The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-13
DAVE CULBERsoN OF TEXAS.
A Sketch of His Rise to Fame.

Washington Cor 81. Louis Globe Democrat.
In the recent distribution of Chairman.
ships in the House, that of the Judiciary
Committee went naturally to David b.
Culberson, of Texas. Mr.. Culberson has
had for several Congresses the name Of be-
ing the ablest lawyer on the Democratic
side. He would have been chairman of the
committee long ago but for the fact that
John Randolph Tucker, of Virginia, took
precedence by priority of service. As soon as
Mr.. Tucker Dropped out Mr. Culberson be-
came, as a matter of course, the head of the
committee and the officially recognized legal
authority of the Democrats. The fitness of
the selection is generally conceded. But few
who respect his ability as a lawyer know
that he owes his success in life to a compost
tion on 'possum hunting.
The Congressman's cousin, who is we'll
to-do business man of Atlanta, Ga, tells th e
story. Dave" and he were boys at school
together near La Grange, Ga, forty years
ago Dave" was then I5: Fhe school
master was Mr.. Jones, and he had long
tried to spur young Culberson into soHne iu-
terest in his studies, for the boy was in
clined to shirk The schoolmaster had as
signed subject after subject in the hope of
getting composition OUT of his easy-going
pupil. Dave" had always come to time
with some excuse. The schoolmaster was
discouraged and he talked pretty severely to
the boy about his shortcomings, and asked
him how he ever expected TO get on in life
the way he was going.
The reproaches put Dave" on the defen-
sive, and he said: "Mr. Jones, I'll tell you
my objection to writing compositions.
| don't want to be smart. Smart folks are
always poking their noses into other folks
business I'd rather be a 'possum hunter
than anything else. 'Possum hunting
know something about. If you are set on
having composition I'll write one on pos
sum hunting If you like"
go ahead" groaned the schoolmaster,
| glad to obtain that much of a concession.
Friday afternoon came round for the com
positions. "Dave" took the floor and read
"From that day to this" says Mr.. Joseph
| Culberson, there has never been finer de
scription written of 'possum hunt The
schoolmaster listened to the paper atten
lively, and when the reader sat down he SAID
with great emphasis:
David Culberson, see in you the mark
of greatness. But fear your modesty and
your inclination to take things easy will
keep you back all your life. My advice il
| if YOU want to make something of your
self, to go to some new country and go to
work. You need to be spurred by different
surroundings"
A day or two after that, Mr.. JOSEPH
Culberson says, his cousin came TO him and
asked:
Joe, did you hear what old Jones said
| about me the other day"
| YES" was the reply.
'What do you think of it"
81 think there is good deal in it." the
cousin answered.
II tell you what I'm going to do" sale
Dave with a good deal of earnestness
'Pm going to get after the old man to move
out into Alabama and try it. I'll never
amount to anything here"
Sure enough, the cousin says, "Dave'
persuaded his father to move, and the fam
| ily journeyed $50 miles westward and set
| tied. Several years afterwards "cousin
! Joe" made trip out there to see them. H
found his uncle packing up for another
move. "Dave" had been making a reputa
| ton in the debating societies, but he thought
the country was settling up too thick, and
he wanted to go farther West. The ole
man was willing, for the young mans am
bition had proven contagious to the whole
family. .y.,,
The composition of 'possum hunting and
the schoolmaster's advice took the Culber
sons to Texas. Before three years had
passed the community in which the family
settled had recognized Dawes ability and
had sent him to the Legislature. The wal
came on. Young Culberson enlisted as q
private in the Confederate army. He came
out Adjt. Gen. Culbersen. Fourteen years
ago the jefferson district elected him tC
Congress, and has kept him there ever
| since
When district casts. 600 votes for q
| Congressman who has no opposition it is 6
| pretty strong indication of a good feeling
on the part of constituents without regard
to party lines. Mr.. Culberson is popular
with the Republicans of his district as he is
with the Republicans in Congress. Tho SO
cret of this popularity is his mindedness
He is not partisan.