The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1918-02-01
Charles 7. Gates, Jr., Announces His
Candidacy for United States Senate
Knoxville Lawyer Former Attorney Tennessee
Statement to Voters of the State.

Wl1cbpftdu EuiiiOE ScQuiOuSiy ClKcu-
lated to the effect that will not be a
candidate seems to render necessary,
thus early, the announcement OF my
purpose 10 seek the Democratic NOM
nation for United States Senator In
the general primary election next
August
Uuring these times, when the Sc
rious consideration OF our people Is
fixed upon tar graver matters aris-
ing out OF the worldwide war, / have
been most reluctant to bring to their
attention any semblance Of personal
aspiration; but am not insensible or
indifferent to the claims upon me Of
Democrats from all sections of our
state, and animated by the desire to
give the best in me to the service OF
our country, and to render loyal and
effective support to our great chief
executive in this time of our coun-
try's peril, / shall ask in the primary
election a commission from you to
go before all of the voters Of Tennes-
see as your candidate for United
States senator.
AHSWGA W AAOPaboANos
1t is not intended at this time and
in this way to submit fully and in de-
tail, as will be done hereafter, the
reasons impelling me to ask, and the
grounds upon which / ask your sup
port; but before briefly adverting to
some of them it is my desire to make
clear and unquestioned my position
in respect Of claim, which if it be
true, would absolutely preclude me
from seeking the nomination at this
time.
refer to the claim advanced on be-
half of the senior senator from Ten
nessee to the effect that opposition
to him is embarrassing to this war
time administration, and that his re-
election is necessary to sustain our
president in his efforts to bring the
war to a successful conclusion. If
either premise be sound and true, the
conclusion logically follows. But at
this time, looking to the record, it has
seemed to me that the claim adj
vanced is nothing more than the prop
uganda of syndicated federal Office
holders and some leactionary news
papers to camouflage the Democracy
of Tennessee into retaining their ia
vorite in Office. 1t remains to be seen
whether those most active in giving
currency to this propaganda are COM
missioned to speak for the president.
1t is known of all men that our
great chief executive does not hest
tate in an emergency to state-does
not feel himself "at liberty to alb
stain from" stating-what the emer-
gency or public good requires. He
has not failed to act on this princi-
pie in every enlergency-and even in
, of senatorial candidates.
While under ordinary conditions
the Democrats of Tennessee would
probably question the right of the
president to make suggestions in ref
erence to their candidates for office,
yet we are not living in the peaceful
security of ordinary times. These days
Of peril are fraught with danger,
seen and unseen, involving the secur-
ity and happiness of millions yet I'M
born in this our country. At such
time who can doubt that the president
would speak if our country would be
endangered, and his administration
embarrassed by opposition to the SEN
Tor senator?
No Preferment Desired at Risk to
Country
And having fullest confidence in
the singleness of purpose, the wisdom
and patriotism of our president, let
me say to you frankly that if in his
opinion the reelection of the senior
senator is demanded by reasons of
state unknown to me-or if his adj
ministration is embarrassed by opposi-
ton to the senator-then and imme-
diately upon becoming so advised,
shall yield to the patriotic Judgment
of our great chief, and endeavor to do
my "bit" in some other field of en-
deavor. to the best of my ability.
It is my desire to put this matter
beyond question: do not want, /
would not take, preferment at even
the possibility of risk to the best in
terests of my country and my party.
But until our great chief executive
speaks, | respectfully submit to you
that no one else is commissioned to
speak for him, or to say that the re-
election of the senior senator is es-
sential to the plans of his admins
tration or the public good, or that OPP
position to him will embarrass this
wartime administration.
Therefore, seeing no reason of state
why l should not seek, and nothing
of embarrassment to our party or our
government in seeking your SURFACES,
you will permit me at this time to
briefly outline my views in respect
of some of the great questions involv-
ing public interest.
Legislative Branch Must Not En-
croach Upon or Hamper President.
Believing it to be essential to the
preservation of our form Of govern
ment that the functions of each of its
several departments executive, leg
islative and judicial--be kept separate
and independent of the others-that
Immediately upon the declaration of
war it became and was the constitu-
tional right and duty of the presi-
dent to direct and control all our for
ces in the prosecution of the war; and