Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-09
FAMOUS BLIND MEN.
Lawyers, Editors, Merchants and
Builders Who Cannot See.
THE SIGHTLESS ORATOR OF OHIO.
William 6. Cramer and Walter L. Camp
bell Toiled in the Sanctum.
CHRIS. BUCKLEY, THE POLITICIAN
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH. !

WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.
was standing in the lobby of the South
ern Hotel, in st. Louis, one day in Noyem-
Der last. The silver mems convention was
then in session in st. Louis, and the parlors
and lounging rooms of the hotel were
crowded with delegates and strangers. A
tall, gray-haired man, of dignifed and
stately bearing, came in, leaning on the arm
of a youthful companion, and at once be-
came the center of an animated group, who
crowded about to shake his hand and ex-
change greetings with him. Only the
closest observer would have OWNED from
the newcomers movements that he was
blind. His face was a striking one, strong
and clean-cut, and carved with deep lines Of
thought.
At the stormy and tumultuous Republican
National Convention held at Chicago in the
month of June, 1884, the owner OF the
striking face had, under conditions that put
to the fullest test an orators powers, Tor
half an hour swayed great audience OF
10000 people at his will, as, in speech
memorable for its eloquence and dignity, he
placed James G. Blaine in nomination for
the Presidency. He was Judge William
h. West. the blind orator, who, by reason
of his physical Affections, his exalted char
acter and superb mental endowments, has
long been one of the most picturesque and
attractive figures in Ohio politics and at the
Ohio bar.
Though blind from birth Judge West is
ripe scholar, his abilities as lawyer are of
the highest order, and his powers of oratory
recall the best traditions of the American
forum. He has held a number of public
positions and served on the bench with dis
tinction and honor. He resides at Belle
fontaine, where, though now we'll ad-
vanced in years, he is still actively engaged
in the practice of his profession, possessing
large and lucrative clientage. He has
beautiful home at BelIefontaine, aud an in
teresting family whom he has never seen
and never will. In private Judge West is
one of the most genial and companionable OF
men, apparently content with his hard lot.
His life is striking refutation of the popu-
lar belief that blindness debars man from
a life of usefulness and honor.
A GREAT POLITICIAN
The most powerful Democratic politician
on the Pacific slope is Chris Buckley, of San
Francisco. who during the greater part of
his political career has been totally blind.
Buckley, who is now 4S years old, was born
In Ireland and spent his boyhood in New
York City. He went To San Francisco in
1860, and for the first three or four years
found employment as street car driver.
Then in partnership with one CAL" Fritz
he opened a saloon which soon became
headquarters for the local politicians,
and in an incredibly short space of
time the two young men became all
powerful in the city. Fritz, wire
puller of unusual shrewdness. committed
suicide during drunken debauch ten years
ago, and in 1874 Buckley lost his eyesight
through chronic neuralgia. But despite
these drawbacks his political influence has
grown steadily and has often made itself
felt in State and national affairs. Buckley
managed Justice Fields canvass for the
Presidential nomination in 1884, and it is
said that Millionaire Hearst owed his cleo
tion to the United States Senate mainly to
the skill and shrewdness of the blind saloon
keeper. He is man of great resolution and
force of character, fitted by nature to rule
turbulent and lawless men, and those who
know him say that his loss of sight has in
creased his skill and cunning.
The blind boss is handsome man, of fine
figure and prepossessing face, and always
dresses richly and in the latest style. He
has spent large sums in efforts to regain his
eveslght but thus far in vain. His fortune
is estimated all the way from $3.50, 900 to
round million.
A FAMOUS EDITOR.
Another remarkable blind man is Will
lam E. Cramer, who for AZ years has been
the editor and proprietor of the
Euening Wisconsin, a daily paper
published in Milwaukee. A coasting acci-
dent, which befell him when boy in New
England, rendered him both blind and
deaf, but these drawbacks have not pre-
vented him from carving out brilliant and
remarkably successful career He is one of
the best equipped newspaper men in the
country. He began editorial work in AL
bany in 1843, where he was the intimate and
trusted friend of Thurlow Weed, Horace
Greeley and Henry j. Raymond. He went
to Milwaukee In 1S47, and by his own ef-
lorts has built the journal over which he
presides from humble beginnings to one of
the best paying newspaper properties in the
Northwest.
Cramer is man of splendid attainments.
He graduated from Union College and
studied law before he went into newspaper
work. He owns one of the finest private
Libraries in Milwaukee and he is acquainted
with the contents of every volume which it
contains. In the discharge of his editorial
duties, though now 73-he was born at
Waterford, n. Y, in 1S17-he is as enthu-
siastic and untiring as man OF 80. He
daily dictates several columns of editorial
matter to stenographer, and has done SO
for many years. By the laid of an audi
phone all the leading journals of the coun-
try are read to him every day, and in this
way he keeps abreast with the progress of
public opinion and events in all parts of the
world. Mr.. Cramer has been a great trav-
eler. He was in Paris during the Franco
Prussian war, and was one of the foreigners
who, locked up in the beleagured city, were
compelled to subsist for weeks upon mule
meat. Like Chris Buckley, Mr.. Cramer
dresses neatly and elegantly. He goes about
Milwaukee unattended.
EDITOR, LAWYER, REFoRMER.
Youngstown, O., also has a blind editor
in the person of Walter L. Campbell, who
was born in Salem, O., As years old. His
father, preacher, died before he was born.
A stone thrown by playmate when he was
years old hit him in the left eye, and he
became totally blind in both. When lad
of he was placed in the Columbus institu-
ton for the blind. where he made wonderful
progress in his studies, showing an especial
aptitude for music. He completed his
musical education in the School tor the
Blind in Philadelphia, where Blaine was
once a teacher, and then taught music in
his native place while fitting himself for
college.
With the money earned as music teacher
he went through the Western Reserve Col
lege, distinguishing himself as a classical
scholar, and graduating at the head OF his
class. He then studied law, and passed
through the Harvard law school. In school
and in his law studies it was his practice to
have fellow student read over to him sew
eral times the chapter or paragraph which
he desired to master. singularly tenacious
memory easily enabling him to retain and
absorb it. After two years residence in