The Irish standard., 1904-04-23
Never Accepted Pass, Never Sent Franked
Telegram and Never Asked for a
Job for Relative
Ten Years Ago He Received Pension as a
Veteran Of Mexican War;, But He
Declines to Accept it,

| prevent IL.
| lie was the author of joint resolu-
ton which became a law, prohibiting
the erection Of any statue in that par
ticular spot. The Lafayette statue was
erected on the southeastern corner OF
the square, and subsequently the Ro-
chambeau statue was put up on the
southwestern corner of the park.
1t is not given to many men to serve
their state so long and so successfully
as has Senator Bate. While in his
teens he served two years in the Mexi-
can war. His entrance into public life
was by way of two years in the Ten
nessee legislature. Then he spent six
years as attorney general, four years as
soldier in the Civil war, II years in
the successful practice of law, during
which time he was presidential elec-
tor, II years as national committeeman
and four years as one of Tennessee's
most honored governors. Now he is
rounding out his third term as United
States senator.
Mr.. Bate could have been governor
of his state in 1868, but he preferred
the part he had chosen as soldier,
and from the front declined the nomi-
nation in telegram from Wartrace,
July II, 1868, which has been treasured
by Tenensseeans as a patriotic utter
ance worthy place in the history of
the state. That telegram read:
Gentlemen: In reply to your tele-
gram of today, beg to say that how
ever fattering the honor you suggest,
and to which am not insensible, there
is duty that rises above it. A son of
tennessee and Southern soldier, 1
would feel dishonored in this hour of
trial to quit the field. No, sirs while
an armed foe treads our soil and can
fire shot or draw blade, 1 will take
no civic honor. 1 had rather, amid
her misfortunes, be the defender than
the governor of Tennessee. Let me ex-
hort to harmony
Lhe telegram set the convention wild
with enthusiasm and resulted in the
nomination and election of Judge Car
uthers, a man too old to serve in the
army.
1t was by one vote only that Senator
Bate missed coming to the senate in
1875, when former President Andrew
johnson was elected. In that struggle
between Bate and the ''great common
err" Bate was twice elected by one
vote, but the vote was twice changed
before the result could be announced
This resulted in tie, and that situa-
ton lasted for three weeks, when, after
Bates withdrawal, johnson was elected
on the fifty-fifth ballot.
In 1880 the Democratic party became
divided on the subject of the state
debt. So hopeless was the split that
the Republicans elected the governor,
all the state officers and practically the
state legislature. When the legislature
met, however, neither the Democrats
nor the Republicans, apparently, were
able to elect senator Mr.. Bate and
Howell e. Jackson were the candidates.
The night before the election, at con-
ference between Bate and Jackson, II
was agreed that Bate was the stronger
of the two and that the entire Demo.
cratic vote should be thrown to him.
Caucuses were not part of the party
machinery in those days and this
agreement was nullified the next morn
ing when the name of Jackson was
again placed before. the assembly, and
by the aid Of 13 Republican votes he
secured majority, the Democrats then
making it practically unanimous
Before the people, though, Mr.. Bate
was never beaten. The popular opinion
of the man was shown in wonderful de-
gree in the gubernatorial campaign of
1882. Demoralized and dazed, when
the campaign came on, the party, after
declining twice to send him to the sen.
ate, turned to Bate for deliverance.
His standing with the soldier element
and his personal and political strength
among the masses made him the strong
est man for the race, and he was nomi-