Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-28
SENATOR FROM KANSAS.
Something About the Family and Per-
sOnaIity of Lucian Baker.

"In the wife of Senator Baker of Kansas
Washington society will find woman well
worth knowing said prominent kanSan
to a representative of "The Star. Mrs.
Baker is true type of the western woman;
cultured. keenly bright and progressive;
not at all on the advanced woman order,
but yet a good politician in her gentle,
womanly way. Senator Baker lays upon
her shoulders the responsibility for his
newly acquired honors When the tidal
wave of populism wiped out the republican
party of Kansas, in 1891. it almost broke his
wife's heart, who was an ardent republican.
In 1872 the democrats of the Leavenworth
district nominated for state senator Shaw
r. Nicely, now United States marshal. Leav-
enworth county is one of the strongest
democratic stronghods in the state, and a
ueihocratic nomination tantamount to an
election. Mrs. Baker did not like the out
look and urged her husband to enter the
race for the republican nomination. You
may De able TO do something for the re-
publican party of the state, she urged
ana L believe you can be elected 1t was
forlorn hope but Mr.. Baker got the NOM
nation and was elected by smashing big
majority. 1t was more than a nine days
wonder, and the people talk about it yet
senator Baker was surprised himself and
says that 1t was his wifes fault and that
the DUTY she urged upon him was owing his
party is what has lodged him in the Uni
Senator Baker was the bulwark of his
party IN The senate, and buffeted the
waves OF populism quite successfully much
10 the delight OF MS wife. and his daugn-
Ter, MISS Mary Lucian Baker, who is rlow
student at Vassar, and who bid; fair to
ne as charming socially as she is bright
mentally. Senator Bakers only son. Bur
goyne Baker, will graduate from Michigan
his fathers alma mater, III June and will
pc MS fathers right hand man in Wash
1ngton. Senator Baker never has had his
picture in public print, and has steadily
declined to be so honored Even in the
picture taken of the Kansas senate Sena-
tor Bakers face is missing
A Dramatic Episode in His Career
"A rather dramatic episode in the life
OF the new Senator from Kansas came
near incapacitating him for further use
fulness of any kind few years ago D. r.
Anthony, editor of the Leavenwortn Times,
who is as forceful for a man, as his sister,
Susan B.. is for a woman. prints some
very strong pieces in his paper about the
people whom lt does not like. A man by
the name of ThurSton had killed his Tor
mer friend, w. w. Embree, whose past, by
the way, had led him to anticipate Just
such an end to a checkered career Both
men We're residents of Leavenworth, and
public feeling ran high. Senator I.ucian
Baker, counted one of the rising criminal
lawyers of the state, was retained by
Ihurstcn, ana so good was the defense
that Thurston was acquitted.
ANTHONY haG kept up an unceaSinG war
on Thurston and bounded him to Gespera-
ton. One day in 1880 Thurston met An
thony on the street iE Leavenworth, and
attempted to shoot him.
The 45-calber bullet went wide of the
closer mark and went whistling down the
street, taking off the ear of a man just be-
hind Anthony, and then striking Senator
Baker sqUarely in the left side passed out
On the right. He was all of three or four
hundred feet away at the time and was
rot a party to the controversy. For three
months he battled for life, and at last con-
quered. He is as strong ever now, and
since his recovery has felt no inconvenience
from the bullet of the man whose life he
had saved from the gallowS. Thurston
convicted and sent to the penitentiary
for long term of years. He appealed to
Gov. Click for pardon, but was refused.
Gov. Humphrey granted the pardon, two
years later, and ThurSton came to Wash
ington and began fight on eX-Gov. Click.
He was himself appointed to a government
position and held it until his death, two
yea1S ago.