The copper era., 1902-08-07

, 0LD-TIME SKETCHES
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STEVE AND TONi.

EVE Al It lOl-
 The Hon. Steve E. Elkins has in- troiuced q resolution in congress to annex Cuba 10 the United States. Steve. a. We used to call him, always did have cheek. which is one Of his prominent traits. and io aIways crop ping out. Stere began his giddy climb to fame in La- Cruces. New Mexico. All old timers know how he carae and know his antecedent-. \ company Of confederate soldiers woke up one morning minus captain. Steve was far out on the plains riding in q covered wagon of mule train. bound for .a- Cruces. He left hi- Dc!cagured country bleeding at every pore, and he coull hear the booming Of R.ce'- canon far out on the plain- a. Aguire'7 train rolled him on to New Mexico. Tom Catron and Steve Etkins ar rived in Las Cruces about the same time, though Tom. who commanded company of confederate artillery
 stayed with his command until the wal. was oyer Tom has been d .'-tayer'' ever since. They both landed broke. They soon afterwards formed partnership and commenced the practice of law, though neither knew anything Of law at the time. They were brainy pair, and what they lacked in knowledge and experience they made up in energy and gall. Their rise was rapid, and Cruces was soon too small for them. They mOred 10 Santa Fc. mixed up in land grants ard soon became q power in the land and leader. in the republican party. They left their democracy east Of the Missouri. They were in politics to win and therefore aligned themselves with the dominant party. Steve was a natural politician, always polite, and never forgot q name or q face. Catron was mOru5c, cross and d regular bull dozer, but withai kind hearted. If he wanted d thing he went after it ham, mcr anJ tongs and stayed with it day and night until he got it. He had the ltUdtllA illi TIL Ol i DAll t'Nl'' ''O''~ used policy to accomplish results, but CatrOn got there by sheer force. For d timo they were satisfied with local politics, but as their wealth increased they became more ambitious, and Steve finally went to congress, and alter his term expired he located in West Virginia, where he engaged in all sorts of business enterprises, and soon became a power in finance and politics. He is among the wealthy men of America, and can well afford to own q seat in the |. <. senate. Tom Catron has prospered amazingly in New Mexico. He is one of the largest individual land owners in the world, besides many valuable mines and other property. IL is nothing uncommon to see Catron's name figuring in trans actions amounting to million or more. He is not popular, but he Is still d power. Catron and Elkin5 are still the close friends they were when as boys they hustled for bacon and beans on tho Rio Grande. Elkins made q splendid fight for the admis- sion of the territories, mot that he cares so much for the rights of the people, but principally that his old time partner may occupy a seat in the L. <. senate. Of course there will be an | awful fight on Catron, but he has set his heart on it, and he will get there. There are worse men ia the world | than Tom Catron. Many of those who curse him the worst have pa"tici- patcd of his generosity.