The herald., 1893-01-22
SENATOR WHITE.
An Outline of the Distinguished Gentle
mana Carear.


An Outline of the Disting pushed Gentle
mems Career.
Senator Stephen Mallory White is a
very young man to be a member of the
United States senate, having been born
on the 10th of January, 1858. He missed
by "a houra being elected senator on his
birthday.
His parents. Mr.. and Mrs. William F.
White, resided in New York prior to
1849, coming to this state in sailing
vessel in that year, arriving, after being
at sea six months, in San Francisco.
Mr. White, sr,, engaged in commercial
undertakings in San Francisco un-
til September. 1858. During this
time he suffered severe financial
losses by reason of having his properly
burned sever al times In the Fl ires which
often devastated that city in early days,
I owing to the ffimsy construction OF the
buildings At the time mentioned the
family removed to Santa Clara county,
settling in Pajaro valley. and here they
made their home for 25 years.
Young Stephen received the rudi-
ments of education at fret from his
parents and then as scholar at neigh
boring public and private schools. At
the age of Is he was finely enough
grounded in the elementary branches OF
knowledge to be admitted to St. Ignatius
college in San Francisco. where he was
sent with his brother Edward who is
now an in fluential and respected resident
OF Santa Cruz county. After Studying
come time there the boys were sent to
Santa Clara college, where Stephen
made rapid progress in his studies, grad
uating at the age OF 18
He al most Immediately entered the
law Office OF Judge A. W Blair as a stu
dent and continued his law studies to
their completion in the Offices of Judge
Hagsn and @. B. Younger. Judge Blair,
his first instructor, is now a resident of
Los Angeles.
So we'll did he prosecute his work
that wien he was 81 years of age, in
April, 1874, he was admitted to practice
IN the supreme court. He selected Los
Angeles as his home and commenced
practicing his profession, and has con-
Iinued ever since.
In 1876 Mr.. White was nominated
upon an independent ticket for district
attorney pf this county, and although
he ran largely ahead of his ticket he
was defeated. In 1875 he took prom
inent part in the Tilden campaign in the
interest of the Democratic ticket. This
also was the case in 1878. In the
election of 1879 he did not partici
pate in state politics. 1t is presumed
that he did not interfere because of the
fact that his father was candidate upon
the Workingmen's ticket for governor,
and he did not believe that that organi-
cation could accomplish any of the pur
poses for which it was formed.
In 1880 he was delegate to the Dem
ocratic state convention at Oakland,
taking active part in the PROCEEDINGS of
that BODY.
In 1882 he nominated George Stone
man for governor at San Jose, and can
vassed the state vigorously in support
of his favorite, and in the same year he
was elected district attorney of this
county, receiving the largest vote of any
candidate upon any. ticket.
In 1884 he presided over the famous
Stockton convention, and upon this
occasion public attention was first di.
rected TO him as presiding officer.
In 1886 he was chairman of the con-
vention before which Governor Bartlett
WAS uumluhtou, duu WAS buDbeQuenCly
successful aspirant for the state sena-
torship Of the Thirty-eighth district.
his opponent being Hon. Henry T.
Hazard.
In 1888 he was chairman of the COM
mittee on resolutions of the state con-
vention, and wss elected delegate to
the Democratic national convention,
running ahead Of all other aspirants.
He was chosen as the temporary presid.
ing officer of the ST. Louis convention,
and conducted the proceedings of that
body as its chairman for large portion
of the period covered b. its business.
In 1890 he made the question of the
election of senators bv direct vote of the
people leading one. and his speech be-
fore the San jose convention upon the
subject of the senatorial endorsement
attracted widespread and favorable com.
ment. He vigorously advocated the
Democratic ticket, and especially crit
icised Senator Stanford's political career,
and argued against the election Of men to
he senate by corrupt methods. He re-