Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-08-28
CEAsAR IN POLITICS.
Arrayed Like Solomon in All His Glory,
Only More So.

Only More So.
| olive in Corvallis and becom
famous" has become almost a
| famous a proverb as "See Venic
ami die" The number of gem
| from this classic village which ar
now sc:ntillating On the brow G
I Fame, has been increased by ou,
old black diamond, julius Ceasa
Taylor. "Old Caesar" as he wal
familiarly known here, was resi-
dent of this city for many years
Since his departure, -occasiona
glimmerings of his brilliant achieve
ments have reached us, but none
80 dazzling as the following from
the Portland Telegram:
Arrayed in ultra-fashionable tog.
gerry, including silk hat, patent
leather shoes and Prince Albert
frock, Julius Caesar Taylor, colored
ard 70 years of age, departed yes
terday evening for Wahkiakum
county, Washington, to become a
picturesque figure and an influen-
tial factor in the campaign now in
progress in the Evergreen State.
Billy Starr, the genial bookkeeper
fol the Pillar Rock Canning Com
pany has been nominated for the
office of representative from the
Wahkaikum district-and he needs
help. Starr is original in his cam
paign methods and among the
unique features of his present pro-
gram Julius Caesar will be promi-
nent. Julius, an Oregon pioneer
from choice and a stalwart repub-
lican from birth. (although he was
born before the party was organized)
is devoted to his friends, of whom
he has many. He has been gro.
tesque figure on the streets of Port.
land for years and has been a
pioneer high-water mark for two
decades or more. A a campaigner
he is not without virtuous infu-
ence. His plantation talk about
Abraham Lincoln and the long
primer principles of the abolitionists
always attracts attention and
"makes votes" He is a peculiar
character on all occasions, whether
dressed up" or not.
julius Caesar was born in Alex
ander, Va, in 1880. He has no
of ever having seen
his father and mother. They were
Julius passed from the
block in his infancy, as the property
of B. T. Taylor, who died some
years ago in Corvallis. Fifty years
ago, in the state of New York, he
was released from bondage, his
white owner desiring to remove to
Oregon Territory. But Julius bad
reason TO cultivate affection for his
foster parents and pleaded with
them for permission to become a
pioneer with them in the wild
and woolly West. He came
and for many years he remained
with them.
Presently, however, inspired by
The notion of progress, which then
prevailed in the frontier communi-
lies of civilization, and lured by the
promise of fortune, which, unpreju-
diced by color or station, was here
extended to all alike, he left the
home cf his uncradled childhood
and removed to Portland, where
'or years he engaged in the butcher
business, at which he amassed a
very considerable competence. He
.ook unto himself a wife-an
hen began the decline Of his for
June. In few years his bank ac-
count of 80 or 40 thousand dollars
was dissipated, the comforts Of do
nestle life had taken wings aud
Julius Caesar mechanically set sail
IN the barque of chance-in which
be has drifted ever since.
When Caesar expressed q will
ingness to return to the field of
politics and help his friend Starr
,ver the rapids of a Washington
campaign, Captain G. T. Belcher
md his assistants in the St. Charles
Hotel, aided and abettsd in the
charity by the artists in neigh
boring barber ship, procured for
him the Prince Albert attire, obi
aimed transportation for him to
Pillar Rock and sent him away on
ais patriotic mission the happiest
md most confident politician west
# the Rocky mountains.