The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-01
PASSING OF STEWART.
Veteran Senator WIN Go Home to
'Begin Over.''

out TO Tonopah, New, to grow up with
the country. I am going to practice
law there; it is the only place for a
young man to co.
These are not the words of some
| f7edgling just out of law school They
do not proceed form the enthusiastic
young fellow who wants to go to a
new country and make fame and for
| tune out of it.
These words were spoken recently
by man nearly four score years old
or, to be exact, and to put it as he
does. nearly 70 years young
William M. Stewart, of Nevada, will
/ leave the senate of the United States
in a little over a week and will COM
mence all over again in the state
which he has seen simply a county of
4 California.
Senator Stewart is not tired of pub
lie life, but he wants a change. He
may continue in politics; he prob
ably will do 50; but he is leaving the
senate, practically of his own accord.
He will practice law, and work hard
to accumulate, not one more fortune,
as he has hitherto done, but a good
conn etence.
Senator Stewart entered the senate
more than forty years ago. To be
exact, he entered the chamber of the
upper house of congress on February
! 1, 1865. His service, if it had been
continuous, would have been wonder
| full, and would have exceeded any
thing in the history of the country.
But from 1875 to 1887 he was out OF
congress, engaged in the practice OF
/ law and mining in Nevada.
This almost octogenarian was born
/ in Wayne county, New York, August
| 8, 1927. While a child he moved to
Ohio. He in time entered. Yale col
lege, and remained there until the
winter of 1S49-'50, when he got the
gold fever and made the trip around
the Horn to San Francisco, He was
about penniless when he arrived in
the wild and sandy mining camp, but
was nothing daunted. He went to
work with pick and shovel and made
a little money. He pursued his law
studies, and was elected district attor-
ney in 1852. He was reelected next
year, and in 1854 became attorney
general of California. In 1860 he re-
moved to Virginia City, where he was
engaged in the early mining litigation,
and was a member of the territorial
council of Nevada in 1861. In 1863
he was a member of the constitutional
convention. and was chosen to the
United States senate in 1854, taking
his seat February 1, 1865.
Senator Stewart came to the senate
in time to help to adopt the fourteenth
constitutional amendment, which he
vigorously fought for; but twenty
years later or more he defeated the
! force bill % SO-called, which grew out
of the constitutional amendment he
fathered at his advent into congress
A half dozen fortunes made and
/ lost is the financial record of Senator
Stewart. He had millions at several
times in his career; and in the past
forty years has oftentimes been dan
| gerously near bedrock. At such times
he would again go back to Nevada
and engage in mining litigation and
mining ventures, and come back with
a fresh start. His vast pile, his man
sion, or "Stewart's CASTLE" as it was
called, was for years the finest resi-
dence in this city. 1t was later pur-
cad Trr fc1- or-Ir Of
and on the site a handsome house was
erected by the Montana millionaire.
/ Senator Stewart has had as varied
a career politically as he has ffnan-
cially. He entered the senate as a
Republican. He was reelected in
1887 as a Republican. In 1896 he be-
came a sf1verite, 1atera Populist, and
then, with his colleague, John P.
Jones, came back to the Republican
party. This was but few years ago.
During his silverite and Populist days,
Stewart edited a weekly paper here
which was the organ of the free silver
people.
The venerable. senator, on his recent
return to his old party. began to work
up on the senate Indian committee
until, in the present congress. he be-
came chairman of it. He has been
vigorous in his Indian policy, and has
shaped considerable legislation.
The Nevada statesman probably
could have been returned to the senate
Nevada, with its small population and
it's isolated condition. grew Demo-
cratic. It sent Francis G. NewlandS,
who had been a Republican, silverite,
Populist, and then Democrat, where
he remains, to the senate. to succeed
Senator Jones. Senator Stewart last
year figured that the state again
would go Democratic, and that he
could not be reelected. So he an
nounced he would not be a candidate.
One George S. Nixon, young, capable,
rich, decided to make the race as a
Republican. Nixon had been a rail-
road station agent and telegrapher.
which he put in stores and banks and
studied law and became one of the
prosperous men of the state. He took
an active interest in politics, and
rounded up the Republican nominees
for this winters Nevada legislature.
After election it was found the legis-
lature was Republican, and Nixon has
been elected to succeed Stewart
Senator Stewart is six feet and
more; straight as an arrow; vigorous
as youngster, and mentally keen
His hair is snow white; likewise his
beard, which falls to his waist But
his voice is sonorous and musical, and
yet He is in earnest about returning
to the new country of Nevada,
Tonopah region, and practicing law
and picking up another competence
Don't think I'm going to be
'has-been,'" he said the other day;
''I shall not hang around Washington
and pick up the crumbs. shall go
out to that new town I told you about,
and grow up with the country It's
fine place for young mani!
Standard Has One Enemy Less.