The Florida star., 1909-12-31
BLOUNT RETTRESFROMR RACE
Objects to Personal Solicitation Of YO-
teFS for Support In the Primary

WV ava ~efF~AS ~ eAS AAJ
Hon. w. A. Blount, one of the lead
ing candidates for the United States
senate, has withdrawn from the race.
In the following open letter Mr..
Blount sets forth his reasons for tax
ing this step:
Ihave concluded to discontinue the
race for the United States senator
ship from Florida, for the term be-
ginning March 4th, 1911. My reasons
for this are two-fold.
First, believe that no man, not
heretofore holding public Office, and
thereby largely known to the public,
has any chance of election without
an extended personal canvass of the
state, extending as far as possible in
to each hamlet and village. have
been making such a canvass since the
first of October, nearly three months.
During nearly all of that time have
been suffering with rheumatism of
the muscles of the shoulder and back,
and inflammation of the throat and
chest, and twice have had to come
home because of suffering with these
ailments and fever, and to these have
been added in the last week neuralgia
and grippe. 1t has become evident
to me and my family that these have
occurred because of the campaigning
which | have done, and because of
the difference between the exposure
and irregularity of that life and the
protectedness and regularity of my
normal life, and that a continuance
of the campaigning would result in
the continuance of these troubles,
and a possible permanent impair
ment of heath. And it might happen
readily that at pivotal period of
the campaign there would be pro-
tracted illness which would defeat all
chance of success, because of an en-
forced absence from the field of act
ion, and the production of belief
with the voters that | would not be
physically able to perform the duties
of a senator.
Second. There is another reason,
less tangible, but to me no less real
my repugnance to the personal sOlici-
tation of votes, either by directre-
quest of the voter, or by an exhibi-
tion of myself to him for the sole pur-
pose of a tacit solicitation. | fore
saw hesitancy on my part to do this,
but | thought that a short practice
would make it a thing first endured
and then embraced, but | find that
the disinclination grows greater day
by day. Of course, | would have
strength enough to endure this dur
ing a campaign, even though it were
much more onerous, but | do not
feel that the prize is worth the con-
stant selfhumiliatiOn and the total
subversion of my habits of life and
thought. Besides, even if | am elect
ed, the same course, though to a less
er extent, would have to be continued
by me to secure a reelection. While
there are other men of a different
mould and different modes of
thought, to whom politics might be
pleasure, to me it would be an un-
ending pain.
| readily understand that some
will say fear defeat, and others that
| have no staying qualities. lido not
fear defeat. realize that the issue
is doubtful. but when first carefully
surveyed the field became convinced
that had a aStrong chance of success,
and that conviction has grown from
day to day, as verbal and written as-
.suranceS Of support have come to me
and as my knowledge of conditions
has increased. | have been into half
the counties Of the state, and into five
or more communities i'm some of
them, and my observation and the
statements of my political friends in
each of them assure me, SO far as as
surance in such a case can go, that in