Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-01-10
SENATOR TOM BOWEN.
Something About the Centennial States
Most sucressfut Politician.

Something About the Centennial States
Most Successful Politician.
When the Washington correspond
ents mak, up their annual list of mill
ionaire Senator's, they usually put
Hon. Tom Bowen. Of this State. down
for from 5000 OOO to $4,000, 900.
Last winter they got him up 10 sl2.-
600 900; and when the Senator met n
Colorado friend and was asked about
it, he replied: ''lsn't that joke?
Lend me fifty dollars. WI yon?"
II Bowen realizes his expectations In
the San Juan country. he will be COM
fortably fixed for life; but just at pres
ent he is in the financial condition so
common in this part Of the world-he
Is mine poor The man walked into
San Juan a few years agO--tramped
his way. like any other dead-broke
fortune-hunter. H. had been on the
losing side Of the Brooks and Baxter
war for the control of the Arkansas
State Government at Little Rock. and
when he got here his finances had
reached their lowest ebb. But he had
the voie-getting gift, and it wasn't
long before he was sitting on the bench
aud dispensing justice at Lead7ille,
Alamosa and one or two other plnces
which comprised his circuit.
owens political methods arc his
own He doesn't go about with the
boys whooping up things, but he picks
his friends with rare discrimIn..;-'
and they stand h.'-i'i'oS picturesque
-Irr--Ii1at he dealt pam, COM
nonsense kind Of justice. Perhaps
he most notable incident of his judicial
career was the contest of the Santa Fe
and Rio Grande railroads for the right
of way through Grand Canyon, Just
above Canyon City The case was
tried at Alamosa. and was attended |
with a good deal OF feeling. Bowen
decided against the Santa Fe, and the
next morning there appeared in Dem
yer paper a dispatch announcing the de-
cision, and with it the insinuation that
the court had been corrupted. When inc
paper reached Alamosa Bowen replied
TO 1t from the bench. and made inc
orator ical effort of his life. Fragmerts
of that speech have boon preserved
and when Bowen and his
s..,..e,o career are subjects OF
conversation, some one is pretty sure
TO quote from memory q sentence or
two Of that remarkable TRADE. Per-
haps the most striking portion was
that in which. referring to the dispatch
and its author. Bowen said: THE
heart that conceived it was as bleak,
barren and verdureless of truth as
tn lava beds of hell. "
Only intimate friends know that
Bowen is n great lover of poetry, and
that his favorite is Byron. From that
author he can quote by the hour.
His Interests here consist of gold
mine, in which very beautiful rich ore
Is found in pockets. 1t is doubtful II
lie makes much out of it, for he hasn't
the capital 10 work it on IL large scale.
His idea has always boon TO sell the
mine, and last winter he thought
lie had found purchaser. There
was no trouble about the price,
$3.50 600, or the terms. "Now," said
the Senator to an intimate friend, 81
can invest that money where 1t will
yield me a sure, steady income, on
which can live comfortably" Then
he spoke of his aspirations for another
term in the Senate, and expressed the
belief that if he got back he would be
able 10 accomplish something not to be
ashamed Of
But while the Senator was indulg-
Ing in tho dream of being able 10 re-
alizc the aim of his life, the capitalist
who was putting In tho bull Of his
fortune 10 buy this mino was suddenly
afflicted with failing sight Physi-
cians told him there was no hope OF
recovery. The bargain had progressed
so far that the question of release lay
with the Senator. The capitalist went
70 him and told him the circumstances.
Blwen listened, and said quietly:
"Would you rather you had not mado
this trader" The buyer replied that
since ho found himself in such help
less condition he did not believe it
would be wise to entor upon tho en-
terprlsa. VERY WELL" replied Bow
,n "here are your securities" and he
banded back the papers without
alolhor word.
Senator Bowen still has the mine.
lie works it enough to strike OCCASION
nj pockets. and when he gets any
thing particularly good he saws the
stuff into slabs and onriches the speci-
men cabinets of admiring friends. -
San Juan (COL) Cor. ST. Louis Globe
HcmocrdL.
CHINCOTEAGUE PONIES,