The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-18
HON. JOHN / BAKER,.
Venerable Citizen of Beverly Passes
Away After Long Illness.
Half q Century Spent In
Public Service.
eas IN the Legislature i0 Years and Held
Many Other Positions

Beverly, Mass. Feb. 1S.-Hon. John L.
Baker died at his home last night, after
a long illness.
Mr.. Baker was born In this city Aug.
&c. 1872 He attended the public schools
OF his native town until he was IL years
of age. when he left school to go to work
an store In Salem. Several months later
be came back as clerk. and later appren-
uced himself for IA months as a shoe
maker. At the end of which period he
became journeyman with large
shop crew.
shops to discuss the principal topics
Of the day, and Mr.. Baker became ear
ly interested In the temperance work.
The drinking of intoxicants was COM
mon at that time. and with others Mr..
Baker devoted much Of his time and
energy to the cause of total abstinence.
His legislative record on prohibition
js notable, beginning in 1S40 when he
voted against the so-called Is gallon
law, in company with q goodly number
OF distinguished men. both Wings and
Democrats. In 1852 he was on the state
temperance committee which organized
the movement from which came the
state. Mr.. Baker was an early aboli-
ZIONIST. In 1854 he was one of the active
promoters and was secretary of the
convention held at Worcester in July
of that year, preparatory to the organ
ization Of the Republican party. At
the convention, Sept. z, Mr.. Baker was
chairman Of the committee which re-
ported it's platform. declaring "the
right Of all men to freedom and equal
ity before the law" and that pro
hibition by law Of the sale Of intoxicat-
ing liquors as a beverage Is a right and
duty OF the people,"
Hon. Robert Rantoul Of Beverly was
the president OF the convention and
Senator Sumner made one of his ablest
speeches. But the mass OF the voters
and many Of the leading spirits In this
movement deemed II wiser to join the
American. or Know Nothing" party. as
IL was then called. and work for time
through that party for liberty and
temperance. This aided that party to
carry the state by an overwhelming
majority. and the legislature then chose
Henry Wilson United States senator
and enacted the personal liberty law,
perfected and enacted the prohibitory
law, and passed the homestead exemp-
ton act
Mr.. Baker, however, adhered to the
Republican party, and thus being in
at its birth continued to aid in it's work
until the selection of Governor Banks
IN 1867, when its success was assured,
and continued until 1874. when there
was bolt from the party and Dem
ocratic governor chosen. The Prohibi-
uonistS, who had their faith sorely tried
by the old parties. selected Mr.. Baker
as their candidate and he was nominated
for governor two successive years.
Mr.. Baker was q man who served his
native town and state faithfully. He
was town clerk of Beverly for 20 years
and selectman IL years. besides serving
on the school committee nearly 20
years. He was on the governors
council during the administration OF
Governors Andrews and Banks, was in
the house Of representatives is years and
in the state senate two years. In addition
to his nomination for governor he was al
80 the nominee of the Prohibition party
for congress, was fish commissioner for
several years and was appointed
member of the harbor and land COM
mission by Governor Butler in 1883.
holding that position until Feb. l, of
the present year, when he resigned on
account of i'll health. When Beverly
was incorporated city in 1895 he was
the only candidate for mayor, and
rerved the new city with the same zeal
he had served the old town.