The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-05-07
Vale Senator Stewart.

The Washington correspondent of the Salt Lake
| Herald says:
Senator Stewart who has announced his inten-
ton of retiring from active political life is bowling
to the inevitable His desertion of the cause of
free silver after his last election to the senate put
him out of touch with his form supporters and
those who elected him to the senate III 1899, and it
is recognized that he has no show for reelection
at the hands of either party in Nevada Senator
Stewart is probably the most picturesque figure III
the capital. He will be II years old in August next
and with his sweeping snowwllite beard, that hides
his collar and necktie, and much of his vest he is
often hkeiied to Santa Claus, and there is need
to call his name TO the visitors to the capital, for
he is recognized and well known by people from all
parts of the country Despite his age he is straight
and strong and has fine rIddy complexion. Sen
ator Stewart was born in New York state, but his
parents. moved to Ohio when he small boy.
He worked on his fathers farm until he was IS
years DID, when he was allowed to start the world
for himself. He managed to support himself and
to attend an academy for three years. He obtained
employment as a teacher and finally entered Yale
college.
He remained there but short time the entire
current of his life being changed by the discovery
of gold in California in 1S49 He went to the Pa
eific coast by the way of Panama his capital con-
sistihg principally of stout heart, determined
spirit, and sound mind and body. He worked
with pick and shovel and was the diseoverer of the
iStDfdltu ulS&liRS WHICH nave Deell "OiNCu
continuously ever since. He studied law in Nevada
City, and in 1854 was made attorney general of Cal
ifornia. and moved to San Francisco. Here he
married daughter Of exeievernor Footo of Mis-
sissippi In 1860 Stewart joined the rush to Wa
shoe" where his thorough knowledge of the mining
law soon brought him legal business. more yalu-
able than any gold mine. It is said by those conn
peent to know that Senator Stewards law practice
in the SOS aggregated 100000 a year He was
retained at enormous salary by the leading mining
companies of Nevada. and had a reputation as be-
ing the best mining lawyer in the United States.
He invested his surplus funds in mines and became
one of the leading operators in the sComstock lie
was elected to the United States senate in 1861 and
had he served continuously in that body would now
be the ranking member, for Senator Allison, who
holds the place, did not begin his service until 1878
AS it is Senator Stewart has spent twenty-eight
years of his eventful life III tile senate He IS per-
sistent in debate though not polished and he often
makes laughable mistakes in historical illusions
Recently he gave a very circumstantial account of
his visit to the blacksmith shop in Germany where
he stated Frederick the Great instructed his sub
iects in the art of shipbuding. getting that mo1f
arch mixed up with Peter the Great of Russia.
Senator Stewart talks on all subjects, and some
times is inclined to be garrulous. But when the
question is one involving mining or mining laws
or irrigation lie is listened TO with the greatest at
tention and is regarded an authority. He has
a kindly disposition aud all of his colleagues, ex-
cepting one are his personal friends. This one is
the Junior senator from Nevada, Francis II. New
lands. He and Senator Stewart are political and
personal opponents, and do not even speak. Sena=
tor Stewart has been twice married His first wife
lost her life in an accident several years ago. Last
October the senator surprised his friends b. marry
ing Mrs May Agnes Cone, widow of Georgia.
who is at least thirty years his junior The senator
is said to have been attracted to her when he first
saw her photograph few months previous, When
they became personally acquainted the courtship
progressed quickly, and the marriage was one of
several entered into BY elderly members Of the sen