The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-02
COCHRAN AS A MONK
Report That the Ex-COngressman Will
Enter a Jesuit Seminary.
HIS CAREER AS A LAWYER
Once Great Power In Tammany-
Retired From Politics After a
Controversy Wish Richard
Croker-HIs wife is Dead.

1
ing his busy secular life and devotln
his energies to the Catholic church. !
is said that the loss of his wife at IN
hour OF his political triumph has s.
saddened him that he contemplates ap
plying to Jesuit seminary for adInis
sion as a monastic novitiate.
This report has been given color b,
the fact that after the death Of hi
wife. Is months ago. he had his sol,
and silver plate melted and cast int,
sacred vessels. which he presented al
memorial to ST. Francis Xavier'i
church, this city. The orator. states
man and lawyer does not deny the re
port Neither does he affirm it,
He seemed surprised yesterday whcr
approached on the subject
Il cannot imagine how such a report
has gained circulation" said he
| rs IL true" he was asked. that you
contemplate preparing TO enter 4 Jesuit
seminary as a novitiate2"
| Concerning that I have nothing &c
| say" he replied, after a pause.
| DO you say that the report is abso-
lutely without foundation"
No" he answered. but I positively
refuse to discuss this matter"
HIS HEALTH is POOR.
Since the eX-congrcssmans return
| from abroad his old political friends
|
| stranger in places which he formerly
| frequented. and this has given rise II
/ much speculation. At the same time Il
Is known that he is not i'm the best of
| health. He is a severe sufferer from in
somnia, and the strain upon his nerv-
Gus system is evident. His eye mas lost
nearly all of it's old-time fire and his
strong, forceful face has a carewosn,
fatigued expression. That he needs rest
and quiet is agreed by sympathetic
friends who have seen him recently.
The Rev. William Jackson, pastor of
81. Paul's Roman Catholic church i'm
East one Hundred and Seventeenth
street, Is a brother Of Mr.. Cockran's
first wife. IF he should enter into the
priesthood" said Father Jackson yes
terday, Il would be very much sur
prised. ] have heard several Of Mr.
Cockran's friends I'm the Vorld say
that he contemplated going into the
priesthood. but he has never apokcn &c
me about it, j saw him On Wednesday
last and then he gave me no intimatlon
that that was his intention.
II know that he has several friends
among the Jesuits. What mis- intcn-
tions are concerning the priesthood /
cannot say. lie has neither consulted
me nor preached the matter to me-"
FAMOUS AS AN ORATOR.
William Bourke Cochran is best
known as an orator. His eloquence
made him for several years one ~ the
most conspicuous figures In Tammany
Hall, and he needed only the opportu-
nifty afforded him I'm the democratic ma
tlonal convention Of 1892. when ne nom
mated Senator Hill for the presidency
TO make his reputation as an orator
spread from one end of the country to
the other This speech was the inspira-
ton of the moment
The convention had been I'm session
nearly all night. and IL was at o'clock
in the morning-after Mr.. Cleveland
had been nominated and when the del
egates were tagged out and half asI.cp
that Mr.. Cochran took the platform
to nominate Mr.. Hill. He awoke the
convention to the widest enthusiasm
in a speech which some OF his hearers
described as the greatest that was ever
made at a national convention. IL was
in his opening remarks that he spoke
or Mr. Cleveland as "a popular mana
popular man every day In the year-cx-
cept election day"
Mr.. Cockran's next great triumph as
an orator was during the tariff debate
In congress In January. 1894. when he
Thomas b. Reed of Maine.
When Mr.. Reed threw down the gaunt-
let 10 the New Yorker near the close
Of the discussion. the republicans ex-
pected that Mr.. Cochran would find
himself overmatched. They were dis |
appointed, for Mr.. Cochran attacked |
Mr.. Reeds arguments so effectively |
hat the democrats cheered and shout |
I'd I'm delight.
STUDIED FOR THE PRIESTHOOD. |
Bourke Cockran-few designate him
n any other Way-was born in the /
County Sligo. Ireland. His parents
Intended him fg~ the church. and I
With this end In view ne was care
ully educated IN the schools OF his ma
I've country and in his early youth was |
ent TO a Catholic college In France. |
II the age of II he decided that he was
rot suited for the church. with scarce
y enough money 10 pay for "A weeks
board after purchasing his passage. he
allied for this country. lie taught
chool in this city and Mount Vernon
or number of years. during which
line he studied law
In 1876 Mr.. Cochran was admitted 10
he bar. and after practicing two years
\ Mount Vernon, moved 10 this city
nd opened an Office al No rs Broad
Jay. when his rise I'm the profession
egan some months later. u was rapid |
was not long before he began 10 take
y active interest In political affairs |
ie was taken up by the leaders OF the
rNing Hall democracy. and first at
racted attention as the spokesman OF
hat organization IN the state conveu-
ION at Albany i'm ISL.
JOHN KELLY HIS FRIEND.
John Kelly had his eye ON young
ockran. and On lSN3 induced him 10 en-
Pr Tammany Hall Mr. Cochran was
lade a delegate TO the national con
ention In 1854 and joined John Kelly
nd the other braves OF the wigwam la |
pposing the nomination of Cleve- |
md.
His experience in that convention
rst showed tfe aggressive side pr has
allure. With the exception on John
ELY. one TammauF man after am
Their had been Missed or howlad down. |
Ockran finally arose and began 90
peak. The crowd hOwled and Missed !
I him. but ne continued % talk. until /
radually the Confusion died away.