Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-23

Rookie nd. Me, March "a ScnSa-
ton was caused in political circles
here today by the receipt by Gov. Will
liam T. Cobb of Il letter from Congress-
man Charles T. Littlcfield, rendering
his resignation, to take effect Sept
30 next.
in the same mail was a communica
ton to the chairman of the I'd District
Republican congressional committee
from Mr. Littlefied in which he gave
as the reason for his resignation his
which, in Il large degree, he has been
compelled to abandon because Of his
congressional duties.
The resignation came as a great sur
prise to Gov. Cobb and to the con-
gressman's friends in this city. and
were received with much regret.
The letters were as follows:
washington, March 20, 1908.
Hon. William Il. cobb,
Governor of the state of Maine.
Dear Sir--I hereby tender my reSig
nation as a member of the 60th Con-
gross from the ID District Of Maine.
to take effect on and after the 30th
Of September, 1908.
| am, Sir, with the highest regard,
Your obcdient servant,
(SigneD
CHARLES f.. LITTLEFIELD.
Washington. March 20. 1908.
Fred w Wright, Chairman, ID Dis
trict Republican Congressional Com
mittee.
Dear Sir--I have been Il member Of
the House of Representatives for near
" rinc years. In order to properly dis
charge my congressional duties | have
been obliged to practically abandon
nv law practice The result has been
what is to me Il large financial loss. !
now feel constrained. from Il sense Of
my duty to my family. to resume the
general practice Of tho profession.
In withdrawing from Congress | wish
to express my most profound thanks
to nav many friends. both in and out
of the district. VIII" have &" chccrfully'
courrorSlv, loyalty and effectively
supported me in the past, through good
reuort and through evil report. ] f"it
that I ought to make my resignation
Al this time in order to make 1T UNI
necessary for the district to be sub
iectei to the expense and trouble 81
a special convention and election f"1
the election Of my successor tor the
unexpired term.
(Signod
CHARLES T.. LITTLEFIEf.D.
a meeting had already been called
for rext Tuesday by the district com
mittnt. To fix the date for holding the
district convention.
Among the Republicans VIII" have
already announced their candidacy tol
the nomination arc; Henry H. tfaS'-
in.rs of oxford county: a. 4. Savage %
AndroscOggin county; cyrus n
Blanchard and Elmer f. Richards Q
Franklin county. and +. w. Hyde I"
| Sagadahnc county.
Gov. Cobb in speaking OF MI I'ltti"
| fields resignation said:
congressman T.ittlefeld's resignation
comes to me as n great surprise, for
had received absolutely no animation q
| II before T have always been Crea
admirer of Mr.. Littlefeld. | conceive l
to be a distinct loss to the state whcl
men of his ability and type leave IN
service. lie has helped to keep Maine il
the forefront of national affairs and con
| tributed that degree of statcsmanshi
| which has made Maine delegations "a
NOUS for so many years.
personally 7 feel under the deepes
obligations to him for any political sue
cess NAV have achieved.
The general tenor in Mr.. Llttleteih
home town is one of unqualified reEre
witbclIt distinction Of party. This feelin
is enhanced by the expectation that Mi
J,ittIefield will seek new fields for hi
law practice outside this city and state
| Mr.. LittIefield has been in Congress
ranresenting the Second Maine distric
since 1859. when he was chosen to fill tn
upexpired term of Nelson Dingley in tn
5sth Congress He was reelected to tn
57th 5Sth. seth and 6Oth Congress Nj
rittlefield served as Speaker of tho Main
House of Representatives in ~ an
uas attorney general of the State froi
1870 m 1892 He is 81 years OLD.