The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-07-05
ONE ON JUDGE RECTOR.
His Fame and Reputation /;
Abroad in Chicago.

The Houston Post reproduces the fol-
lowing from Chicago paper:
Judge John B. Rector, chairman of the
Texas delegation who seconded the nomi-
nation of Judge Gresham for the presi-
dency at yesterdays first session of the
convention, is one of the most noted of
the Southern Brigediers." His eloquent
tribute to Judge Gresham can be best ap-
preciated by those who know how sincere
the Texas judge appears to be in his
every utterance. There is nothing of the
demagogue or political trickster in his ap-
pearance or manner. There in the south,
reared by an aristocratic and proud
family, he was one of the first men of
Texas to shoulder his musket and march
to the front and fight Tor the confederacy.
His bravery on the field of battle soon
gained distinction and honor for the
young confederate, and when the smoke
of four years. battles had cleared away
young Rector wore the stripes of full
hedged confederate colonel.
After the war he settled down to the
practice of law, where he soon rose to its
highest honors. He had taken the oath
of allegiance to the newly welded nation.
He saw the error of the south and con-
fessed himself glad the negro was free
man. Thenceforth, he became one of the
bright and shining lights of Texas repub-
licanism and has ever been one of the
recognized leaders of that party in Texas.
He filled the Office of circuit Judge with
distinction to himself and gained many
admirers by his manifestly fair and ju
di9ious rulings.
In 1884 Judge Rector was a candidate
for congress in the Austin-San Antonio
district, his opponent being the Hon.
Joe D. Sayers, who is now in congress.
That was one OF the most memorable cam
paigns in the state. The old time method
of campaigning was adopted, two candi-
dates obtained buggy and rode from one
county seat to another together in that
buggy. They had been school boys to-
gether, college mates, mess mates in the
confederate army, and after the war be-
came law partners. They had travelled
around together, telling all sorts of yarns
on each other, and, at times, seemingly
almost resorting to blows.
At Bandera, Texas, they had large
crowd of cowboys for an audience. In
the debate there Governor Savers was
particularly rough on Judge Rector, ard
the judge in return SAID some very hard
things about his opponent. After the
speaking was over Judge Rector was the
first of the two to leave the school house
where the joint debate was held. As the
Judge sauntered down the road to his
hotel, locked arm in arm with two red
hot northern republicans, he heard some
one yelling: "Ssop, mister, stopw He
stopped, and the big, brawny, ouRh-look-
ing cowboy ran up, and, slapping Judge
Rector on the back, said:
"Mr. Sayers, you did everlastingly wall
up that gol darned fool of a turn coat
Rector! That's,right; give 'em HI. And
say, Mr.. Sayersy if you want me to, I'll
git up crowd of US fellows and duck him
in the river, jes to show him what we think
of dad-gum fellow who will fight with
the confeds and then jine the republi-
cans"
Judge Rector hardly knew what to say,
but he finally said:
my friend, you have got the wrong pig
by the ear. 1 am Rector. Sayers is back
there making love to yoHr girl"
THE HI he is" and the Savers man
was gone.