Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-02-08
THE STORY OF TWO DIVORCES.

THE STORY OF TWO DIVORCES.
10th Social and Political Circles i'm Wis
con Greatly Interested.
Madison (Wis.) letter.
The divorce proceedings in the Dane
county circuit court, which have resulted
in the separation of Ex-Governor VIM.
B. TAYLOR and his wife and Mr.. and Mrs.
E. W. Reyes, have caused good deal OF
gossip in social and political circles
throughout the state. The bill were
filed and the DEGREES granted in both
cases almost before the public knew any
thing about them. The causes assigned
by the husbands for seeking
separation were widely different.
Mr.. Reyes alleged that his
wife's unfortunate and uncomfortable
fondness for drink made his life unendur-
able and set and example for his sons,
now approaching manhood, which was
pernicious in the extreme. Gov. Taylor,
on the other hand, set up the claim OF de-
sertion and incompatibility, the latter
having been caused principally by his
wife's extreme temperance ideas, which,
the governor declares, she forced upon
him on all occasions for the purpose OF
annoying HIM. Citizens of Madison and
people throughout the state who attend
ed social gatherings at the capital were
not ignorant of the unhappiness which
long existed in these families. During
the administration of Gov. Taylor it was
several times limited that, while he and
his wife sometimes appeared together on
state occasions, it was for the sake ap-
pearances, and that there was no affec-
ton between them.
Mrs. Reyes has probably achieved In
politics wider reputation and welded
greater influence than any other country
postmaster in the United States. He has
been postmaster in this city for many
wears, and for years he has devoted al
most his entire time to the Republican
machine in Wisconsin. He was known
in every city, village and crossroads,
and was terror to government officials
who found it difficult or inconvenient to
contribute to campaign funds. He steadl-
ly refused any office than that Of the
postmaster at Madison, though he was
the constant companion of all the leading
Republican politicians and Office holders
of the State. The power of the "Boss'
Keyes as he was called, was at its zenith
in 1871, when backed by the late Sena-
tor Carpenter, he compelled
Republican State convention
three-fourths of the delegates
to which had been pledged to William
E. Smith, to nominate for Governor Cad
wallader G.. Washburne, who was sup
posed to stand in the way of Carpenter
The extraordinary methods employed by
Keyes to stifle the voice of the party
raised up enemies against him, and after
several Intellectual attempts by conven-
tions to GUST him from the Craftsmanship
of the state committee, he withdrew from
the management of party affairs. The
contest for Timothy o. Howe's seat in
the United States senate in 1879 disclosed
the real ambition of Reyes life, which
had always been a mystery Matt 81.
Carpenter divided with him the opposition
to Howe's return, and for several weeks
the balloting went on without result. At
length it appearing that somebody must
give way, Reyes withdrew in favor of
Carpenter, with promise on the part OF
the latter's supporters that he should
have their assistance in 1881 on the ex-
piration of Cameron's term, but the ap-
pearance of Philetus Sawyer on the scene
at that time put an end forever to the
aspirations of the postmaster. He had
made senators, but could not become
one His two expensive campaigns and
his recent payment of alimony to his di
! vorced wife have left him poor.
Although inscriptions and domineer
ing in politics, Mr.. Reyes is believed to
be personally man of integrity.
William r. Taylor was elected govern
or of Wisconsin in 1873 by the Democrats
and grangers. He was farmer living
near Madison The grange movement
made it desirable for the Democrats to
nominate an agriculturlst, and Taylor
was chosen simply because he happened
to be president of the State Fair associa-
ton, and as such probably the best known
| farmer In the state. He was elected over
c. G. Washburne by about $4,000 major
| itv, and with the assistance of George 81.
! Paul, a Milwaukee journalist of ripe scho
larship, was enabled to af1ix his name to
some of the ablest and most polished state
papers now in the archives of Wisconsin.
Taylor is a tall and angular man
with scanned and weather beaten face,
which indicates sternness of character If
not intelligence. Being unfamiliar with
the usages of polite society, his incum-
bency of the governorship was looked
upon Will dNcTSlOH c'eH ny uduy VI eu0
men who had elected him. His first mes
sage, which was prepared by Mr. Paul,
made it certain, however, that if schol-
ar did not occupy the Office there was
one very near at hand, and so there was
no further uneasiness on this score.
At the election in 1875 Taylor was de-
feated by Ludington Republican,,
although the remainder of the Demo
cratic ticket was successful by round
majorities. This discrimination on the
part of the voters affected Taylor keenly,
and the new legislature having investi-
gated his disposition of the contingent
fund and shown that large portion of it
had been Improperly used, he retired to
his farm with an exaggerated idea of the
ignominy which had been heaped upon
him.
n a