The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-24

I'm anecdote which has the merit Of
- n nothing else Ii was in 1906,
,.,.1iaro-tbe exact date Is not important,
w. a. WINS about that era-James i. Bates,
~ lSoa If Glasgow and lator of Bowling
M, mnde n tour of Kentucky, deliver
,a,, sreeches I'm advocacy of the Demo-
ir tic cause. He was no ordinary man.
49, uossossed marvellous individuality,
i',oot ideality, keen sense OF Justice and
s''orb mental and physical courage. The
a. I'm his homely face were strongly
Itch marked TO attract tho attention of
o., ,,,ost unobservant, and his tall, slen-
Nv Nv and not ungraceful form rendered him
", i'm any gathering. But his
,'oice WAS tho browning endowment of
- os AN orator. 1t was commanding,
l'nsicoI magnetic and the most inspiring
s,0r the tour speak of no had an APP.
ointnent TO speak at Harrodsburg, Mer-
,,r county. and handhills announcing the
Int had been posted in that town weeks
y, odvonce of the date. There resided mt
iIarrodshurg an intense Wing, Thomas
ntartin who had formerly lived i'm Barren
norpty. and though ho hated Bates poll
tics he knew the capabilities of the man.
uo knew that blue grass people, as II rule,
had q very poor opinion of the Pennyr'ile
AID aid not think anything very excellent
aarid come ont of as pronounced Penny
n,iIo comfy ms Barren So Martin, when
No found Bates was To speak in Mercer
county began To herald him as one Of tho
loadinp orators of the state He would say
Inst wait until Colonel James II. Bates
GETS here. He'll show you what eloquence
is His words were received with in
credulitv and even with derision, but he
nersis,rd. and finally he succeeded in
arousine tine curiosity of the whole COM
munity and splendid Audience was as
sured Eatos upon his appearance.
AT last the dag arrived, and with it
Ratrs Martin aud about n dozen Othor
friends were sitting in front of the tavern
there wa, no hotel thcn-and about IL
o'clock i'm the forenoon they saw approach
inc tall and uncouth figure, almost gro
tesoue i'm garb-a soiled linen duster, II
soiled stovcpipo hat, soiled trousers that
had climbed nearly to the knees, expos
inc pair Of blue mixed, home knit yarn
socks. loosely covering spindleshanks,
and lust above shoes, united, that wero
rusty ms last years plowshares. All this
bestride an old flea bitten gray mare, lath-
cred with sweat for the day was scorching
hot. 1t was James Il. Bates.
''Ho rode up to the tavern, and before
he dismountod hc halloood out in that voice
that no man who ever heard it ever forgot:
Tom Martin, how are you? i am glad
to see you, for want dram, and you
can tell me whore / can get the best
lquor Martin was Mortified for his COM
panions were cunvulsed with laughter and
enjoyed his evident embarrassment. Ho
answered Bates by shaking him by the
hand and leading him To the hotel bar,
where both took hog drivers. He then
went out and took Bates saddlebags off
the old gray carried them inside and had
the best room in the house put in commits
sion. Bates shirt was not immaculate,
and Martin fishCd ont from the saddlebags
a clean garment He sent out for the
town barber and had his friend decontly
shaved, his clothes brushed, shoes polished
and hat smoothgd.
Bates complained of being very tired
and anxious for an hours rest and was
fast asleep on The bed before Martin had
finished arranging his wardrobe. Martin
went down stairs, and there no was I'M
mercifully guyed by his friends and ac-
Quaintances of both parties, but his only
answer was Go and hear him. Go and
hear him, gentlemen, and you'll change
your tune They all said they would not
miss it for any consideration. Upon tho
ringing of the first tavern bell Martin took
another hog driver up TO Bates, who was
already up and performing his additions.
After he was dressed and the liquor drank
they descended TO the dining room, where
Bates ate hearty meal, after which he
sat down for awhile under the shade trees
IN front of the tavern, gossiping with
Martin about old times and old friends
down in BARN.
When the speaking was announced by
the ringing of the courthouse bell, Bates
and Martin proceeded to that building, al
ready overlooking with people, many of
them drawn from idle curiosity to hear
what sort of talk such an odd looking old
codgcr would make.
Bates assembled the judges stand and
opened with the stereotyped Fellow citi-
zehS' His former aspect was changed.
Ills eyes, his manner, his voice, were those
OIL the nature nodded orator. He knew
TWO things-the law and politics-and on
thlS occasion he discussed political issues
ike the master he was Those who came
10 mock remained to applaud, and for two
hours he held his audience entranced.
mum was ING ndpIlCSb man III NUT
Ger county that night Bates proceeded on
MS way, and at Lebanon, in Marion coun-
~ no had AN experience very like that mt
Harrodsburg.
lie was not IA practical politician. lie
was too impolitic for that. He was no
Sleclloneer He was too blunt for that.
Ills ambition was to attain u seat in con-
eress, but the only time he was nominal
uu was when his election was hopeless. Ii
was IN $780,. and his speeches against
hhow Nothingism that year are yet eulo.
sNeu In the traditions of the old Third
uls.rlct. He was elected to the legislature,
"nu when the spawned old state Office OF
piesiucnt OF the board of internal improve.
.nents was yet existent he was nominated
.or 1t because of his transcendent power
vi the stump.
A., Alter the war he was frequently can
uluate for Office, but a new generation had
appeared that knew not Bates. His mind
was uhimpaired, and he was in political
"TOoru with the great majority of the pco
p,o oi Kentucky and of the Third district
.u' ne was too blunt. too plain spoken
soo little of a wire puller to succeed in @
convention. Louisville Courier Journal
M l.