The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-06
CAREER WILL NOT
 ENTER THE RACE
Opportunity Unfayorable for
 Race for Congress
SPEAKS OF HIS DUTIES
Personal Csmpaign-ABHouncem Virtually Assures Blackmon
 Of Clear Field
By HERyEY W. LAIRD

l Montgomery, March 5.-(Special )--Col. A. NJ. Garber, attorney general, a resi- dent of Taadega, today announced that he would not enter the race for Con gress in the Fourth district. It was thought that he would. up to this week. He says:
 T have been urged by many citizens of the Fourth district to announce my candidacy for Congress. Many assurances of support have come to me- for which am deeply grateful and which demand 8 public statement of my decision.
 For some time l have desired to rep | resent the people of my district in Con- gress, believing that I could serve them to their advantage. The opportunity does not now appear unfavorable, but after mature deliberation I have decided, with regret, that I cannot at this time enter the contest I regard public office to be l in the highest sense a public trust. The exacting duties of the office of attorney general would prevent me from making the active personal campaign which at present seems necessary.
 | q wish to thank my friends through out the district for their generous offers | of support and to assure them of my sincere appreciation of their confidence | in my ability to serve them in this inn | portant office
 | Col. Garber's Efficient Work | Col. A. M. Garber has been attorney | general of the state in a time that has developed work far in excess of any an ticipated demands upon the office. Revo- 1f1fia in Ia avy0 xino in wifi a Conner administration four years ago, since which time almost every depart ment of public life has had disturbance. In the main interpretation of it came back l to his desk, with flood of detail and study that no one could foresee.
 Along with this came the railroad rate agitation and the various railroad-state suits that have fallen to his lot in the direction as a whole and altogether in many cases. so that the office has been one treadmill from morn to night The rate cases, now pending, seem to be in- terminable Having come back from the court of appeals with the holding that they must be given trial. such trial is now on, and with it the taking of testi- mony on the entire situation. stupen-
 
 | held under the direction of the courts, are a part of the duty of his office rou- tine that he cannot neglect. No matter how much he desired to get into the fight in the Fourth these duties would keep | him out. t-f .. ss
 The hearings of the Louisville and 1 Nashville, on for some time at Louisville. will be resumed March Il, having been | put off for some days at the request of | the road. The Central of Georgia cases | come up March 8 in Savannah The | two cause great embarrassment to the state. being forced to work with one set of counsel for all roads. while each of the roads has its own set, well posted and in full trin, for the fight. An effort was made to have the Louisville hearing com pleted before the other began, but 1t could not be done. Holding public offiee to be a sacred trust. Colonel Garber has re- fused to leave his office and make the race. even though he had great many calls to do so from men in every county Colonel Garber Is one of the well known men of the state. He made two races for the position he holds. and, as noted above has been in service at a time or revolution, when the work of the enice yas not only heavy but entirely changed. He has been grand chancellor of the Alabama Knights of Pythias and supreme representative of the order His home is in Talladega, whence he came to Mont gomery.
 Clear Field for Blsckmon This will leave the field clear for Fred S. Blackmon, who is running already. w. B. Craig. the incumbent. Is not ask ing for reelection. He has made a splen- did record in the House and will be able to merit the plaudits of duty well done after he settles down again In Selma for the practice of the law. MT. Blackmon was state senator and a member of the minority Hc has always held the eerh- dence of his people in marked measure. There was some talk of Mai. V. B. At kins of Selma offering, but this has not