Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-12-09
CORRESPONDENCE
4 Letter From Mr.. Bradford.
EDITOR COURIER;

ln last weeks COURIER there was
very friendly editorial invitation TO me
TO declare myself a candidate for seat
in the upper house Of the Virginia Leg
islature from the Senatorial District of
Clarke, Warren and Page.
need scarcely pause to tell you tina,
very greatly appreciate this voluntary
Endorsement by my home newspaper for
position of SO much responsibility and
so much honor. Yours was not the
first notice received that my name had
been considered in that connection.
On several occasions recently a few
generous but misguided friends have
introduced the subjec; and asked me If
would like To be candidate In every
instance L thanked them for the sugges-
ton but laid the matter gently aside.
lnasmuch, however, as you have pub
iicly put il mp to me, deem it proper 70
reply
Ia The first place there seems to be
misconcepiion in the public mind
perhaps in your owns 10 the time. Of
the election We have just emered from
Presidential contest. weary and heavy
laden, and twelve months hence another
general State election will Just be- over.
1t will then be two more years before
the Senator is to be elected; making it
three years from this time
a long suffering public will not stand
Tor campaign of that length.
Again, the present Senator has another
session of the legislature during his term.
III that session he may 30 distinguish
himself u to upset all rule and all
authority and compel his own re election.
But brushing aside these objections. is
II altogether becoming in me TO ask this
additional favor from the peonle of
Clarke Already ! am deeply indebted
TO them for having borne with me so
patiently AS their County Treasurer for
so many years. For four successive
terms-covering, when a completed. a
service of sixteen years-ihey have given
me the full measure of their support, and
no matter Whist judgment they may pro-
nounce upon any ambition | may here
after cherish, there will always remain
in my breast deep sense OF gratitude
Tor what they have already done.
Another question for me TO decide is this.
Ought | 10 ask for such an important
Office when there are so many other citi.
zens in the County and district who, by
reason of superior attainments and abil.
ity, are far better qualified than myself
10 discharge its important duties?
If these considerations do not discredit
me and the people have not fixed upon
more suitable person 10 represent them
three years hence and are willing then
for me TO be their Senator, will very
gladly serve them as far as know how:
w. \. BRApFoRD.
Mr. Bradford is becomingly modest
and he very properly refuses to be
placed In the position of seeking the Office.
The COURIER is well aware that some
men would sot accept the Senatorship If
you handed il TO them on a silver platter.
but we were very anxious for Mr.. Brad
ford TO be a candidte, and took the
proper method OF finding out If he would
accept the nomination if il was rendered
him. 1t is true that he has been County
Treasurer for sixteen years, and during
that six,een-year period he has been in
q position where the people of the County
could see who he was and what he was.
lie has been tried, and not found wanting
Virginia needs men of his character in
her Legislative halls We need men
who understand the questions of roads
anG schools, and the levying and collec-
ton OF taxes, for the man who does not
understand how 10 raise money for our
great internal improvements will not
make much of a show when he begins
such work. We are not one who believes
In nominating candidate in August
and electing him in November. We
want TO know who he Is, what his ability
and capabilities are, and whether he can
deliver the goods. and be depended
upon to represent all the people all the
time. Ii is because Mr. Bradford has
made a successful public official that we
nominate him for another office. We
want a success, not failure. We want
sterling article, not an experiment.
Don't you worry moment, Friend
Bradford, the people of the County will,
we believe, give you a larger vote for the
State Senate than you have ever received
in your elections as Treasurer. The
people merely wanted to know if you
would accept the nomination (as it was
possible you might have make other
arrangements and plans for the future).
MIR. Bradford is not urging any claim to
the office. The people are urging him
TO accept the ofiice-EDIToR Courier.