Evening star., 1907-07-28
W PETTUS
DEAD At E|GHTy-S|X
Continued from First Page)

profession in 1912 at Gainesville, Ala. He
served as a lieutenant in the Mexican war.
and in 1S49 went with party of friends on
horseback to California. Before that trip
he had been elected solicitor for the seventh
circuit, and after his return he was elected
judge in the same circuit. He continued in
the practice of law until the breaking out of
the civil war, when he entered the Con-
federate army as major of the 10th Ala
bama Infantry. He was in many battles
and arose to the rank of brigadier general
Upon the close of the war he returned to
his home and resumed the practice Of the
law Until his election as United States
senator he was never candidate Tor any
political office.
Last of the Old School
Senator Pettus was one of the last of the
old school of statesmen in the Senate
Dignified and courteous to degree, he
was a great stickler for the pres rvation
of the amenities in debate and conduct and
when he occasionally presided over the
Senate was a martinez in preserving dlScl-
plne. Woe betide the young senator who
failed to give the most careful attention to
the rules of debate; the presiding officer
would call him to time quickly and sternly.
Senator Pettus was not a great orator,
but he was keen debatcr, and poss 2ssed a
fund of sarcasm upon which he drew I'D
orally when occasion offered, was evil
denced in his celebrated set-to with Senator
Baveridge. He vencrated the Constitu-
ton of the United States and was never
absent from a debate on that subject, but
despite his advanced years would sit
patiently for hours. shifting his position
from time to time to be near the senator
who was occupying the floor
One day in the last session of Congress
ex-senator Pugh of Alabama came up to
the Senate and stood in the rear Of the
seats, where he was soon join by SEN
ator Morgan. Senator Pettus, paering over
his horn-rimmed spectacles, joined his COL
league and his predecessor. The three re-
manned in friendly conversation for quite
a while, much to the interest of the spec
tators. who remarked that the combined
age of the three Alabamians was 2JG years.
MI Pugh was eighty-seVen, senate Pettus
was eighty-six and Senator Morgan was
eighty-three. They have all passed over
within the year.
Beloved by His Colleagues.
Senator Pettus was very much beloved by
his colleagues Notwithstanding his ad-
vanced age he was fond of amusement and
was devoted to a friendly game of cards at
his own homo, recognizing no limitations OF
time when engaged in his favorite pursuit,
so long as the candle held out to burn and
the fine cut was not exhausted. Many de-
lightful anecdotes are told of his fondness
for harmless play.
To a friend last year he expressed his
three cardinal principles or views of life.
He said: Il love my wife, l love game
of cards and l hope to live to be quite a
mature man" He was only eighty six
then, but he did not regard that as any
thing. He was devoted to his family and
was a great home lover
Senator Pettus will be succeeded by Mr..
Joseph F. Johnston, who was chosen at
the primaries as an alternate the same
time Mr.. Bankhead was elected to succeed
Senator Morgan in event of his death. Mr..
Johnston Is man of pronounced ability in
both business and politics. He is OF at
tractive personality, with engaging address,
and it is p, ophesed will be a credit to his
state. He made his reputation in politics
in reconstruction days, when the democracy
of Alabama was in great straits, but he
is a man of modern ideas and thoroughly
alive to the interests of the new south
One of Mr. Johnston's nephsws. Gordon
Johnston, was a member of Col. Roose-
Velt's regiment of Rough Riders in the
war with Spain and is very much liked by
the President.