Evening star., 1942-09-29
Norris
Continued From First Page.)

nation was made public. He made
formal statement today of his
reasons for accepting the independ-
ent nomination, addressed to the
people of the State of Nebraska"
In this statement, the Senator
pointed out that he had been petit
toned by many people in his own
State and throughout the country
to seek reelection because of his
long experience as a legislator-40
years.
/ II am reminded" he said, that
this experience is valuable and of
great assistance and that no new
man could take my place, however
great his ability, and fulfill these
duties without some years Of expe-
risnce." Neither his Democratic
nor his Republican opponent, Ken
meth S. Wherry, has ever served in
Congress.
Senator Norris Statement.
In his statement, Senator Norris
also said:
II have served the people of Ne
braska in Congress for 30 years. The
major part of my adult life has
been given to public service. I had
hoped that at the end of my present
term, now nearlv completed, could
retire to private life and spend my
remaining years in the State where
I have lived since 1885. However,
many thousands of NebraSkans have
signed petitions filed with the Sec
retary of State asking me to become
a candidate for reelection.
II am reminded by these petitions
and by letters and kilograms I am
receiving, not only from Nebraska
but from all over the Nation, that
my experience of 40 years has quail
fed me for the work that is to come
in the Congress of the United
States, not only to carry on the war,
but to draft satisfactory peace at
its conclusion.
II am reminded that in this great
world struggle where the life of
democracy and civilization Itself is
at stake I cannot honorably refuse
GllC klOlll1lldUlOll DO GAL llldCpS1lNCilO
candidate and that, if should with
draw now, it would be like soldier
quitting the fight when it is but half
finished.
my Patriotic Duty"
IT am reminded that it becomes
my patriotic duty to stand again for
reelection regardless of what the
outcome may be. I cannot close my
eyes to these protests and these
prayers from my countrymen.
Il am deeply moved by the con-
fidence which is shown in me. I am
satisfied that this confidence is
greater than I deserve and yet I
cannot help but feel that would be
almost cowardly if I did not give
heed to these fellow citizens who
are PRAYING that I again enter the
race. 1t seems to me I am faced
with a condition where I cannot de-
cline without being truthfully
charged with NEGLECT of patriotic
duty at time of dire distress when
every citizen must do his mite to
save the civilized world from de-
struction.
ut seems to me I cannot afford
at this period in my life to feel that
am in any way guilty of lack Of
courage or patriotism to do my full
duty to my country. have there
fore written the Secretary Of State
that I will accept this nomination
and. having thus become a candi-
date, I am of oourse extremely
anxious that I should be elected If,
in the coming campaign, should be
defeated, I would feel that in effect
it was reputation from my own
people Of all my 40 years of public
service. If were younger a defeat
would not bother me very much, but
at my age, when it is known that
this is the last fight I would ever
make, it seems to me the approval of
my life work is at stake.
During all the period of my serv-
| ice in Congress, my conscience has
been my only master. To the best
of my ability have tried to follow
the dictates Of that perfect voice.
/ know I have made many mistakes.
If I am reelected I will undoubt-
edly make many more, but I can
only promise the people whom
love that, if reelected, I will con-
tinue to do in the future as I have
done In the past.
| II have remained aloof from