The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1910-09-16
PATTERSON WITHDRAWs.
Declines to Continue in the Race
For Governor.
Governor Patterson's declaration Civ
en- the press is as follows:

the third term contrary to my persona
wishes. A large majority of my friends
in their partial judgment, believed ]
could certainly win where others might
fail, and that | owed an obligation tc
them, the party and the ideas which ]
represented, and yielded my judgment
and inclination with reluctance. Since
then conditions have arisen which nei-
ther they nor could foresee, which APP
pear to make my further candidacy an
injustice both to them and the Demo-
cratic party.
/ When the opposition to me assumed
the shape of refusal to enter a primary
called by the State Executive Commit
tee, proposed if any gentlemen would
offer against me to allow him to select
his own method and time of nomination
with an equal division OF officers of cleo
ton. There was, and could not be, the
slightest excuse to refuse this, il the
party was to preserve its organization
and not disintegrate into schisms and
factions; but the proposition was reject
ed. / was declared the nominee for
Governor, without opposition. And
since then / have offered to yield my
nomination so as to test anew whether /
was the choice Of the majority, believing
that all men who loved fair dealing
would recognize the right of the maiori-
ty to rule, and not permit their personal
spleen to override all the obvious rules
Of justice and party fidelity.
But to the minds OF my ungenerous
opponents all things were fair as means
to the end of my political destruction.
Guilty and unnatural political coalitions
were forming and had been formed to
bring this about. The basest appeals
were made and the foulest ISLANDERS cir
culated Even then / did not believe /
that any considerable number OF Demo-
Gratis could be betrayed from their allie
glance, but that time would soften as
perities and lead them back to just
realization of their own duties and the
plight which the criminal folly Of their
leaders would leave the party and the |
State.
So it was, when rumors of my with
drawal were given currency l promptly
denied them, and in doing so it was my
wish to serve my party rather than my
own ambition.
Now it seems certain that my opinion
shared by friends was not justified, and
that the continued appeals to passion
and credulity have found lodgment
which neither fact nor persuasion can
change, and that SO long as / remain a
candidate q considerable number Of
Democrats will not affiliate with the
party, and while not large comparatively
t is enough to imperil Democratic sue
,ess in November ! do not wish it said
hat my desire for Office is responsible
or this condition, or as furnishing an
,xcuse to indorse a Republican candi-
late by the so-called Independent Dem
,cratic convention soon to be held in
Nashville. {
My conclusion is that | can best serve
ny party and State in this emergency ,
" voluntarily doing what my enemies
AVE so persistently demanded there
ore return my nomination to the Dem :
cratic party. | notify both the State I
Executive Committee and the Independ- 7
mt Democratic convention that / am 7
% longer candidate for Governor :
In taking this step our party should
ot be left without a capable leader, and
hope that with harmonious action an
ther candidate, wholly unobiectionable, !,
nay be named and such a platform :
dopted as will insure party cooperation
nd success.
1t would be an unmixed evil and re- J
roach to Tennessee for the Republican
arty to get control of our State govern q
rent, and it is especially true at this Z
me when the country is aroused and .
ne battle is on between special interests j
nd popular rights. =
1t is scarcely belieyable that discred s
ed Republican President should at A
.mpt to control the politics of Demo u
attic State, or that any man calling v
imself Democrat could lend his dis a
onorablc aid to its consummation. D
Our State should be governed by its it
lends and not its enemies; by the party
at represents its credit and intelligence, h
e education Of its people, and that in b.