The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-02-19
JUDGE HARDIN
Will Not Be A Candi-
date.
ISSUES STATEMENT TO PUBLIC


think n statement from me Is due at
this time.
The substance Of this statement
may be put into a few words. am
not now and will not be candidate
for nomination at the coming Con-
gressional election in the Eighth Dis
trict Of Kentucky by the Democratic
party In said District That ] have
not sought and arr not seeking this
nomination has for some time been
well known by my closest personal
friends However, my retieenee on
this subject has been the occasion OF
receiving pledges IN such numbers
and assurances Of such character n
TO lead me to believe that would
have no serious opposition IN secur-
ing the nomination which. IN my
Judgment and the opinion % my
friends. would be equivalent to cleo
ton.
appreciate. beyond the power Of
words To express. the attitude toward
me Of many Of the aspiranis to this
high Office. the eourtesics shown and
the assurances given by them % a
clear track. their good will and their
support and service In the campaign.
and which service and support ! could
not recognize as other than able.
efficient and free hearted. These
expressions have gwen me high
sense % satisfaction and pleasure
I am under no less obligation to the
voters In this Congressional District
who. in large numbers. have pledged
me their earnest support and in
fiuence II In these things ] failed
TO perceive the fine quality Of great
ness in my friends and sympathizers.
I should be unworthy Of them.
Some Of my friends have insisted
upon my candidacy as n matter Of
naturalization. But the State cleo
ton which followed has fully vindi.
Gated me. and shown that any candi-
date would have Jared AS ] did at
that time. A comparison Of my
vote with that % the combined vote
% all the democratic candidates for
Governor in the Eighth Congressional
District will show that ! obtained a
larger vote than all Of them. Be
sides all this. II u conceded that my
defeat was not due to my personality
at all. and that any candidate under
the same circumstances would have
Jared as ] did
Moreover. in my former race for
this position. I made Woodrow VIII
son and his policies the issue Of the
campaign. and some Of my friends
have urged that ! am the logical can
didats to redeem the apparent, but
not real. defeat OF that issue. That
issue. as ! see Il. ia not dependent
uonp the personality 81 the candidate.
Mr.. Wilson. the statesman, and his
policies. the proof Of his statesman
ship. will be the issue. or one Of the
issues. in the coming campaign, no
matter who the candidate u. and
entertain no reasonable doubt Of the
result. freed. as this election will be.
from the odor Of state politics. politi-
cal baek-biting. selfish ambitions and
the blight Of primary. That the
Eighth Congressional District has
men who ere clean. capable. fearless
men who are loyal and true to the
best traditions Of the party; men
whose honor. whose integrity and
whose truth are beyond price; men
Of trained minds and proved capacity.
cannot be gainsaid. This is the kind
Of man demanded. aud with such a
nominee the result in this District
will be safe beyond doubt.
When | made the race before, II
was in vacation time. IL was not
then necessary that | should resign
the office Of Circuit Judge OF the
Thirteenth Judicial District. But IL
l should become a candidate for Con-
gress in the coming election, il would
be imperative that ] should resign
my present office, either before OF
after the election. and in either
event the vacancy would be filed by
an appointee of the present Repub-
lican Governor. ! am not willing To
sacrifice thus the interests Of a Dem
ocratie constituency to whom ! owe
my present place Of responsibility.
Al this time, as Chairman Of the
Democratic State Committees. | am
engaged with some high-minded pa
triots in extending our organization
and composing its discordant ele-
ments- IL Is an earnest and unselhsh
movement looking TO the interest Of
no individual. class or group. but to
all. In redesming Kentucky for Demo
crazy. II all other reasons fail. I
would chesrfully put aside personal
ambition for this one. 70 that my
motives at this time could not en-