Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-12
TR|cKED into OFFICE
North CaroIinian Don't Want
to Come to Congress.
TOLD HE COULDN'T WIN
Busy Business Man by This Prospect
Induced to Run.
BUT THE VOTERS CHOSE HIM
Now he Says His Warmest Friends
Have Basely Betrayed Him.
Cares Nothing for Politics.
TOLD HE COULDN'T WIN
BUT THE VOTERS CHOSE HIM

NEW YORK, November 12-John Mot
ley Morehead one of the trio of repub-
leans recently elected to Congress from
North Carolina. is perhaps the only mem
Der of the lower house who looks upon
his election as little short of personal
calamity.
But he does take this view of the situa-
ton. and SO expressed himself last night
to a reporter who congratulated him or
carrying district in the Old North state
which has been overwhelmingly demo
cratic for many years.
Mr.. Morehead is one of the most sue
cessful wooden mill operators in the south
He has devoted twenty-five of the forty
five years of his life to developing his
mills, and SO successful has he been that
he is now reckoned one of the wealth.
est men in North Carolina. He maintains
offices in New York.
Candidate Against His Desire.
When his name was first mentioned as
candidate for Congress he fatty re-
fused to have anything to do with the
campaign or to allow his name to be put
forward as candidate. He said he had
all he could do to look after his mills,
and as he had never taken any part in
politics he did not care to enter the DO
litical arena.
His friends urged him to reconsider his
refusal, some going SO far as to say:
You know you haven't chance in the
world to win, John, but the republicans
are looking for some good. clean man to
pit against Aubrey Brooks, the demo-
cratic candidate, who is one of the most
popular men in this part of the state, and
as an orator he hasn't an equal
II ism Z that we expect to win this dis
trlet TINS year, but we do want to cut
down the democratic majority, and maybe
next time we can carry the district
Finally Induced to Run.
interests so powerful and arguments sc
strong were brought to bear on Mr.. More.
head that at last he consented to run
stfpulatlng that under no circumstances
would he make campaign speeches or at
tend round of political meetings, be-
cause his business demanded every mo.
ment of his time.
When nominated Mr.. Morehead's speech
of acceptance was as follows:
'Gentlemen, you have done me a grea
honor. and 1 hope you will not be dis
pointed In my defeat, for l haven't the
slightest idea of being elected"
The campaign opened and the republi.
can managers did their utmost to get MIR
MIL Oilcdu Tie stump, Out lie WQui0n
talk nor would he attend meetings. His
opponent, Mr.. Brooks frequently chal
lenged him to meet him in open debate
but to all such challenges Mr.. Morehea6
said never a word.
Betrayed Into Office.
As the campaign progressed Carl Dun
can, national republican committeeman
from North Carolina and one of National
Chairman Hitchcocks advisory commit
tee. convinced Mr.. Hitchcock that the re-
publicants had a good chance of making
substantial gains in North Carolina. and
succeeded in getting from him a liberal
cash donation to the cause.
The greater portion Of this money was
spent in the fifth congressional district
and as election day drew near many
democrats were heard to declare them
selves for John Morehead, the great.
grandson of the greatest governor the
state ever had"
When the official count was taken /!
was found that Mr.. Morehead had won by
less than $50 votes. He Is now bitterly
denOuncing those who wheedled him into
running for office. He says he has beer
.'basely betrayed" by his warmest
friends.
Last night Mr.. Morehead said he would
start for Washington in a day or two and
make arrangements for a residence there
for his family and himself. Then he
added:
Il never went into anything so half
heartedly in all my life. l am business
man: / don't know anything about poll
tics, and care less"