The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-05-31

aud has since led quiet life, de-
voting himself when in good health
to the practice of law.
SENATOR W. b. BATE.
His successor in office was Gen.
W. b. Bate. now one of the United
States Senators from Tennessee.
He was a gallant soldier in the
Mexican war, and one of the most
distinguished major-generals in the
Confederate States army. This
distinction brought him prominent-
ly before the people of his native
State, aud in 1874 he was one of
the candidates for the United
States Senate to succeed Parson
Brownlow. AS will be remember
ed, Andrew Johnson was elected,
However, when the Democratic
party desired a man with whom to
defeat Gov. Hawkins, il selected
Gen. Bate, and the faction of the
party that nominated him-for the
party was still divided on the State
debt-was considerably in the ma.
iority, and the extreme estate
Credit" or "Sky Blue" wing, with
its candidate, J. H. Russell. did not
have the strength to defeat the
regular nominee,
During Gov. Bates administra-
ton the State debt question was
settled, and it is for this act that
his administration Will go down in
history. He was reelected for a
second term, and at the expiration
of that was chosen to succeed Hon,
w. c. Whitthorne, one of his APP
pointees, in the United States sem
ate. From 1887 to the present time
Gov. Bate has held the Office Of
United States senator, and is now
serving his third term. AT its ex-
pirs tion he will be one of the oldest
men in that body, and it is thought
that he will retire.
ROBERT L. TAYLOR.
In 1886 occurred the remarkable
campaign between the Taylor bro
thers-one a Democrat and the
other Republican. They spoke
jointly all over the State, the cleo
ton resulting in the choice of the
Democrat, Hon. Robert L. Taylor.
He established the reputation of
being one of the best stump speak
ers in the whole country, and after
his induction into office he became
noted for his geniality and cordi-
atty and for his kind and tender
heart. During his first admins
tration the chief event that came
up was the proposed amendment to
the Constitution, popularity known
as the "Prohibition Amendment.
After one of the bittereat cam
paigns ever known in the State,
waged by politicians, preachers,
women and whisky men, the amend
ment was defeated by vote of
III, 504 in it's favor to las, 1877 op-
posed to it.
1t was during this administration
that the General Assembly made
6rst appropriation for the mainte-
nance of the Tennessee Industrial
which has since steady
grown until it is one of the largest
and best managed charities in the
State. The law establishing the
Soldiers Home was
passed during Gov. Taylor's term.
1t was at this time that the first
outcroppings with miners in this
State over the leasing of convicts
became a serious menance. The
whole country was disturbed by
strikes, and they were beginning
to come South. In 1889 the State
leased its convicts to the Tennessee
Coal, Iron & Railroad Company
for term of six years, and were
granted permission to suitcase
them. This so outraged the feel
ngs of the free miners that they
made complaint, and following it
came the serious riots and Coal
Creek war, which however, began
n the succeeding administration.
GIVEN A THIRD TERM.
Gov. Taylor retired from Office at |
he end of his second term, and for
/ while settled in Chattanooga and
.esumed the practice of law. In a
title while he entered the lecture
ield with his popular lecture, The
Fiddle and the Bow" and at once
capped into unusual favor in this
department. of life. He continued
IN the platform until 1896, when at
he earnest call of the members of
lis party lie gave it up and accept
ID the nomination of governor for
bird term. National policies oc-
.upied the attention of this cam
,aign and Gov. Taylor was elected.
During this term was held the
Tennessee Centennial Exposition,
ind on many occasions the Govern
IL renresented the State in address,