The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-02
BAY STATE DEMOCRAT
W. A. GAsToN MAKING A GOOD
 RACE FOR GovERNER.
Massachusetts Democrat Has Achiev- ed Considerable Renown-was Classmate of Roosevelt at
 Harvard-An Athlete.

Boston Special to Chicago Chronicle.
 Colonel William A. Gastcn is the cen tral figure of the remarkable group of young men who are leading today's Bay State Democracy. The present nominee of the Democrats for the high ofiice of Governor of the aristocratic common wealth of Massachusetts is a man pos sessed of so unique and brilliant attri- butes that the present gubernatorial struggle is, aside from the peculiar earn estness of the combat, serving to center widespread interest upon the personal qualities of the Democratic candidate. State Democratic councils which was es- tablished with the rise of the lamented William E. Russell never showed with more brilliancy than at present. There is truly surprising list of these men: Charles S. Hamlin. Josiah Quincy, John Fitzgerald, John A. Sullivan and a dozen others, many of them so youthful in ap- pearancs mat when they appear at c mis- cellaneous public function they seem hardly the men one would imagine to be in absolute control of intricate political affairs.
 William A. Gaston. whe in appearance would ordinarily be taken for a man of not over 25. is past president of the Bcs- ten Elevated Railroad, one of the great corporations of the country; the present head of a law firm which Is said te do the largest purely corporation law busi- ness of any firm in New England; is cred it's faculty for marshaling references and citations of corporation law decisions, but he Is many more things and things unique indeed fer ono who has achieved the distinction that he has in the legal political, and business world.
 An Athlete of Note.
 He was the champion wrestler of liar yard University when he was at college with Theodore Roosevelt, an expert boxer a skilled ball player and all-around ath' lete of the first class, although he is q man physically small and slender, and curiously enough, while Gaston always manages in the course of political speech to apologize for what he himself sincerely thinks Is fact-namely, that he isn't much of a speechmaker"-it is nev- ertheless strictly true that while having and making no claim to facility of dictien and the ability to sway a crowd by fights of oratory, he Is really one of the most dangel ous antagonists Q trained speech maker can go against.
 Gaston's power on the platform lies In a peculiar faculty he possesses fer mak- ing an audience regard him as man whe is trying to put his argument ip the fair est, most direct and businesslike form. Thus such is his manner, that he often has his hearers with him. before he himself realizes the fact. Many times he ac.s when speechmaking as if astenished that the audience is interrupting him with applause and very probably his looks betray his exact feelings, for Gas ton is a man singularly devoid of arts and artihciality either personally or on the stump.
 Contrast Between Candidates.
 It is because the two men who are stumping Massachusetts in the race for the Governorship are 90 strikingiy m contrast in their personality and manner on the speechmaking platform that the present political battle in the Bay State Is as picturesque as vaudeville. Jonn l.. Bates, the Republican nominee Tor Governor, is an acknowledged able and experienced speaker and up in all the wiles that go with the veteran of many warm battle of words. Bates Is full faced and rotund as harvest moon and when he gets out into the little cities or small town she has a smile that is ire sistible and a mien as bland as parson ater a generous contribution. Bates's ability to worm right down into the hearts of the rural population IS aston ishing and his affability and handshaking are something over whelming. Remembering the traditional ma ajority in Massachusetts and Batess experience politically 1t is regarded as shQuldering genuine re- sponslbility for a determined-faced. mili- tary- looking young man such as Gaston is to go on the stump against Bates. But Caston is surprising them all and It IS he is bound to cut into the He- publican figures in q way that will amaze the c. o. P. leaders.
 Gaston is making his fight on the out ,nd-out declaration that Republican policy of tariff is making the consumer pay ex- Lortionate prices and that drastic tarin slashing should forthwith take place. This is the keynote of his platform.
 Classmate of Roosevelt.
 Gastons career at Harvard is feature In the athletic history of the institution. His wrestling talent was natural To his 1.-the, fry, slender frame were added a grit" but Bostonians elaborate into the "bull-dog tenacity. There was a contest on for the wrestling cham of Harvard and of course Gaston was in it. There were six contestants Gaston threw his man. Then when the other two pairs had wrestled off the two winners were excessively downcd by Gaston and he became honored with the laurels of prize wrestler.
 Gaston was in Harvard at the same lime that Theodore Roosevelt was and between the twain there was the warmest ,f friendship. Roosevelts prowess as a boxer causing him to greatly admire Customs cunning ana strength as wrestler and vice versa.
 It was one day when Gaston had had | rumpus with the Athletic Club that ne, feeling the need of consolation, hunt .d up Roosevelt and poured forth his tale ,f woe Roosevelt listened with the air of judge md when the recital was over advised iaston to wait where he was standing on he campus while he (RoosevelD would 70 in and counsel with the mlnions of 
 'Yo uare too excited" Roosevelt is all eged to have said. while am cool ard alm, as you see, and can therefore go t them in a businesslil<e way"
 As was evidenced a short time later by he noise that ensued the 'cool and calm "businesslike way with the ,oard of managers was to sail in and .ttempt to thrash the entire outfit.
 He appeared after a while with his face cared and clothes torn and remarked |"