The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-03-04
Senator Spooner, Of Wis.
COnsin, Resigns.
TO PRACTICE LAW.
For Is Years he Has Been One Of
(he Most Prominent Republic
ans in the Senate.


Spooner has written letter to Gov.
Davidson, Of Wisconsin, rendering his
resignation as n senator of the United
states, TO take effect May 1 next. The
letter was dated Saturday, but the fact
that such letter had been written or
that Mr.. Spooner contemplated resign.
ing did not become known in the sen.
ate until late Sunday, when it created
great surprise and the Wisconsin sen.
ator found himself the subject of
many 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 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
declined 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
lives.
Senator Spooner in his letter TO the
governor Of Wisconsin says:
"On the 4th day of March | shall
have served in all 16 years as II sena-
tor This is long time for one.
neither willing nor financially able
permanently to abandon it, TO take
from his profession. IL has been taken
from mine, for have not thought It
compatible with the full discharge OF
public duty TO pursue It, and ] have,
therefore, during my service, with Two
or three trifling exceptions, purely To-
cal. absolutely abstaincd therefrom.
For years private duty has plainly
demanded OF me an early return to the
practice OF my profession. and | have
never since | last took the oath of Of
fee wavcred in the determination 10
retire from public life on the cxpira.
tion OF my present term. March J.
1909. ] might well content myself
with public declaration of my pur-
pose so to retire IL II were not for a
like declaration made on Il former and
similar occasion. and what followed
It. In the year 1900 ] announced
through the press over my signature
10 the republicans of Wisconsin that
had unaltersbly determined to retire
from public life at the expiration Of
the term ending March .. 1903. unless
] should deem IL my duty 10 resign at
an earlier date. justified the an.
nouncement so long in advance upon
the ground that the people, and those
who might aspire to tho Office. were
entitled scasonably to know from me
that would not accept reelection.
Despite the declaration, crcum.
stances, with which the people of the
state are familiar, and which need not
be here recounted, seemed TO make il
my duty 10 accept a reelection. prof
fered as II was in manner which rcn.
dered It at once command and
finer honor than any which / had ever
dreamed would come to me; one in
deed which ought to satisfy the pride
and ambition of any man. A similar
declaration by me at this time, how
ever strongly phrased tand 1t could
not be more strongly phrased, would.
! am persuaded, prove unavailing to
withdraw my name from consideration
during the next two years as did that
which 80 publicly made in 1900.
"As my purpose to retire from pub.
lie life Is irrevocable, ] am unwilling
to be further considered in connection
with an ofiice which ] could not ac-
ccpt."
Milwaukee. March f.-The an
nouncement from Washington that
Senator Spooner had sent his resigna-
tion to Gov. Davidson to take effect
on May next came as n complete
surprise throughout Wisconsin. Gov.
Davidson, when communicated with
over the long distance telephone Sun
day afternoon, said he had not yet re-
ceived the resignation and could
hardly believe it to be true. AS to
Senator Spooner's successor, Gov.
Davidson said that 1t would be left to
the present legislature. which is now
in session.
Lively times are expected in the
Wisconsin legislature from now on,
and II is expected that before many
hours elapse there will be many can
dtdates In the field for the unexpired
term OF Senator Spooner.
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