The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-09

ment of the death to-day Of Senator Harris
set political gossip going. The successor to
the dead Senator will be appointed by the Gov
ernor to serve until 1899, when the Legislature
will meet and elect a Senator to ill out the I'M
expired term. The fight is complicated by the
fact that for four years 1t has been the ambition
Of Gov. Taylor to go to the Senate. A fow
months ago 1t was announced that the Cover
nor would resign, and in view of Senator Har-
ris's condition it was charged by Taylor's enc
mics that he was getting in position to receive
an appointment to the Senate.
There is little doubt that Governor Bob
would be the most formidable candidate were
the Legislature in Session, though he would
have rivals in the persons OF Congressman Mo-
Millin and Richardson. 1t was said this after
noon that thc Governor will reign now, and
that Speaker Thompson OF the Assembly, who
would become Governor, would be so grateful.
for his elevation that he would appoint Taylor
to the United States Senate.
II the Governor docs not make this deal, It Is
conceded that he will appoint some man like
Gen. W. H Jackson Of Nashville, or II. ".
Hope of this city. who would not CD pose him in
1899.
No one knows the exact age Of Isham g.
Harris. He was sensitive on the subject, and
either did not know or else had reasons for con-
cealinK the date Of his birth, for he never told II.
He was born about seventy-nine years ago at
Tullahoma, Tenn. Appleton's Cyclopedia OF
American Biography makes the date Of his birth
Feb. 10. 1918. His father was the owner OIL
small farm. with but a few slaves to work 1t, 80
that the boy grew up with but few advantages.
When he was about II years old he went 20
Paris. Tenn, and worked in q store. attending
school ct the same time. Five years
later he moved to Mississippi and opened
q store. While there he studied law at night,
but business reverses compelled him to postpone
the practice OF his chosen profession until 1s41.
when he was admitted to tho bar and opened an
office at Paris. He soon drifted into politics az
a Democrat. and in ls47 was elected to the State
Legislature. From 1s4s to 1853 he represented
the Ninth Tennessee district In Congress. de-
second term. He then moved 70 Mem
Of law until 1857. when he Wa elected
Governor OF the State on the Democratic ticket,
time cat After Tie evil fsiYS war had iH eo3mono Cd 'f Beina
PEf h.ea to s2h fs' f 5ss, se9sf g Sei the d iossd'i 10 Of h tho
came . volunteer aide on the stan q Gen; Albert
AZ shiloh. Harris followed the fortsnes
evading parole, Joined Gen. joe shelby's band
teen months. when he sailed for England. lie
remained abroad a year and then. deciding TO be
reconstructed, returned TO thtl country and re-
sumed the practice Of law at Memphis. In 1879
he was elected to the United States Senate and
term he was serving Mt his death does not expire
aitfnsnott he last SSaSaf, -pemotratio Con:
vention by the votes Of the silver men, whose
cause he espoused.
MT. Harris will BIO greatly missed from tho
Senate chamber. lie had boen a picturesque
anu interesting figure there for over twenty
years, and had come to DO looked upon as "A
oracle by his party friends In both houses Of
Congress. He was noted chiefly for his detailed
knowledge OF parliamentary law, and when Lis
party was in a majority in the Senate he served
as Chairman of tho on Rules
and vas President pro tempore Of the, day.
parliamentary procedure, but he loved to O..
pound them. His dictatorial way OF telling his
colleagues ON both sides of the chamber what
they ought and ought not TO do was at all times
interesting and entertaining both to the Sen
ators and the spectators in the galleries. Al
many OF the older Republican Senators had a
warm attachment for Mr.. Harris and his hon.
esty Of purpose was respected on both sides OF
the chamber.
Mr.. Harris took absolutely no part in tho So
cial life of Washington. but loved to spend his
leisure time with old friends talking about the
good old days OF the southern Confederacy. he
lived in an unpretentious house on Capitol Hill.
and was always TO be found there when the
Senate was not In session. He received visitors
with a striking lack of formality at all hours,
and no matter how late he sat up at night there
was always a readiness for his earliest caller in
the, morning. The Senator's chief diversion
about tho city In a low-coyerod phaeton drawn
by o small Borrel horse.