The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1901-08-07
his first and last nominations.

candidate.
i once heard him make a declara-
ton on the floor of the house the like
of which could never have been utter
ed truthfully by any other man that
ever lived, and the chances are mil
lion to one that no man will ever be
able to duplicate it.
He takes great pride in the title OF
Father of the Homestead Law" On
one occasion he made a speech favor
ing the free homes bill. When he con-
Guided, Delegate Flynn of Oklahoma
asked unanimous consent that Mr.
Grow be permitted to print as a sup
pIement to the speech he had just de-
livered one that he made in congress
in 1852 in favor Of the original home
stead bill. The request was received
with great applause and the unani-
nous consent cheerfully given. This
seemed to touch Mr.. Grows heart, and
with great feeling he said:
81 thank the house. made the
speech referred to 4S years ago. | was
the youngest man in the house then.
| am in years the oldest member now.
l indorse now what / said then. l
don't think that l can improve that
speech"
A hush fell upon the house. Mem
bers seemed to feel that they were
listening to a generation almost gone
forever. This is a glorious world, and
would like to live till another mem
Der can stand on the floor of the house
and refer to what he said In the house
As years ago.
doubt very much if two finer speci-
mems of manhood, at their age, can
be found within the broad confines of
the republic than General Pettus and
Mr.. Grow.
Vicinity of residence explains many
friendships in public life. 1t SO hap
pened that when Senator Pettus first
came to Washington he and | lived IN
the same neighborhood. l found him
to be learned, honest, capable, anna
BILE. courageous and marvelously pre-
served man He is as plain as an old
shoe, honest as the day il long and
kind as a little child.
When he electrified the senate and
the whole country by his speech in
reply TO Senator Beverage, it so hap
pened that l was featuring up in Michl-
gan. Like the rest of people, l read
his speech with great relish. When
returned to Washington, | went over
to the senate and congratulated the
1, ,y.iI
a twinkle in his eye, he said:
"NIy friend, that speech was merely
one of the indiscretions Of youth.
which seems to me was a very neat
and playful remark for an almost &C.
togenarian.
Concerning Ben Wade.
One of the most picturesque figures in
American politics was Hon, Benjamin
f. Wade of Ohio, usually called Old
Ben Wade. He was bluff, emphatic
dogmatic and domineering. He was a
tough customer to tackle in debate He
was in the senate of the United States
many years and was president pro TEN.
when Andrew Johnson's impeachment
was attempted. Had the Tennessee
commoner been convicted Wade would
have become president. The change Of
one senatorial vote would have landed
Old Ben in the White House. Taken
all in ALL Senator Wade ranked as one
of the most popular Of the antislavery
leaders.
The late Hon. Marriott Brosius of
Pennsylvania used to tell this anec
dote on Wade:
During the presidential campaign of
1913 Benjamin f. Wade was a circuit
judge in Ohio General Zachary Tay-
lor was the Wing candidate, General
Lewis Cass the Democratic and Mar
tin Van Buren, the candidate of the
Free Sellers. Judge Wade adjourned
his court frequently to make stump
speeches for the hero of Palo Alto,
Resaca de la Palma and Buena Vista.
The Free Soil committee, knowing the
Judge to be an ardent Free Soiler, could
not understand his conduct and called
on him for an explanation. They got
it promptly and in no equivocal terms.
Judge Wade said:
"'When ! saw that illustrioCs sol
der, eminent patriot and pure Chris
tan, General Zachary Taylor, being
crucified between two such dashed ras-
Gals as Lewis Cass and Martin Van
Buren,, l just had to talk or bustr"
Wade and Douglas.
1t is very much to be doubted wheth-
er Stephen A. Douglas ever had supe-
rior on this continent as debater. He
and Wade were, of course, generally on
opposite sides of questions in the SEN
ate, but were firm personal friends.
One day, in discussing some bill, the
great Illinoisan said:
''Mr. President, that proposition is
contrary to my code of morals"
Wade jumped up and shouted:
against his code of moralsl Good
God, Mr.. President, his code of NOR
ais! / didn't know he had anyw which
was one of those offhand shots at point
blank range which would discomfort
any man, temporarily at least.
Once Wade was crossing the plains.
U