The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-12-29
Rumblings Still
Heard Doughton
Will Make Race
Those Close to Him Say
He Seriously Considers
the Executives Chair
p. }. c. BASKERVILL
lhv IIiHc%-.NL"S Bufehh
Si- Walter Hotel

iiav IInIc%-I>I"S bureau
Si- Walter Hotel
| RALEIGH, Dec. 29.-Despitc
efforts in certain quarters to dis
count the recurring rumor to the
effect that Congressman Robert
l.. Doughton of the eighth con-
grcssional district will not seek
reelection to congress in the
primary and election OF 1885 but
instead will he candidate for
governor, the report continues to
persist here. Not only does 1t
continue to persist. but visitors
..,.r from aShngtOn over the
Aohda,s who have been in close
contact with Doughton, say that
these reports undoubtedly have
some real foundation and that the
,.yIa"Ie "rarmer Bob IS UNI
doubleday giving much serious
thought to running for governor.
"a good deal will depend, Of
course, on how Congressman
Doughton gets through this APP
preaching session of congress
with his ways and means commit
tee. of which he is chairman and
which must formulate all the new
tax legislation, one of these visi-
tors from Washington said. "But
those close to Doughton know
that he is becoming increasingly
interested in the talk of his be-
coming a candidate for governor
and that he would not be unwill-
ing to exchange his seat in con-
grcss for the governors chair in
Raleigh"
The fact that Congressman
Doughton is chairman Of the
powerful house ways and means
committee and has served in the
national house Of representatives
for so many wears, has made
good many. observers doubt that
he would be willing 20 give up
his seniority in the house in order
to run for governor. Some have
attributed this talk largely to
those who are said to be anxious
to run for his seat in congress
should he decide to seek the gov
ernorship instead, as we'll as to
other prospective candidates for
governor who are not at all anxi-
Gus to see DoughtOn get into the
race. And there are already some
eight or 10 Of these prospective
candidates, ranging from Colonel
T. L. Kirkpatrick of Charlotte, to
former Judge Tom Johnson of
Asheville, and the ilTepressible
Tam c. Bowie of West Jefferson,
Ashe county. as well as the pres
ent lieutenant governor, a. H.
SANDY Graham of Hillsboro,
who is regarded by many as be-
ing the most dangerous contend
er for the gubernatOrial nomina-
ton in 1885.
The prevailing belief here, how
ever. is that very few of these
would actually have the temerity
TO enter the Democratic primary
in 1885 if Doughton actually de-
cides to become a candidate, with
the possible exception of Graham
and Kirkpatrick, who are expect
ed to run anyway, regardless of
who else gets into the race. For
with the following which Dough- !
ton has not only in the eighth |
district. composed Of Alexander, !
Allegheny, Ashe, Cabarrus, Cald- |
we'll, Iredell, Rowan, Stanly and
Watauga counties but throughout
Western North Carolina, the !
opinion here is that he would be |
very difficult candidate to de-
feat. 1t is understood that Tam
Bowie of Ashe county, right next
to Allegheny county, where
Doughton lives, has already said |
that he will not be a candidate |
for governor if Doughton makes
the race. but that he will support |
Doughton.
A good many here believe that
Doughton is Just the type of gov
ernor the state will need for the |
term extending from 1886 to
1910 and that his more than 20 |
years in congress and his famil-
iarity with taxation and govern
mental finance will enable him
to put the states finances in still
better shape. Some think that
he would become governor
similar i'll type to former Gov
ernor A. ". Mclean - careful
and conservative and with an eye
always fixed upon the states
budget.
There are some who raise the
point of age and maintain that
DoughtOn, who is now 70 years
old, will be too old to run for
governor in 1885. But those who
raise the question of age de not
know that Doughton of Allegh-
any, those who do know them
point out. For this family is
noted for its longevity and while
both Farmer Bob" and "Rufe"
are m their seventies, they are
regarded as being as vigorous,
both physically and mentally, as
most men in only the fifties or
sixties.
1t is agreed by all that if
Doughton does run for governor,
he will give the entire field a
stiff race.