The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-02
A MAN OF GREAT ABILITY
HAS FOUGHT HIS WAY FROM
THE BOTTOM.
Will Be BITTERLY FOUGHT FOR ELECTION
Why the Railroad Corporations Will Ceep up
their War. His Public Career and En-.
inence as Lawyer. Personal
Side Of the Leader.
doe Oil in Atlanta Constitution.

Louisville. June 81 never got any
thing in my life that was worth fighting
for without hard fight" said William
Goebel in his speech returning his
thanks to the convention which had just
nominated him for the highest office in
it's gift He spoke the truth. If ever II
man has had to fight his way, not only
in politics but through his life, this man
Goebel is he His career is a magnifi-
cent illustration Of the possibilities OF
brains, energy and integrity-that COM
bination which inslires success in every
line of endeavor. From a bare-footed
little, newsboy to the governorship of his
State is a long stride forward. but every
inch of this way has been honestly won,
and today. in the hour of his triumph.
Goebel can have the satisfaction of feel
ing that it is all due to himself. and
himself alone.
This success in politics does not. how
ever, mean as much to me in considering
Mr. Goebel's career as does the high sue
cess in his profession that has preceded
this. Ordinary men-cOnsidering them
from an intellectual standpoint-can win
success in politics; no ordinary man
could have accomplished what William
Goebel has in making himself the ablest
and most successful lawyer in Kentucky.
STARTED AT THE BOTTOM.
He was a newsboy because he had to
be. His father was German who
came to Covington and ran a small rail
road eating house. 1t is highly prOba-
bic that in all their lives the Goebel
boys have had few pennies which they
did not earn. Two others are now.
believe, successful merchants across the
river in Cincinnati: this boy was deter
mined he would be a lawyer and realiz-
ing the value of an education, got all he
could out of the schools at Covington.
He studied hard. After school came
the apprenticeship in law office. More
hard study.
But there was more than study in IT..
Young Goebel learned. What he studied
stuck in his memory. As he fought his
way onward, upward in his profession,
I each step was carefully taken--one foot
was not placed on a higher round of the
ladder until the other had safe. firm
hold of the round below. Steadily. cer-
tainly upward. that was the course: no
skyrocket business: no infant prodigy;
no phenomenon to meet dire explosion
at some early day.
He had brains, he had tireless energy.
and the worth Of the man was easily
recognized by his associates. Fifteen
years ago he was a law partner Of John
G. Carlisle: today / am told that his fees
before the higher court are greater than
those of any other lawyer in Kentucky
reaching nearly if not quite as high as
the salary OF the president of the United
States A judge Of the court of appeals
tells me that Goebel makes the clearest
and scleanest-cut argument where intri-
cate legal questions are involved OF any
man who comes before that body.
A NATURAL QUESTION.
WHY then politics? Why should man
with such a position at the bar mix in
the anire of politics?
A natural question. The reply is two
fold First-Goebel likes politics. loves
leadership: secondhand perhaps most inl-
portant-he has been fought bitterly, re-
lentlessly by certain elements and the
satisfaction Of beating them is--well
something. is it not! ''If the railroads
had kept out Of this fight, Goebel would
never have been nominated" said one OF
the most astute railroad attorneys in the
State, in talking over the situation with
me lust after the nomination was made
Perhaps this is true, for if it had not
been for just this opposition. Goebel
would probably have cared little to 90
into the contest: certainly the declara-
tiOns of the leading lobbyists that he
should never be nominated were not cal
culated to make man like Goebel quit.
Ever since his youth he has been III
the whirl Of local politics in COvington,
but it is only comparatively recently that
he has devoted very much time TO the
game. Without possessing the atsrl-
butes Of personal popularity. he IS
leader of men, with IA following tied to
him more through respect for his splen-
did ability and confidence in his high
integrity than through any personal
magnetism of the man. He is not one
of your hail-fellow- well-met boys; but he
has handshake that shows him to De
a firm friend and good Halter. He is
leader through his brain, rather tlan his
heart.
They call him cold-hs enemies-and
say that his presence in any community
means an Immediate drop in the mer-
curry; certainly he was the very acme OF
GOODNESS throughout this fight. Others or
those close to him were stampeded when
the Stone leaders came to him anu
threatened that unless he threw his vote
to Stone forthwith, they would nominate
Hardin.
Go ahead go ahead was Goebels
reply. Pm for him as much as you
are.'
1t was a bluff and he called it. Every
one of his close friends said he ought to
get out of the way and nominate Stone,
else Hardin would win.
1--WE have always won by fighting,
said his brother Arthur who was sitting
by him, "and well fight this out
"Iet them nominate Wat--if they
can" was all that Senator Goebel would
say.
WHEN THE FIRST SMILE CAME
During the week of hard, sensational
Sighting, both Senator Goebel and Cap