sentence, which includes no word
either of explanation or Of gratitude.
On the fourth day of March, inst, snail
have served in all sixteen years as SEN
ntor. This is Il long time for one, neither
willing nor financially able permanently 10
abandon it, to take from his profession. 1t
has been taken from mine, for ! have not
thought it compatible with the full and I'M
interrupted discharge of public duty to pur-
sue it, and | have, therefore, during my
service, with two or three trihing excep--
tons, purely local, absolutely abstalned
thCrcfrom.
For years private duties have plainly de-
mandcd of me an early return to the prac-
tCc of my profession, and have never
since / last took the oath of office wavered
in the determination to retire from puphc
life on the expiration of my present term,
March 3, 1909. l might we'll content myselI
with Il public declaration of my purpose so
to retire if 1t were not for a like declara-
ton made on former and similar occa-
sion, and what followed 1t.
In the year 1900 l announced through the
press over my signature to the Republicans
of Wisconsin that | had "unalterably deter
mined" to retire from public life at the eX-
piratiou of the term ending March 3, 1908,
unless l should deem it my duty to resign
at an earlier date. | justified the announce
ment so long in advance upon the ground
that the people, and those who might
aspire to the Office, were entitled season
ably to know from me that l would not ac-
cept reelection. Despite that declara-
ton circumstances with which the people
of the state are familiar, and which there
fore need not be here recounted, seemed TO
make 1t my duty to accept reelection,
proffcred as 1t was In Il manner winch rem
dered 1t at once command ana nner
honor than any which | had ever dreamed
would come to me, one indeed which ought
to satisfy the pride and ambition of any
man.
however, strongly phraSed (and 1t could not
be more strongly phraSed) would, am per
suaded, prove unavailing to withdraw my
name from consideration during the next
two years than did that which l so pup
licly and unreServedly made In 1900.
AS my purpose to retire from public life
is and has been irrevocaDle, am unwilling
TO be further considered In connection with
an office which | could not IN the crcum-
stances accept.
A senator will be chosen for the term
beginning on the 4th of March, 1909, and
there will be- and should be, during the
next two years grave and wide considera-
ton among the people as to 10 the
After much thought | deem 1t to be my
duty, all things considered, to the people
partially l am indebted for the highest
honors within its gift to take myself now,
beyond recall from the field of possible
for the reasons suggested, but also that
may be free to devote to the discharge Of
private duty, too long neglected, the re
mainder of my term, to resign the Office
at this time, while the Legislature is III
session to choose Il senator for the uncX.
pired portion thereof
| avail myself of this opportunity to say,
albeit l am sure 1t is not needful, that
am inexpressbly grateful to the Repub.
leans of Wisconsin for the generous and
abiding confidence which has led them three
times to elect me to the high office of sen
"A tor Of the United States
| have the honor to be yours respectfully
Holm c. SPOONER,