The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-08

John C. Spooner, recently given his
third election to the United States Sem
ate by the Republicans of Wisconsin,
was, in the sixties, private secretary
to the late Gov. Lucius Fairchild.
The venerable Senator starks. of
Sank county, called upon the Governor
to discuss a bill which he had helped
through the Legislature He was
afraid that Gov. Fairchild contem-
plated veteing it, and was prepared to
DO some plain talking in it's behalf
The discussion had begun when the
secretary. Col Spooner was a young
man then, about %, and had the APP
pearance of one much younger.
Governor" said Starks, Il wish you
would send that boy out of the room"
Gov. Fairchfld glanced around.
II see no boy, Senator" he replied.
In a half-petulant manner the Sem
ator pointed to Spooner.
Whats that but a boy?" he de-
manded.
step this way, john" said the Gov
ernor Senator Starks, allow me to
Introduce my new private secretary,
Col. John C. Spooner."
Then, as the Senator endeavored to
recover from his embarrassment, the
Governor, who was much given to
saying nice things to and about peo-
pie, added
"Take a good look at him, Senator:
Wisconsin is likely to send that boy
to the United States Senate one of
these times"
. THAT boy" at that time, was
graduate of the Wisconsin University,
and had served as a soldier in the
Civil War, winning two commissions
One as captain and the other as
major--and was even then a good
lawyer, as he is to-day one of the first
in the nation.
Seventeen years later there was a
three cornered contest for the United
States senatorsbip in Wisconsin. G&n.
Fairchild, who had been Secretary of
State, Governor for three terms, con-
sui to Liverpool. consul general to Pa
ris, and minister to Spain, desired to
round up his career in the Senate. Col.
Spooner had given three months of his
time to canvassing for Blaine in 1884,
and had done il so well that from all
parts of the state came a demand for
his election to the Senate. The third
candidate was the late Judge William
T. Price, then in Congress. When
Prices lieutenants found that he could
not win, they wired for a request to
help Spooner The Judge complied all
but one of his supporters cast their
votes for Spooner, and he was nomi-
mated on the first ballot.
The first man to offer congratulations
to the new senator was Gov. Fairchild
In 1882, the first time that Jerry
Rusk was elected Governor of Wis
consin, Col Spoorer was so busy a
man in his profession that the min
utes counted, and II happened twice
during the campaign that he missed a
train, and each time was Obliged to
hire a locomotive in order to keep his
speaking engagements. He lived in
Hudson then
The first time that this occurred he
was to make speech in New Rich
mond The last train had gone There
was need of a rousing Republican
shake-up in that town, and II would
not do to disappofnt the committee.
II must be in New Richmond to-
night. II is too far 70 drive. Bring
around an engine" he ordered.
The locomotive came, and the young
lawyer made one OF the best cam
paign speeches ever heard In New
Richmond.
On the way back the colonel sat at
the side OF the engineer, and after
watching the latter for some minutes,
asked for the privilege OF running the
locomotive, The men exchanged seats.
and the future senator Immediately