The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1900-02-17
GOEBEL.s CAREER.

William Goebel was born to neither dis
tinguished ancestry nor social place.
Yet in aristocratic Kentucky, where both
count for much in business, politics and
society, he made himself the political leader
before he was forty years old.
He had not even Confederate Army
record, that stock in trade of all old time
Kentucky statesmen and politicians, bat he
had acumen, shrewdness, smartness and
ability, backed up by great self confidence.
Goebel made himself a man of the people.
He made himself powerful, wealthy and
much feared. Yet he was uncouth and sharp
among those to whom chivalry and courtesy
had become second nature.
In Sullivan county, Pa, thirtynine years
age, there came a son to the toiling
German immigrant, William Goebel. While
the boy was still in skirts the family removed
to Covington, KY, where the father started
tiny grocery store.
Among the cheese and the crackers and
the barrels of brown sugar and the bars of soap
the boy passed his earl life He was ever with
book. The thirst for knowledge and
leadership had been born with him.
This boy had no playmates He. was \
peculiar fellow. He cared nothing
for baseball or swimming, even
dog fights. All he asked was to be
left alone with his books. He had de-
cided to become lawyer long before his
brother and his schoolmates had given up
thinking about tops and marbles. So after
he was graduate from the Convingtion High
School, he called day upon John w.
Stevenson, former Governor of Kentucky,
and asked to become clerk in his Office:
He was taken in.
In ten years Stevenson was dead and
Goebel was one of the most ardent anti
trust and anti-corporation lawyers in the
State, with income of $4,000 year.
He had sent one brother to Yale-a boon
that he had often craved for himself, but
could not afford. Another he started in
business.
In those ten years William Goebel had
taken political Kentucky by the ears. He
had upset all its dearest traditions. He had
gone to the Legislature before he was
twenty eight years old, without anything but
ability to recommend him. He had been
through some of the most bitter political
fights of the century. He had been John G.
Carlisle's law partner.
Even the church had attacked him. He
was accused of agnosticism. He frankly
admitted it. His friends pointed out other
He did not smoke or drink.
He fought trusts and corporations.
Without a college education he had been
the law partner of two of the greatest lawyers
in Kentucky-Stevensona and Carlisle.
He did not gamble.
He the author of law making gam
ing felony in the State.
Though an agnostic, he had paid his dead
mothers membership in the church that she
belonged to, matter of principle.
AS he fought his way through aA State
Senate Goebel made friends--44e convinced
many that he was+he sincere friend of the
| people, He represented Kenton county in
the Constitutional Convention of I89o-'9I.
He had personal recommendations. His
campaigns were upon issues and he was gem
orally found the side with the majority.
Goebel abhorred women. He never had
a love affair.
A year ago he astonished one of his po-
litical friends by saying: tI believe I
ought to have a wife,
But he never married.