The Irish standard., 1904-04-23

,cially from the point of view Of the
old soldier, William Brimage Bate of
Tennessee, now making an energetic
fight for reelection to the United
States senate, is one of the most in
teresting figures in that body, says the
New York Sun.
Senator Bate is a gentleman Of the
old school, unslzilled in political char
ltanism, loyal to his friends and his
state, big of heart and big of brain,
always ready to listen to plant and
ever ready to extend a helping hand.
AS soldier his record in behalf Of the
.confederacy reads like a romance and
the memory Of the daring Of the men
who followed him from 1861 to 1865,
their devotion to the lost cause, and
their self-sacrifice still lives fresh in
the thoughts of the people of Tennes-
see. They have perpetuated in marble
and bronze the story of the gallant Sec
.ond Tennessee.
Born in 1S26-October Z, to be pre-
else, Mr.. Bate is now approaching 7S,
and there are those younger than he
and possessed of ambition to fill the
place he now occupies who think this
veteran should be retired to private
life.
In the early days of the Spanish
war, when favorite sons and nephews
were being commissioned at such a
rapid rate, Senator Bate was almost a
stranger at the appointment counter.
His feet never crossed the threshold Of
that room where requests were lodged
for the preferment of kith and kin by
senators and representatives. No rela-
tive of his received any commission IL,
the war nor has any relative Of this
,old-fashioned Southern gentleman ever
been put in office.
He is a poor man, but he never ac-
-cepted railroad pass; when he sends I,
telegram he pays for it. Telegraph and
telephone franks are not among the
perquisites to which he deems himself
entitled. Although general counsel in
his state for years for one of the big
express companies doing business in
Tennessee, it is stated that Mr.. Bate,
even when occupying that place, would
not accept the deadhead privilege of
the corporation that was his client.
Ten years ago the senator from Ten.
nessee received pension as veteran
of the Mexican war. That pension,
quarter by quarter, is piling up in the
treasury, subject to his order, but he
declines to take it. He is the only
Mexican war veteran in congress. Sen
:ator Pettus of Alabama enlisted fol
that service, but did not get in.
Since the retirement from congress
of General Wade Hampton, who was
acknowledgements Senator Bate has
been the ranking general officer of the
confederacy in congress. He was 9
major-general, while Senators Cockrell
Morgan and Pettus were but brigadier
generals.
Had it not been for the state pride
so firmly imbedded in Senator Bates
character the equestrian statue Of Pres
ident Andrew Jackson, in the center OF
Lafayette square, Immediately in from
of the White House, would have beer
removed to low, marshy spot back Of
the executive mansion, near the Poto
mac The committee in charge of the
Lafayette statue selected site in La
fayette-then known as Jackson
square, between the Jackson statue ani
the White House. The foundation was
dug and lot of cement and stone hai
been hauled to the place when Senator
Bate happened to pass that way.
"What are you doing here?" he
asked workman.
"Don't you know?" asked the WORK
man, recognizing the man who had ad
dressed him. 'srhe Lafayette statue is
to be put here"
"What!" circulated the veteran of
two wars, born and reared in Jackson's
state, "put up statue between Gen
eral Jackson and the White House.
Never, so long as live, If can