The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-12-10
BLACKBURN
RESIGNS.
Panama Good Place olive,
Not to Die.
Governor Gives Up Place to Re-
turn Where Sun Shines
Bright all Day.

A washington dispatch says: Many
night when the American band on
the Isthmus of Panama played the
famous old tune in honor of the Gov
ernor, Joe Blackburn, former Senator
from Kentucky. the man whose con-
stituents always referred To him af-
fectionately as "old Joe" would get
homesick.
He liked it at Panama, liked the
work, and ought to have been pleased
with the salary. for it actually amount
ed to about $4,000 year. or three
times as much as his pay for Sena-
0or, because it was only $1,000 year
during his period of service.
Nevertheless he signed and pinned
for old Kentucky, and finally. about
Two months ago, resolved TO come
home to determine whether or not he
should choose between the old COM
monwealth and the canal zone as a
place of residence in the future.
He intimated at the time of his de-
parture-he was leaving on his annual
vacatiOn-that he might not return.
He visited his new farm near Yer
sailes, and his love and sentiment
for the old environments caused him
to decide 1t was to be Knutcky,
and not Panama.
But he withheld his decision until
he could see the President, and this
he has just done. His resignation as
Governor OF the canal zone is in the
hands Of Mr.. Taft and will be accept
ed.
Il thought it all over just as l had
reflected upon it down at Panama"
said the ex-senator Wednesday night,
and came to the same conclusion
reached down there. Panama is a
mighty fine place to live and work but
A better place than Kentucky, and tina
far away from home. God never mad
better place than Kentucy, kand thai
is where | want to spend the rest of
my days"
1t was nearly three years ago, just
after he was superseded in the Senate
by Judge Paynter, that Blackburn was
appointed a member of the Ismian
Canal Commission by President Roose
Welt. The fact that he was a Demo-
crat caused considerable comment at
the unexpectedly among Republic
cans who thought such a lucrative Of
flee should go to a member Of their
party.
But Blackburn as Senator had not
been bitterly partisan toward Roose-
Welt and the two actually were on very
friendly terms.
1t is understood that President Taft
has no other office in mind for the
Kentuckian. and that he will now be-
come a private citizen. However
there has been some talk among his
friends back home of running him for
Governor in 1911.
Although Blackburn has been In
public life almost from the time he
reached his majority, and he Is now
in his seventy-first year, he Is a conn
paratively poor man. He has a home
in Washington and his farm is the
gift of an old friend.
Doubtless the ex-senator was able
to save large part Of his salary while
on the isthmus, being a man of simple
tastes and habits. and consequently
ought to be in comfortable clrcum-
stances.
Should Congress pass a bill which
Representative Mann, of Illinois, will
reintroduce next month, the office Of
Governor OF the canal zone will be
abolished.
The bill which was offered in the
last Congress, provided for the continu
ance of the Governorship but this
was only intended to be for the benefit
of Mr.. Blackburn.
Now that the ex-senator has retired
Representative Mann will modify his
bill accordingly. and the salient fea-
ture Of the measure is that the chief
engineer shall be the executive head
of the enterprise, combining all OF
the functions now divided between
the members of the present commits
sion