The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-04-23
Governor Glenn

United States Senator
Makes Statement to the Pub
lie in Which He Gives His
Reasons Would Prevent
Bitter Contest and Sacrifices
Ambition in the lnterSst of
Harmony--Will Support
Senator Overman.
Following il the statement given
out to the public by Gov Glenn in
which he announces that he will not
be Il candidate for United States Sen
ator i'll opposition to Senator Over
man, and gives his reasons therefor.
The statement which bears date of
April 14th, declares the Governors
cherished ambition to be United
States Senator and his withdrawal
from the race six years ago against
Senator Simmons in favor of C. B.
Watson for the sake of harmony. If
he should get in the race against Sen
ator Overman the contest would be
fierce and he again retires in the in
terest of harmony. He reviews his
strenuous" administration as Gov
ernor ami says the people having
made him what he is politically he
would not fear to again put his des-
! tiny in their hands, but in his present
action he is actuated by a desire to
serve the State by preventing bit
ter contest and a still higher motive
to help humanity. With hostile per-
sons and papers saying he is using
the temperance campaign as step
ping stone to his own political ad-
vancement, he desires to be untram-
mellpd and TO have it understood that
he is working for what he believes to
be the States greatest good. He
J says he realizes that this is the food
tide of his political career and in re-
fusing to take the politica. current
he says he loses all his "ventures,"
and surrenders for ever his ambition,
but better than holding office is
duty.
To the People of North Carolina:
Answering many letters daily in
quiring my intentions, l desire to say
| will not be candidate for the Uni
ted States Senate but will support
the denomination of Senator Over
man. Having said this much [ hope
| may be pardoned for making the
following statement:
The greatest ambition of nv life
has been to be member of the Sem
ate of the United States, for hoped
with the opportunities there offered
for usefulness and power, 1 could by
zeal and energy have accomplished
much for the fame and name of our
beloved State. Six years ago enter
ed the race for this honor, but in the
interest of harmony retired in favor
of Hon. C.. B. Watson. To-day for
harmonyin in the State and to prevent
any bitterness offeeling, have decid-
ed not to present my name as can
didate
An influential man in the State thus
writes me: 81 travel great deal. !
believe you can win, the masses OF
the people are with you, the contest,
however, will be fierce and I fear will
do the State harm" want no harm
only good to the State-hence the
above statement.
Senator Overman asks a renomi.
nation as an endorsement of his
course. have had a strenuous ad.
ministration; the adjustment of the
State debt on an honorable basis, the
caring for our helpless ones ,Sespecial
lv the insane, the rigid enforcement
Ofthe law against mobs and lynchers
D and at the same time bringing speedy
punishment to offenders that caused
such mobs; personal efforts made tC
2 protect our forests, open our water
ways and harbors, as we'll as adver
tise the resources of our State a,
. home and abroad; upholding STATE
, sovereignty and demanding obedience
\ from all citizens; fixing railroad rates
alike just to- the people and the rail
ways, resisting freight discrimina
8 tions and now trying to pass Stat'
). prohibition, these and many othel
important matters have been great
ly discussed and brought North Car
olina much before the public gaze
e and it is therefore but natural that
too should desire that the petpl
endorse and approve my course
Still Senator Overman took his office
having a right, if he does well, to asl
All endorsement, while knew coult
e not succeed myself as Governor, ant
J. have no reason to be hurt because
l. cannot be reelected. Letters hav
: come TO me from friends ille every par
If the State H. giug me- to run, an,
saving that l could be nominated
and so having ambition to serve m,
people in this capacity, the tempta
: tion to offer myself has been. yer.
great.
l am not vain enough to say tha
. l could he nominated, put the peopl
u made me what | am politically, an,
g | would not fear again to put m.
1t destiny into their hands, and don
=. believe that even those who ridicul
e the suggestion OF my succeeding, wi
violently insist upon a reconsidera
'e tion of my decision simply that the.
might hav, the pleasure of seeing m
defeated But l have given the mat
ter careful and prayerfGl considers
d: tion and l feel that am doing righ,
and in coming to my conclusion tw
things have actuated me: First, t
serve the State by preventing a bi,
ter contest, and second, and l hope
still higher motive,t to helphumanity
Ill My record fo r temperance is neithe
new nor hearsay, for point to m
] official acts as contained in the jou
| nails of the Legislature of 1881 an
| 1898, and as governor, and woul
regard it as the crowning glory I
my administration to have the sa
and manufacture ofstrong drink prt
hibited in the State. To this end
will give all my spare time, my zes
and my influence, for we need an
must have q large majority, thu