St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-25

John c. SpOoner's friends. says the Phila-
delphia Record, speak of him as the coming
man on the Republican side of the senate
and as dark horse for the presidency.
Certainly he has made his mark in the SEN
ate already, and that in funeral Grafton,
and his political career has been almost I'M
paralelled in its success. In 1854 SpOoner
was only known as successful railroad
lawyer living at Hudson. in Wisconsin, but
practicing mostly al Madison, the capital of
the state. His reputation as a shrewd and
successful lawper had extended Sc far be-
yond the borders of Wisconsin that he was
retained by several corporations in Boston,
but the general public, even in Wisconsin
had scarcely heard his name. The Repub-
lican managers, knowing that SpoOner was
good speaker, and being hard pressed for
good speakers in the campaign of 1884,
urged him into the service. Very reluct-
antly he left his law business and took the
stump for Blaine and Logan. His speeches
astOniShed even the knowing committeeman.
They were brilliant and eloquent and moved
the people nightly. The Republican man
ayers put their heads together and said:
This will be worthy successor of Matt
Carpenter" They then went TO Spo0ner
and talked to him. lie was reluctant 10
leave his law business any longer. He had
no political aspirations. He did not care
to go to the senate. Gov. LuciuS Fair
child. a one-legged veteran, whose private
secretary Spooner had been after the war,
was candidate for the senate, and evil
IDENTIFY the choice of the old soldiers. In
short. they really must excuse him. But
they wouldn't. Fairchild was a good
worker, but they had in Philetus Sawyer
one good worker in the United States SEN
ate. What they wanted was good talker
some one who could speak for the state,
as Matt Carpenter did.
After holding out as long as possible.
SpoOner at last consented. and he was
elected the successor of Angus Cameron in
the senate. He sat modestly and quietly
in his seat until the other day, when he
delivered that striking eulogy on Hendricks
The sentiments he expressed in that eulogy
he fully believes in. lie is partisan who
believes that popular government is inn
possible without parties. He believes that
the party in power should control all the
offices. Theoretically he is a spokesman.
Practically he does not NEEDLE with the
offices at all. | am told that he never rec
commended man for appointment TO Office
He once wrote letter certifying to the
high standing of gentleman who wished
an honorary appointment without salary by
the president. The gentleman was appoin-
ted, but he had other letters that that from
Spooner. At all events he has never
directly or indirectly procured the appoint
| ment to Office of any of his friends. Spoon
er is an odd-lOoking fellow. He is not
only short in stature but he is thin in BODY.
He has long, low head, plenty of brown
hair parted on the right side of his head and
brushed over his forehead, and very
small mustache. He looks as though it
was his 33d and not his 43d birthday that
he celebrated not week or two ago. He
dresses very plainly, and looks very much
| like a country SchoolmaSter. His manner
is very easy and agreeable, and his CONVEX
sation is cheerful and sensible. His speak
| ing voice is clear and Silvery, reminding yCu
of Matt Carpenter. and his manner Of
speaking is eloquent and dignified and
| quite unaffected. He has an income from
his practice variously estimated at from
| SIS, 600 to $50, 900. He has half a dozen
assistants who help him to carry on his
| professional work while he serves i'm the
senate. He lives very quietly, both in
Washington and at his home at Hudson.
He has an accomplished and cultivated wife
and three bright boys. Spooner is an
Indiana man. He was born at Lawrence
Bay, Dearborn county. on Jan. 6, 1913.
His father took him TO Madison. Wis, in
June. 1859. He graduated at the Wiscon-
sin state university in 1864, and he is now
member of its board of regents. He
earned the title Of major by his services in
the war, rising to that rank from that of a
private in company ID, 10th regiment Wis
cOnsin Volunteer Infantry. After the war
he was the military and private secretary
of Gov. Lucius Fairchild, under whom he
had served in the army. He has been a
member of the bar only since 1867.