Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-06-21
LEGISLATURE MAY
AID EX-GOVERNOR.
WILLIAM r. TAYLOR MAY RECEIVE
A Pension OF $500 A YEAR
FROM THE STATE.
NOW PENNILESS AND OLD.
FIRST Executive to Put Railroad Regula-
ton Into Practica-Thirty Years
Ahead of Times.

MADISON, Wis, June 15.-[Spe-
cial IA bill to give former Gov. VIII
liam K Taylor a pension of $500 an
nually for tile remainder Of his life has
been favorably reported by the commit
tee on claims in both houses Of the Leg
islltt ~ and will probably go through
Wity~ut contest. At the present time,
the man who scourged the railroads III
tie carly seventies, as champion Of the
Granger movement, just as La Fol
lctte has been doing, has been living at
the GishoIt Home for the Aged, a semi
charitable institution, just outside the
city limits of Madison.
Penniless and Old.
lie IL now penniless but is considered
III good health for the advanced age OF
81 years. Relatives Of the man would
probably care Tor him were it not for
his cccentricitics. Two years ago, rather
than give up some of his old habits, he
beseached his relatives for aid to get the
required 500 to 90 to the home and was
assisted particularly by Attorney K. NJ
Bashford, q leading member OF the Mad
is0n bar, whose first wife was daughter
OF Gov. Taylor. Mr. Bashford was pri-
waite secretary to Gov. Taylor during the
Iatter's term Of office. Gov. Taylor lost
his wealth through unfortunate invest
mems and speculation.
Hit the Wheat Market.
-r1is said nearly all the money he could
raise since leaving the governors char
has been lost in hitting" the wheat
market. or in taking flyers on the stock
exchange About two years ago he SOLD
his old homestead in Cottage Grove for
$500 With this money he flirted with
the Chicago market for several days.
Then he came back to get assistance to
20 to the Old Peoples Home.
The last days Of the Farmer gov
crnor" as he is called in history, are as
pathetic as his first days were pitiful.
Ills mother died when he was three
weeks old, and SIX years later his father,
d sea-captain, was lost i'll mld-Ocean.
lie was born without home and was
raised amid strangers, and he may
spend his last days IN home that IS
not Il home but i retreat for the relics
OF past generations. Ii, however, the
Legislature passes the bill to grant him a
pension, and there is every indication
that III will, the grand old man will once
more come back to Madison to mingle
among friends, will so TO Cottage Grove.
his old homestead, and will spend the
last days in plenty.
Swept Into Office
Thirty odd years ago it was different.
Gov Taylor was swept into office during
the granger movement in 1873. The
Democrats and grangers fused that year
and Taylor was put ut the head of the
ticket. lie was the only one on the
ticket elected. During his term, the
famous Potter law, creating a commits
sion to regulate and fix railroad rates
was passed, not 50 different from the
present commission.
The agitation, it seems, was thirty
years in advance of its time. The
Chief Justice Ryan, sustained the val
Eidity of the Potter law, but the succeed
ing Legislature repealed it. Gov. Taylor
was not reelected but was succeeded by
Harrison Ludington of Milwaukee.
Unlucky Business Venture.
After retiring from Office Gov. Taylor
formed what was known as the Fort
Scott (kanl Cement company. The pro-
lperty was sold under the hammer of the
law and Coy. Taylor lost ST. 900 on the
venture.
lie was interested in the cranberry
business with Il number Of other men
and finally Lost money in the deal
When hc lett tie governors chair hc
had Il mortgage on his farm Of $4,000
and never materially reduced it, until
the farm was sold. With the money he
then had ON hand he paid for little
home i'm Cottage Grove. ten miles q. It
of Madison. Ills wife by Il second mar
rage secured Il position as matr0n in
the state home for the feeble minded
at Chippewa Falls. One sen by the
second marriage, William Taylor IS hy-
ing in Madison.
Gishoit Home for the Aged.
The GishoIt home for the aged was
founded by the late John Johnson. head
Of the biz Fuller x Johnson Manufacture
ing company and of the Gisholt
Machine company. When Mr.. Johnson
died he left Il bequest providing for the
establishment of home for the aged.
trustees have spent nearly $4,000 in i'm
proyemcnts If an old resident can pay
$500 he will be cared for there for the
remainder Of his life. The house is
small and can accommodate only seven
or eight persons