, 1890-08-29
THE BAXTER BROTHERS.


Nashville. Tenn. Heraid.l
Il frequently happens that members OF
the same family entertain different politi-
cal views, but il rarely occurs that two
are candidates at tho same election for
any office, and more seldom still are they
nessee has the distinction of being the
only state 10 which two brothers were
nominees for tho govern orship, a con
dition Of affairs which existed in 1866,
when bob aud ALI Taylor made n unique
canvass. Again do circumstances some
what analogous arise. Lewis T. Baxter
has been chosen as the Republican stand
ard bearer in the gubernatorial campaign
in Tennessee, and a few days latter the
democracy Of Wyoming selected George
w. Baxter, his brother, as Its candidate
for the g~oyeTnorship. 1t is thus seen
that though like the Taylor brothers each
Of the Bakers is out for the governor
ship in the same year, unlike the Taylors
the Baxters are not aspirants in the same
state.
The Baxter who upholds the Demo
cratic flag in far away Wyoming has a
rather remarkable story. He is Only IS
years old, having been born Jan, ], 1855.
He is two years5older than Lewis, who
was 81 last November. George was edu-
Gated at the university of the South, at
Sewance, and was a great i%avorite of
Bishop Quintard. He is the only mem
Der of the family who is a Democrat, and
it is said that his early and persistent ad-
herence to the creed of Jefferson is due to
close intercourse with the reverend
bishop, who is n firm follower of Democ-
racy. Young Baxter was the foremost
man Of his year at Sewanee, being hon
ored with the c~aptaincy OF n company and
esteemed as n student OF high promise
and a gentleman of admirable bearing.
He lett Sewan.e to go 10 West Point, and
graduated there in 1878. For four years
he served as n lieutenant in the regular
army. and then resigned to seek his for
tune in the Far West. Nine years ago
he went TO Wyoming. Gifted with keen
intelligence. ambitious and energetic, he
was successful from the start. His home
is at Cheyenne, where he lives in hand
some style. He married 4 daughter of
Charles McGhee OF Knox yille, and is the
father of three children.
~
Sterling integrity, 10 attractive person
atty and pronounced business success,
soon made young Baxter a foremost man
in the territory. and his staunch Democ
racy made him a party power. When
Mr.. Cleveland was elected MIR. Baxter.
though barely 80 years of ago. was ap-
pointed governor of Wyoming. Soon af-
terward he became involved in a legal con
troversy about the right to fence some
thousands of acres OF land in which the
government was contesting his position.
lie promptly wrote to Secretary Lamar
stating that he did not desire to hamper
the administration by denying claims
which il advocated, and he would, there
fore, resign the g~oycrnorship. His ~resigna-
ton was after awhile accepted. Baxter
proved the justice OF his position by
winning his suit in the supreme court of
the United States. But Mr.. Baxter did
not lose his interest in politics. He was
a member Of the constitutional conven-
ton and, il may he remarked, was the
author aud champion OF the clause be-
slowing upon woman the electoral fran
chise, which was incorporated into the
organic law Of the new state upon its re-
cent admission by n Republican congress.
Last week the Republican and Democratic
parties held their first conventions to
nominate candidates for state offices.
Each party was on its metal, determined
to place its strongest champions in the
held for the initial passage at arms Tor
dominion over the iufant commonwealth.
The high esteem IN which Baxter was
held may be inferred from the fact that
he was chosen as the gubernatorial leader
of Democracy by reclamation on the first
ballot. No other name was considered.
-
There is no discount on the Democracy
Of George. He delivered a ringing speech
10 accepting the nomination and expound-
ed Democratic principles according to the
true faith.
Wyoming has been Republican, but
Baxter will iorce the fighting, and has a
fair chance of success. His speech Of ac-
ceptance shows that he is lucid and vigor-
u in expression, observant and well
posted. He is a cool. level-headei and
ambitious young fellow, with plenty Of
brains, and will give his Republican
opponent. a trained politician, a strug-
gle which he will not forget 1t may be
safely asserted that no man in Tennessee
will wish the young sSion OF the Baxter
family more success than will the vener-
able bishop who converted him to the
creed Of Democracy. Ii is a rather re-
msrkable fact that the three Baxter
brothers. William, Lewis and George.
should have been nominated for high
offices when about the same age. LOWS
is 81 and William. the general attorney
for the East Tennessee, Virginia & Geor.
gia railroad. was 81 when a Republican
nominee Tor the supreme court of the
state. The three are all successful men.
in the broad sense of the word, and
though two OF them are found opposed to
the third in politics, yet it may be fairly
surmised that the adage. that blood is
| thicker than water, will compel the Re-
publican brothers to wait cordial greeting
to the youngest of the flock, who is gal
lantly bearing aloif the Democratic stand
ard in the far Wet.
THE Republican epidermis seems to be