Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-08-19

forget his occupation, and that man
was Colonel Edward ID. Baker Of Cali
fornia, Oregon and the nation.
Colonel Baker was born IN England
and was brought 70 America whilo u
child by his parents, His father was a
weaver and obtained work in Phila-
delphia mill. Young Baker also worked
IN tho mill when he got old enough.
Weaving was not to his TASTE and as
soon MS ho could ho went to Illinois and
without the aid Of much schooling edu-
Gated himself got admitted to tho bar
and began tho practice vt tho law in
middle Illinois, riding in tho circuit
with Lincoln and winning fame us an
orator, ewent to Mexico rs colonel Of
an Illinois regiment and won famo Mt
Cerro Gordn Roing attracted to Cali.
fornia at an early day, he settled in
San Francisco and speedily became IA
nous as n jury lawyer, particularly in
criminal cases, So great was his repu.
tation as an orator that tho miners
would leave their claims and 80 miles
over tho mountain trails to hear him
| speak.
Early in 1900 Colonel Baker deter.
mined to try To hc elected United
States senator from Oregon, IL was u
most audacious scheme for resident
of ono state to attempt to become son.
ator from an adjoining state. where no
had not even attempted to gain resi-
dencc. 1t would require a little moro
cheek for New York man to try to be-
como senator from Connecticut than ID
did for Colonel Baker to undertake to
become senator from Oregon. Tho very
audacity Of tho scheme commended 10
to Colonel Baker, and he ontcrod upon
the work with great energy. He stump
ed Oregon before the Juno election and
boldly proclaimed himself n candidate
for the senate MS a Republican against
tho celebrated General ,Ioo Lane. Tho
legislature met In tho fall and after
hot fight Colonel Baker was elected sen.
ator, with II noted wit James w. Mes
NTH, as his colleague
Tho news Of tho election Of Senator
Baker preceded his return by only
few days, causing great JOY to his
friends in California, who decided to
give him n public reception, n function
which in those days meant tho assem-
bling of friends to listen to speech by
tho honored man. Tho American thea
ter on Sansome street, with u seating
capacity Of 1900 when tho stage was
arranged for auditors. was engaged for
tho occasion, On tho appointed evening
every available seat and bit Of standing
room was occupied, while hundreds
were turned away, Seats nj tables were
arranged on tho stage for half dozen
reporters, among them being tall,
thin. consumptivo looking man about
30 years old, named Hart, who had
been reporting for newspapers no long
that no was supposed 10 be proof
against the wilcs Of man or woman.
Ii was stated ut tho time that ~
Colonel Baker rode down to tho meet
ing with the committee ho remarked;
II ought to make the speech Of my
life tonight, but feel ny II will make
u failure, -
After tho meeting had been formally
, opened man about D feet 3 inches In
height. athletic and erect in build, with
II magnificent head scantily covered
with gray hair, n smoothly shaycn face,
aquilino nose. blazing dark eyes, u large
neck ,ncircled with wide Byron col.
lur and wearing dark clothing, was In
troduced as Colonel Baker, our sona-
tor from Oregon"
| Az | had never heard Colonel Baker
speak. but had had my head filled with
stories of his oratorcal powers, | sat
among the reporters, projudieod against
him by tho pcrversity OF my nature, and
studied him. For tho first o minutes
| compared him with tho noted orators
/ l had heard in tho east, my early con.
clusion being: III this IL tho great
orator of the Pacific and tho gray eagle
of California, no IL much overrntcd.
have heard Rcoro Of men who cxcollod
! him. Then / became interested In tho
matter aud tho manner Of the orator.
His voice rivalcd IN tono and compass
tho notes produced by II silver buglo
when played by master. his gestures
seemed moro appropriate and graceful
than those Of any speaker had ever
heard, and his utterances were 80 en-.
trancing that NIL idea Of the flight Of
time was lost ms the oars drank in his
words and the eyes watched his grace.
full movements.
To give you an idoa Of the power Of
Colonel Bakers oratory II Ii enough to
relate that Mr.. Hart, the caso hardened
reporter | have mentioned. became so
absorbed In the matter and 80 fascinated
by the manner Of the orator that he for
got his duty to his newspaper, forgot to
take notes, forgot his surroundings and
at ono climax IN the speech jumped
from his scat ran out Oh tho stage,
grabbed Colonel Baker round the neck
and, amid the tremendous cheering Of
the great audience. yelled:
BY God, sir, You are right"
Tho instant Hart spoke he woke up
and, realizing the spectacle he had
made Of himself, rushed from the stage
amid tho wild and long continued cheer.
ing Of the vast audience.
None OF the reporters on that stage
was ever able to write out more than