The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-20
CRAIG WITHDRAWS
FROM THE RACE FOR
CONGRESS IN FOURTH
Gives His Reason for With
drawing in a Lengthy
Letter to Voters of
the District

Selma, February l9.- Especial William
B. Craig of Selma. who at the earnest
solicitation of large number of voters
from throughout the Fourth congressional
district, entered the race about two weeks
ago against Congressman Fred l.. Black
mon of Anniston, this afternon formally
withdrew from the race. Mr. Craig gives
his reason for Withdrawing from the race
in letter to the voters of the district
as follows:
Statement Made TO Voters
Four years ago | voluntarily retired
from Congress and returned to my law
practice, after serving my district for two
terms.
Several weeks ago 1t was made to APP
pear to me by reputable citizens Of the
district, acting from what | believed to
be patriotic motives and In all honesty
and sincerity, that II was the desire of the
people of the district to again have me
represent them in Congress. Upon this
and against my own personal wishes and
-'''t 90 = NVhStnteu 10 enter the race,
making il known at tire time that ] would
not consider entering except from a sense
of duty, and that | would not consent
TO be put in the attitude of seeking an
office which voluntarily relinquished
since making my announcement /
have made 4 trip through some parts
of the district and have received many
Communications on the subject. find
that large part of the people do desire
a change in the adminstra ton of the Of
flee of congressman and in many places
my candidacy has been met with en-
thusiasm; however. in other places and
among many people there is disposition
to treat my candidacy as a matter volun-
tary and personal to myself. and that
such people are either completely apa-
thetic or entirely satisfied with condi-
tions rs they exist | find also that many
men who have been and are my close
personal and political friends. and who
helped materially In sending me to the
Sixtieth and Sixty-first Congresses, Will
by reason of my late announcement be
seriously embarrassed by a contest be-
tween Mr.. Blackmon and myself, and that
my continuance in the case may be at
the expense of putting me in a position
of ungratefulness to them
Is No Office Seeker
Having stated that | would not seek
the office, and that nothing but an abid-
ing belief that the district at large de-
sired my services would induce me to
run for Congress, and being now con-
vinced that there is a large element in
the district that desire no change and
that in order to prosecute the campaign
shall have assumed the role OF am
office seeker, and that, too at a far
greater outlay than l mad any reason to
anticipate in the beginning, | do not feel
that there Is any duty confronting me
which requires that | change my plans
of life from those of being lawyer to
that of being an aspirant for public office
This decision has not been reached by
me except after carefully Weighing every
phase of the situation with a view of
finding out what is my duty and follow
ing It, having at all times due regard
for the enthusiastic support which has
been accorded my candidacy in many
places, and for which am profoundly
grateful. l believe that 1t Is more just
to myself and more considerate OF my
friends who were more Instrumental In
my entering the race and are support
ing me. to state now that | believe both
they and myself were in measure mis-
taken in our conclusions than 1t would be
to go on and prosecute a campaign which
bids fair to put me. their friend in the
attitude OF asking for and seeking. as
personal matter, the same political pref
erment which had at a former time been
voluntarily relinauished by me- and
do therefore. at this time, and before the
campaign has been fairly begun on either
side state that ] shall not be a candi-
date for Congress from this district in
the coming primary