The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-07-23

Blacksmith Desires to Be
come the States Chief
Executive.

A special from Cumby. Texas, rela-
tive to the gubernatorial campaign in
the Lone Star State says:
Not since the day when Andrew
Johnson left the tailor's bench to be-
come president of the United States
has such a unique political situation
existed as in the race of r. r. VIII
Jams, of Cumby, Texas, a blacksmith,
who is forging to the front in the con-
test for governor of Texas
Mr. Williams is literally hammer
ing himself into popularity, for as he
manages campaign for the highest
position within the gift of his people,
he Is carrying on his trade at the an
vii and shoes as many il-tempered
mustangs and stubborn mules as the
liveliest of his competitors He is
man of strong physique, and though
slxty-nine years old, bears his age
lightly. He has forced his opponents,
who are bearing the standard of Tom
Campbell, to admit that he is well up
in the running, and is the only man
the present governor has to beat to
be reelected.
The forces that are contributing to
his race are many. The mans strong
personality, his hold upon the people
of his own section and his wide cir
Gle of friends among the travelling
men have turned the trick His shop
is situated just opposite the hotel in
Cumby, and as a result the knights OF
the grip, who did so much to elect the
inimitable Bob Taylor to the United
States senate from Tennessee, are
scattering tidings of a new Daniel
throughout Texas that have struck ter
rOr into the heart of the Campbell or
ganizatiOn.
His candidacy at first was looked
upon as joke. News went out from
the hamlet wherein this muscular
salesman lives that a blacksmith down
at Cumby was tired of his anvil and
wanted to rest in the governors
Bob Williams could shoe the demo
cratic mule. But with the weeks
which have elapsed since his an
nouncement, strong supporters have
sprung to his side, and today the Will
liamS organization is perfected in
every county in Texas.
Mr.. Williams has no classic educa-
ton and no diplomas decorate the
walls of his plain shop. But this Is
not saying that he is an ignorant man,
for his judgment is often sought by
those well up in the world, and his
ideas, which he claims are but horse
sense" are grounded In the basic
structure of political economy. He
has been a great reader between jobs,
keeping up with the march of the
times.
The blacksmith shop is small
building with plain board walls inno-
cent of paint 1t has a high sloping
roof and stands on the street leading
from the railroad station to the bust
ness section. making il convenient to
FIrl1 uSF Of
the center of the shop is a long table
which was used as a work bench. but
is now covered with papers, letters
and all that go to make up the public
fly department of an up-to-date pOlitt
cal campaign. Around the table are
probably half a dozen wooden chairs,
and from this center Mr. Williams is
waging one of the busiest cOnquests
of modern politics
Born in Tennessee in 1870 the guber-
Material candidate was reared in mod
crate circumstances and left his home
in McNaiTy county nearly forty years
ago, answering the call of the West
for settler. Since his arrival in Tex
as he has taken keen interest in the
affairs of that community He was a
member of the Twenty-seventh gen
eral assembly, which has TO its credit
the record of having left 500, 900
more money in the treasury than any
other term of the legislature before
that time or since. He is not a large
man as his calling might suggest,
weighing not more than 100 pounds.
He is five feet, nine inches tall His
demeanor is quiet and his general
makeup bespeaks power and control.
He is of ScOtch-Irish extraction, but
comes from a family long in America,
having settled in Virginia in the
eighteenth century.
During the POpUlist Juror % 1890
Mr.. Williams went on the hastings in
support of the Democratic ticket OF
Hopkins county of which Cun1by is
days made twenty-eight speeches, his
first attempt at campaigning 1t was
due to his efforts that Hopkins went
Democratic by neat margin.
When asked why he waited as late
as May 80 to announce his candi-
dacy Mr.. Williams said
I had hoped that some other man
would make the race on the same
platform which I have adopted. The
people of Texas are greatly diSSatis-
fed with present conditions Tax
alton is not arranged on an equitable
basis, thousands of men are out or
work, business in all lines is not so
brisk as it should be and il is my
belief that freak legislation is large
ly responsible for IL all When at the
eleventh hour my ideal candidate had
failed to materialize- / decided that /
would enter the race. no. for person
al ACKNOWLEDGMENT nor for the salary.
but in the hope of promoting the
healthy growth of q greater Texas"