The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1906-09-13

THERE is no doubt that the repub-
licans in the Bisbee convention
selected their strongest and most
able leader to do battle against Mark
Smith in the coming election. Mr.
Cooper is we'll equipped for the fight
in which he is now engaged. He is a
selfmade man, of ability, energy and
honor, and he will give the demo-
cratic leader the race of his life.
The leading democrats realize this
and are already arranging for the
most vigorous campaign in the his
tory of the party in this territory.
The two leaders stand side by side on
the paramount issue of the cam
paign-anti-jointure. AS an orator
Mr.. Smith has none the best of his
opponent, who, while not a SPELL
binder, is at the same time one of
the most logical and forceful speak
ers in the west. His record is that of
d man who by sheer force of char
acter and energy has risen from the
printers case to one of the foremost
men of the territory. The following
short sketch of his life is from the
Phoenix Republican:
"Mr Cooper was born in Dublin,
Wayne county. Indiana, August 6,
1858, living in that vicinity until he
was fifteen years old. He graduated
from the high school in Richmond in
1873, attended Otterbein university
for year, then entered the military
academy at Peekskill, N. Y, from
which he graduated in 1877 at the
head of his class. For d year there
after he studied law in Richmond,
Ind. with William A. Peele, a
former lieutenant governor of that
state, then came west on the advice
of physicians, by reason of impaired
health. He spent a year or so in
Colorado, returned to his home in In
diana, and in 1880, still being in poor
health, he went to California. Here,
with plenty of outdoor life on the
range and brief residences in various
coast cities his health was fully re-
stored. After another visit to the
old home he returned to California
and engaged in newspaper work until
1891, when he came to Arizona.
His Arizona record began in Mo-
have county, where he was engaged
for time in newspaper work, then
3 in Phoenix, where he was similarly
occupied for a short time, going
from Phoenix to Florence, Pinal
county, where he bought the Florence
Tribune. During his newspaper work
he had continued his study of the
law and in 1894 he was admitted to
the bar of Florence. Since then he
has been admitted to practice in the
higher courts of both Arizona and
California. Selling the Tribune he
moved to Tucson, where he was en-
gagged first in newspaper work, then
as a court stenographer and attor-
ney, until 1898, when he was elected
district attorney of Pima county on
the republican ticket, being honored
by reelection to that office for a
second term.
'Mr. Cooper was married during
his residence in Florence and has
several children. Fraternally he is a
member of the Elks, Foresters,
knights of Pythias, A. .. U. w. and
the Spanish American Alliance. His
services have always been freely
given to the party and in its organ
ization he has been a tireless worker.
He has served as secretary of the
Pinal county central committee. as a
member of the territorial committee
and has also served the territory as
secretary of the board of equaliza-
ton. The Republican confidently
expects to chronicle his election as
delegate to the national house of
representatives on the 9th day of
November, 1867
Mr.. Cooper is a citizen of Pima
county, and he has resided here long
enough to know the needs of the ter
ritory. He is a man of action, and
when he gets to Washington it will
be with determination to represent |
the entire citizenship of the terri !
tory, and to secure everything that
is coming to this great and growing
commonwealth. Mr.. Cooper in !
Washington will be in touch with the
party in power, which advantage !
will be used tor the benefit of his |
constituents.