The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-02-04
Ill HEALTH coMPELs CHIEF
EXECUTIVE or MONTANA
TO RETIRE.
MUST LEAVE STATE
Forced to Seek Rest n Lower climate.
He P~resents Resignation TO secre-
tary Of state and viii Reiinqulsh
Care OF Once to Lieutenant Cover.
Q Edwin 3. Norris, April 4.
From Sundays Daily.

--
From Sundays Daily.
Helena, Feb. 1.-Governor J.. X,
Toole today tendere his resignation
to Secretary Of State Yoder. to take
effect April i. He will be succeeded
by Edwin Norris Of DILLON, lieutenant
governor.
ernor Of Montana on the democratic
ticket. For some time his health has
been anything but satisfactory, and
It IL for this reason that . has re-
signed from term which will expire
March a, 1909.
Immediately after the taking effect
Of the resignation the governor will
leave for southern ~alifornia for the
benefit Of his health.
Governor Toole in speaking Of his
eason for resigning, spoke as fol-
lows: Z
MY resignation has been filed with
the secretary Of state to take effect
pril l.. At least that much notice,
1t would seem, is due to my successor.
who under the constitution must take
up his residence at the capital.
III Health the Cause.
:" have been out Of 1ea4th much
of the time for several years, and at
times have been obliged to draw too
heavily upon energies that ought to
have been conserved. have been adj
monished and believe that I ought to
spend four or five months at least In
a lower altitude, giving special atten-
ton to the regeneration OF my health.
Under the laws Of Montana (Secs. go
81. POLITICAL Code), the governor and
certain other enumerated state officers
are prohibited from a0senting them
selves from the state for more than
so consecutive days unless on bust
ness OF the state or with the consent
OF the legislative assembly,
1t may be that the legislature Ia
without authority to thus interfere
with the tenure Of an office created ny
the constitution. But IL 1T is compe..
tent to do so It is not improbable that
q plausible pretense might be invoked
to evade so stern a statute, however
wholesome 1t might proc in q par
ticular case. But, whether the law Is
right or wrong, wise or unwise, l have
no disposition to contest it's plain pro
visions or defeat its manifest mean
ing.
ut is not, however, without deep re-
greet that / surrender my commission
nine months before it's expiration and
sever official relations wluh M 3
ciates, who have been most helpful to
me In the transaction Of the public
business.
Ills Political Career.
Il am reminded at this time, and
may be pardoned fer recurring to the
fact, that my political life has coz
cred . wide range; twice district At.
torney. member 0. the legislature,
twice delegate to congress in territorial
days.; member OF the constitutional
convention that framed. the organic
law of the state, and with the excep-
ton of eight years, governor Of Mon.
tana since its admission into the
union. During my several terms a.
governor almost s--e entire body of ex-
listing laws has been enacted.
1T would be strange indeed II, dur
ing the last quarter Of a century. in
which party feeling has often run high,
mistakes have not been made and
criticism more or less deserved had
not followed; but, today, void Of all
animosities-perHonal, political or 9th
erwise-I find no comfort except In
peasant retrospect
Accomplishments Of 20 Years.
: behold q great sovereign state
1iourishing In this mountain land !
where less than 20 years ago local
sell-government was but q dream. A}
capitol building Of noble proportions
and superb appointments has been
erected, untouched by the breath Of
scandal, out Of the proceeds Of q ted.
eral land grant and practically with.
out cost to the state. A soldiers
home, educational, charitable. reform.
atory and penal institutions under
supervision SUFFICIENT in NUM-
bers and adequate in equipment for
many years to come are among the
monuments OF the generosity and
progress Of our citizens. and yet the
rate OF taxation for state purposes has
never exceeded AZ mills.
Ane reclamation Of vast tracts OF
arid land by q governmental system
Of irrigation and the successful dem.
OF dry land farming In va
sections Of tine stats ire making
homes for thousands and adding mil.
IONS Of do!iars annually TO our perma-
nent wealth.
"Our bann, national and state, are
FIRMLY anchored In the confidence Of
The people and have never for a mo-
nent staggered cnder the strain that
has lately fallen, on similar institu-
lions In other states.
Resources and Railroads.
two transcontinental railroads
span the state from east to west.
distance OF over 800 miles; q third is
half completed and q fo1ron .s not Inn
probable. soranch lines. built and pro
gridiron the cou-try north and
south. tapping the aRricu.tural. stock
and mineral belts. abounding
q gold. silver. copper. lead. zinc. iron
Ind coal and making accessible to
market the mighty forests Of timber
covering the We Tern slope Of the
4 ,cky mountains