The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-09
HOW THE VAIN M. C.'S
RECOUNT THEIR DEEDS.
Something of the Life and Works
of Representative Baker.
BY r. NJ. Larner.

BY r. M. Larner.
Washington, March 8.-Advance cop
les of the new Congressional Directory
containing sketches of the members of
the Fifty-eighth Congress have just
come from the printer. AS everybody
understands, these congressional
sketches are written by the men them
launched against the individual for
what is set forth in his official biogra-
ply he invariably asserts that he
turned the matter over to a friend"
and had never seen the production be-
fore it's appearance.
When Mr.. Fleming of Georgia first
entered Congress, the sketch of him,
Which went into pretty minute details
of his career, was given wide publi-
cation. A good deal has also been said
concerning the quite diffusiVe and eff
fusive sketch which appears under the
name of Chauncey Mitchell Depew. In
the new Congress the man whose au-
photography is attracting much atten-
ton on the part of the critics is new
Democratic representative from one OF
the Brooklyn districts, Robert Baker.
Senator Depew's autobiography oceu-
pies nearly a page of fine printed mat
ter, but Mr.. Baker passes that limit.
Mr.. Baker, after stating that he was
born in England, says that he has al
ways taken an interest in politics and
that his record has been one of con
sistent independence, proceeds to de-
tail to the palpitating public the story
of his conversion to the advocacy of
the single tax.
He declares that he viewed with
CONSERVATION and dismay the candi-
dacy of Henry George for Mayor of
the city of New York, and breathed
sigh of relief when the Republican
saviours of society Joined with, the
Democratic saviours of society 70
avert what they asserted, and he then
regarded as impending calamity. 1hen
Mr. Baker tells how, ten months lat
er, he became so impressed with Hen
ry Georges "evident sincerity that
he determined to investigate the whole
subject of taxation, purchasing the
complete set of Henry Georges books
for that purpose. A reading OF these
he declares, made him convert 10
Mr.. Georges doctrine.
Mr.. Baker gives the interesting de-
tails of his countless services TO the
government of municipality. state ana
nation. He tells how he tougnt the
Palmer and. Buckner movement WhtSh
was strong in Brooklyn In 1896 Alone
and unaided, he rallied thirty-two
votes in opposition to Palmer ana
Buckner out of l50." The Democratic
campaigns of 1898 and 1899 had, we
are told, to be conducted without lis
valuable assistance, as he was abroad
those years. Subsequently he tells US
he was nominated by the Citizens
Union for sheriff. but the Republicans
refused to accept him as unfit, homi-
mating Charles A. Guden, who was so
MT that the Republican Governor,
Odell, was compelled TO remove him"
Carrying along his career, Mr. Baker
devotes considerable space to the cir
cumstanees OF his race for Congress.
In which he was victorious even In the
face Of the opposition OF the Brooklyn
Eagle, which supported all other Dem
ocrafie nominees. He asserts that his
success was due 10 the untiring efforts
OF the single taxes ana other iadicals
IA Brooklyn, who conducted upon-air
truck meetings an over the district,
boldly attacking every form 81 special
puYiless, and advocating the coal