The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-01-25
Congressman Doughton Is
Firm On Retirement Plan
In Spite of Pleas from ThOus-
ands, Veteran Congress
man Not to Run Again.


of the state and nation, that Con-
gresham R. l.. Doughton would
reconsider and would not retire,
| were diminished on Friday when
he released a letter to his sup
porters here and elsewhere ask
ing that they consider the mat
ter as settled.
| Since Farmer Bob" made his
sudden and dramatic. announce
ment Tuesday that he would re-
tire from Congress at the end of
his present term January 8, 1941,
! kilograms, telephone calls, let
tiers and personal callers have
flooded him and he has been SUBJ
jected to tremendous pressure to
reverse his decision and run for
reelection.
These have come on embossed
stationery as well as on tablet
paper and from those in high
places in government and indus
try as well as from that class
Doughton calls the great rank
and file''. No other chairman of
the House ways and means COM
mittee has ever retired from Con-
gress and it is safe to say no 9TH
er retiring congressman has ever
received so many requests to
stay in public life. $ ..r.
One communication which
touched the Laurel Springs con-
gresham was a telegram signed
by every member of the Demo-
traffic executive committee in the
ninth district and the chairman
of the district committee plead
ing with him to change his mind
and offer for reelection.
Doughton Friday personally re-
piled to this communication and
released it to the press in order
to cap his announcement Tuesday
with finality.
"Your wire touched the deep
est emotion in my heart. And it
is the most distressing thing 1
have ever had to do to feel that
! cannot reasonably comply with
| the earnest request you all
make" he said.
my decision," he added, "Was
thought and pondered over for
months and before final an
nouncement was made and I be-
lieve, if you all understood fully
my side of the question, you
would feel that I have reached a
proper decision"
Although Doughton made no
mention of it, there's little doubt
but that in reiterating his deci-
sion to retire he thought of Sen
ator William E. Borah who lay
dying at the time from a cerebral
hemorrhage. Doughton is one
year older than the Idaho sena-
| tor and as chairman of the ways
and means committee his duties
are many times more exacting
and difficult than that of sena-
tor, even though he be national
figure like Borah.
Being chairman of the number
/ one committee of the House,
however, was not the only drain
on the North Carolinian's time
and energy. Because of his pro-
minent position and prestige he
has been brought into practical
| ly every matter of Importance af-
fecting North Carolina during the
| last six years.
Il have worked in a run all
my life" Doughton said Friday
He feels the time has come
! when he should slow the tempo
of his activity and this he could
never do if he remained in Con-
gress. Anticipation Of a more
quiet life around the fireside of
his mountain home takes prece-
dence over continued public SER
vice In the following letter to
members of the Democratic exc
cutive committee ''the tall oak
from the Alleghanies" let it be
known that the Rubicon of re-
tirement has been crossed and
there would be no back tracking:
Wire of January 18th signed
by yourself and other members
of the Democratic executive
; committee of our congressional
district, including the chairman
of the district committee, Mr..
CURE, should have been answer
ed earlier. However, I have not
been feeling we'll for the past two
or three days, and moreover, I
was at a complete loss to know
just what to say.
Your wire touches the deep
est emotion in my heart, and it
is the most distressing thing I
have ever had to do to feel that
I cannot reasonably comply with
the earnest request you all make.
II remember and appreciate
the many successful battles you