The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-03-08
SENATOR SPOONER
HAS RESIGNED
SAYS HIS FINANCIAL SACRA-
flee WAS TOO GREAT.
Has Decided to Resume Practice Of
Law, but Would Not Say Where
Continues to Be a Citizen Of Wis
consin-He Is Regarded as Most
Able Republican in Senate.

Able Republican in Senate.
Senator John G. Spooner has writ |
ten a letter to Governor Davidson of
Wisconsin rendering his resignation
as senator of the United States, to
take effect May l next. The letter
created great surprise in the senate,
and the Wisconsin senator at once
found himself the subject of many
anxious inquiries. To all these he re-
FLIED that his mind was fully made up.
He had found he said, that to con-
tinue in his present position would
require sacrifice on his part that he
could not Justify himself in making.
In reply to questions he said he would
resume the practice Of law, but de-
clined to say whether he would be
located in Wisconsin. He did say,
however, that he would continue to be
citizen of that state as long as he
lived.
Vice President Fairbanks was one
of the few public men to be made ac-
quainted with Mr.. Spooner's plans be-
fore he wrote his letter. The knowl-
edge came to him through the per-
sonal confidence Of the senator. but
the latter made no official communica-
ton on the subject to any one. The
law does not require that resigning
senator should do more than Mr..
Spooner has done, but some senators
who have resigned have given notice
| to the senate.
Senator John c. Spoor er is regard
ed by many political writer's and stu
dents as the most able republican in
the senate today. H. has more than
national fame as a constitutional law
yer. In debates involving the most
important party issues in the past it
almost invariably fell to the lot of
Senator SpoOner to direct the debate
for his side and to make the principal
speeches. He is chairman Of the COM
mittee on rules of the senate
and a member of the finance, foreign
relations and judiciary committees.
Senator Spooner in his letter to the
governor says:
Il hereby resign the Office of SEN
ator of the United States for Wiscon-
sin, this resignation to take effect
on the first day of May, 1907.
Both by law and custom the fore
going formula suffices, but can not
bring myself to surrender the trust
with which Wisconsin has so long and
so highly honored me by curt sen
tence which includes not a word eli
Their of explanation or of gratitude.
ION the 4th day of March l shall
have served in all 16 years as a sen
ator This is long time for one
neither willing nor financially able
permanently to abandon it to take
from his profession. 1t has been taken
from mine, for l have not thought it
compatible with the full and uninter
rupted discharge IF public duty to pur
sue it, and l have therefore during
my service, with two or three trif1ine
exceptions, purely local. absolutely
, abstalned therefrom.
For years private duty has plainly
| uSllldAuCu VI llC al cal ~ ICtuI IL " Iie
practice of my profession, and l have
never since | first took the oath o.
Office wavered in the determination tt
retire on the expiration of MY presen
, term, March 4, 1907 l might wei
, content myself with public declara
, ton of my purpose so to retirs
; were it not for a like declaration made
| q Gil cinu q
what followed it. In the year 1900
= announced through the press over m!
signature to the republicans Of Wis
p consin that had unaltera6ly deter
mined to retire from public life a
g the expiration of the term endin:
March 4, 1903, unless l should deem i
Z | my duty to resign earlier. l justified
q the announcement upon the groun'
n that the people who might aspire t.
the office were entitled seasonably t.
g know from me that would not accep
h a reelection. Despite that declaration
circumstances with which the peopl
;. are familiar seemed to make it m
;. duty to accept a reelection, proffere,
4 as it was in a manner which made
=. almost command and finer homo
i than any which l had ever dreamed
q which ought to satisfy the pride an
!. ambition of any man. A similar dee
d laration by me at this time, howeve
strongly phrased, would, l am PEI
suaded, prove unavailing to WITHDRAW
my name from consideration durin
n the next two years, as did that whic
o so publicly and unreservedly mad
. il 1900.
G 'As my purpose to retire from pull
p lie life is and has been irrevocable,
O am unwilling to be further considere
" in connection with an office which
; could not in the circumstances al
q cept."
e. Surprise in Wisconsin.
The announcement that John
Spooner of Wisconsin had resigne
came as a surprise in Wisconsin. Co
% ernor Davidson said he could hardl
n beneve it to be true. AS to Senate
Q Spooner's successor, Governor Davi(
l. son said it would be left to the preser