The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-04-11
CULLOM RET|RES, He
SAYS, WITHOUT REGRET
Ends His % Years in the Senate
Poorer Man Than When
lie Entered II.
WELCOMES CHANCE TO QUIT
Says lie Will Now Go Way Back
and Sit Down, as They
Say in the Song.
WELCOMES CHANCE TO QUIT

WASHINGTON. April 10.-Senator Shelby
NJ. Cullom Of Illinois will leave Congress
nfter nearly fifty years of continuous
service without regret on his own account
or bitterness toward any man. The
venerable Illinois Republican will end
twenty-nine years of service in the Senate
a poorer man than when he took his seat
in that body. By some it is said that the
Illinois Senator is almost entirely de-
pendent on his salary.
In acknowledging to-day his defeat in
the Illinois primaries Senator Cullom
appeared the most cheerful loser imagi-
nable. Senators crowded around his seat
in the Senate to express their regret, but
he smiled and assured them it was all for
tho best. Senator Cullom is one OF the
best loved men in the Senate and his
defeat was, taken TO heart by the en-
ployees. His retirement will lust about
be the end Of the so-called old guard in
the Senate First Aldrich went. then
Hale of Maine; death claimed Elkins of
West Virginia and Frye of Maine. and
now Culom of Illinois goes. These great
changes in the Senate have occurred
within year.
Cullom. II looks like Sherman had 35 900.
am through and am glad Of it. did
not want to be a candidate again. Itold
the boys so. but they seemed to think Al
owed II { o them to go in once more. Well.
like Sullivan. ! went in the ring once too
often Wasn't that what Sullivan said
You see am ~ years old II had been
reelected l would have been SO when |
took Office again. Frankly, a man who
serves as long ~ ! have IN public life
ought to be willing to quit at SO, don Z
you think soy
"Sone of the boys in Illinois told me 70
make the race and when il was over IL
! lost. as told them in advance thought
| would. they said they would see that /
got an appointive office. But | said 10
them No. IT ] am to he defeated. | told
them. would welcome the opportunity
to quit. ! will now go away back and
sit down. a. they say in the song | will
not have great many years more to live
and can AFFORD to spend them in rest and
re; rem.nt. The State of Illinois has
been good to me. Everybody has been
kind and good to me. You newspaper
men. most of all. have been good to me
Why. the kind things you have written
ab0ut me- have made mo cry sometimes.
Il have been getting u little poorer
I financially every year | have been in
office ! have less property to-day than
d ''iT way i'-A'
] thirty years ago to take my seat in the
Senate. Perhaps that IL my fault. Some
men think Of Investments and good busi-
ness srnse. | never thought of things
| of that kind.
Il would not know how to 20 about
making money. | never had any taste
for it, Some of you bows say that NV
lack of property after a life in Office il
due to my honesty. but other men, lust
a. honest. in public life made money
And they have made ii honestly. | am
not rcady TO condemn men with sagacity
and foresight enough 20 make invest
ments that result in profits that will pro-
vide for themselves and their families
in their old age or support dependent
relatives after they are gone. | simply
did not like to think about business. |
| found pleasure in the kind of life led.
Ny tastes Were simple. My family,
| like myself. preferred a simple life So il
was agreeable for me to 90 along without
any thought of money making
But didn't Roosevelt make great
rum" asked the Senator. He certainly
surprised everybody. lie is still good
politician. He saw the oyershadowing
issue in Illinois and seized on it,"
You mean i.orimer:' the Senator was
asked.
YES. Lorimer was the issue. That is
what defeated mo. voted to seat him