The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-06-27
JOHNSTON WILL NOT
Run FOR HOUSE SEAT

chairman of the education com
mittee and served on II other i'm
portant committees. AS a Repre-
sentative in the hectic 1881 ses.
sion, Mr.. Johnston was mem.
Der of sub committees that helped
write the bills providing for the
state to take over the schools
and roads.
From 1926 to 1898, he served
as chairman of the county Dem
ocratic executive committee and
was secretary from 1922 to 1924.
In his formal statement, Mr..
Johnston expressed the urgent
hope that party unity and har-
mony will prevail this year in
Ashe county, in the state and the
nation. The statement is as fol-
lows:
$50 many of my friends have
told me that I should make a
statement of my intentions as to
running for Representative that
l am now stating that I can not
accept the nomination this year.
l have reached this decision be-
cause of impelling personal rea-
sons. Permit me to assure my
loyal friends and others that
might be interested that my de-
cision is in no way influenced by
any fear as to the result. have
received enough requests to run
and assurance of support to re-
move any doubt of my nomina-
ton and election, should my de-
clslon have been otherwise.
"Let me add this: I am deeply
grateful for the loyalty and sup
port of my friends. I love the
Democratic Party and have Civ
en- to it unstintingly the best
years of my life, without asking
for reward. The honors that have
come to me have been unsougnt
and therefore are appreciated the
more. have worked for the cleo
ton of every Democratic Candi-
date in every Election since 1
reached my majority. 1 have not
kicked over the traces when ev-
erything did not suit me. You
may judge as to.-whether have
fought good fight; but no one
can deny that I have kept the
faith.
All 1 ask of my party is to
choose as its candidate some one
who has been loyal to the Party
and its ticket as I have been.
There are many such men, able
and worthy. No doubt each town.
ship has one or more who could
fill the office with honor.
Some have said that since my
name has been identified in the
minds of some with so-called fac
tional division, the Party can bet
ter unite on one free from the
handicap of this imagined fac
tionalism. I hope they are right;
and even if I wanted the office,
I love my party enough to fore
60 any personal ambition for the
sake of party peace. For twelve
years as County Chairman, I
worked unselfishly for party har-
mony and the removal of fac
tionalism within the party. I have
received the blame without COM
plant for many things for which
I have not been in the least res
ponsible. But today, have ma
lice toward none and goodwill
toward all who walk in the light
of truth. There are many among
those who have been loyal and
have borne the heat and burden
of the day fit to be chosen for
party honors and able to lead us
to- victory in 1910. Let us choose
such a one; and when such choice
is made, I will work and fight in
the ranks Of Democracy as a
common soldier with my fellow
Democrats. Let. it be understood
that this is by no means the end
of my interest in and my fight
for the things I believe in and
for which I have stood within the
party.
"Some have said the party
owes me the nomination Whe-
Their I want it or not. I am humb-
ly grateful to those who feel that
my work for the party entities
me to wear it's laurels. But if the
party owes me anything, after
twenty years of ardous labor in
its behalf, it is little rest from
official responsibilities and the
right to personal peace. And the
party owes to itself to choose
candidates who are and have
been loyal to it's ticket and its
principles and who approve it's
splendid record and administra-
ton in County, State and Nation.
These debts, I believe, with full
confidence in the patriotic men
I