The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-03-17
JAMIfSON'S REASONS
Democratic Congressman Issues ;
Statement Why He Will Not
Agais be a Candidate.

+ In a signed article published in
his paper, the Shenandoah World.
ECongressman w. d. Jameson an
nounces that he will retire from office
at the end of his first term.
His statement to the voters fol-
lows.
To the voters of the eight district,
and to all of my friends:
Even with an absolute confidence
that l would be elected to congress
this fall, which l do certainly feel,
yet in the face of this am compelled
to announce now that cannot, under
any circumstances be candidate for
congress in the coming campaign
Decent and fair treatment to my
friends impels me to give the reason
for what might seem to be this I'M
usual and possibly surprising course.
1t is a health reason. For dozen
or more years / have suffered with
eumatism-sometim little, some
times intensely. The campaign of
year ago last fall was mighty hard on
me in this regard. So, after the spec
ial session last summer, / went to Mt.
| Clemens, Michigan, and took a
months baths and treatments. The
doctor there told me then that l
must take good care of myself for the
next few years or ! would be per-
mently crippled, and that / could not
put it off much longer. Not quite
satisfied with this, l have had two
special examinations since, and these
only confirm the conclusion of the
Mt. Clemens doctor They all empha-
Else that l must be exceedingly care
full, not only with regard to diet and
every day life, but that l must not
permit myself to endure much severe
mental or physical strain for good
many months to come. No one
knows better than l do-in fact not
half so Well-that campaign means
for me about four or five months Of
the most intense mental and physical
strain, both. In view of these con-
ditions, l feel that l owe it to myself
and to those who are closely related
to me and whose interests are my
own, not to be candidate; my
friends, if they are friends, will ac-
cept my statements as to these con-
ditions, and they can come to only
one possible conclusion-that it is
my duty to refuse to consider being
a candidate at this time.
From a purely selfish financial
point of view, | could scarcely afford
to remain here longer than one term.
During this first term l will save
from $4,000 to $4,000. We are
living quite carefully in order to do
this. l can readily see that our living
expenses here would increase if we
remained longer. During the next
term l would not save more than the
amount of my campaign expenses
this fall, so that at the end of the
next term | would not be worth more
than l will be at the end of this.
Then, two of the best years of my life
would of been spent, and l would
really be less capable for business
than l will be at the end of this term.
And so it would continue right along,
! just as long as | would stay here.
In a few years l would hardly be
fit for any other life. But this is not
the reason for my announcement at
this time. l would be willing to
make this sacrifice, because j feel
that / am under obligations that are
keenly binding on me, to those who
elected me to this great Office a year
ago last fall.
The life here is discouraging and
disgusting in some of it's phases, and
interesting and satisfactory in other
When / see how the special interests
reach out in their wonderful organic
ing way and control things for legis-
lation for their own selfish benefit,
am discouraged. When l see so many
people having the wool pulled over
their eyes by the folks who are not
representing them, when / see the
selfishness and the hypocrisy that il
not uncommon here, l get thorough
ly disguised. 1t is wonderfully in.
teresting to see how legislation is
carried on, and to meet so many Of
the men who do things here in Wash.
ington. But satisfactory to me is the
knowledge that in my experience
here l have truly represented the
people of my district. and have voted
with an eye single to their best in
terests, and have been able to be Of
real and active service to them in sc
many ways. l will look back over the
legislative experience with the know
ledge and satisfaction to myself, az
having done my duty. This is bettel
than any salary and honor.
/ know there will be some in the
to run because l am afraid that
would be defeated. There is not one
!, word of truth in it. AS l said at the
beginning of this article. / have
thorough confidence that / would b.
elected this fall, no matter which on.
of the republican candidates get tn.
nomination. There is not only fac
tional strife among the republicans il
the district, but there are numbe
of thousands of Independent voters
!. in the district who do not care whethe
their congressman is a democrat O.
a republican. l believe the grea
majority of these Independent voter
have confidence that l stand for. tn,
right things and that I am squar,
S with -them-and this confidence i
: not misplaced.
e Can democrat be elected? Ye
e if the right sort of a one is nominal
: ed. one who has the right record an,
!, stands for the right things. if h
o1y hn ioh Of