The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-07-02
DEMOCRATIC POS
SIBILITIES-- -CULBERS0N

Ian Bailey and argumentatiye Bacon
the eloquent Daniel, and the matter OF
fact Simmons, and cast their choise on
Charles A. Culberson of Texas
When q great marty makes decision
OF such moment there must be among its
members a supreme confidence that the
man OF their choice possesses the neces,
sary qualifications OF resourcefulness in
debate, alertness of intelligence, political
sagacity and the ability to command
the support OF his colleagues.
In none OF these important matters
has Culberson been found wanted. The
position OF leader of the minority in
the Senate is thankless one at best.
But Culberson has made the most pos
sible out OF II, and has realized as much
from it as his colleagues had any reason
to expect.
Always vigilant, he has fought for and
maintained the rights OF his fellow Dem.
ocrats on the door without pushing him.
self forward to offensive prominence, In
fact, If any criticism might be made,
it would be that he lacked aggressive
ness as a leader. Possessed OF a retiring
modesty-and perhaps knowing the men
with whom he had to deal--he has
never had recourse to the party whip
as an offset to the big stick.
Culberson is iiftythree years old, but
except for his curly, iron. gray hair, it
would be difficult TO believe it. A trihe
below six feet in height, he is erect, well
built and active, with clear complexion
and merry gray eyes that can, at times,
get very steely and piercing.
Himself an athlete and boxer of no
mean ability while at college, Culber.
son is responsible for the fact that no
exhibition OF the manly art OF self de.
Tense" can be pulled Off in Texas. While
governor of the state in 1895, the match
was arranged between James J. Corbett
and Bob" Fitzsimmons for the title Of
champion puglist of the world, then
held by the former. Searching about for
place where The laws did not prohibit
such exhibitions, it was decided to fight
the contest at Dallas. AS soon as this
announcement was made, Culberson de-
clared that he would prevent it. 1t was
pointed out to him that there was no
law OF Texas against boxing, but one
bright day Culberson proceeded to one
of the busiest corners of Dallas and
mounting upon a box soon had crowd
gathered around him. The burden of his
speech was something like this: do
you men of Texas propose to allow
prize fight to be held in our state? Are
you willing to let these men from New
York and California say that the law
won't let them fight at home, but they
can come down to the rowdy state Of
Texas and pull off ring battleg DO
you want to have our state disgraeed
before the whole civilized world" and
much more along that line. Someone in
the crowd called out that there was no
law against it. NO" replied Culberson,
but there soon will be-
The public sentiment in the state was
in favor of allowing the fight to 90 on.
and it was advertised as the greatest
battle in the history of the ring. Three
days after mis- street speech, Gov. Gull |
berson called special session OF the leg |
islature directing attention to the lack
of law on the subject and declaring that |
every legislator with decent regard |
for the opinion Of mankind should hasten
to enact a proper statute, The bill was |
passed and there has been no prize fight |
ing in Texas since.
Old timers around Washington well re.
member old Dave Culberson, father OF |
the present senator, with his great shock /
of hair and his slow, cumbrous method
Of getting about. Although pretty
successful politician--he was in Congress
for 90 years--he conceived the idea that |
his heavy gait was drawback to him,
SO he determined that Charley" whFfi
even at that early age frequently aG1m.
panied his father ON his politica com.
paigns, should be trained differently
With this end in view, sent him t.
the Virginia Military iRtitute IL i to
the driIl that he rsesifved there that the
erect, military Mirage of the senator
now is due.
A1er "a S9hg law course at the uni
Versity ~ Virginia, Culberson was ad.
nit III to the bar in 1877 and, returning
w Dallas, entered partnership with his
ather. He became one of the most sue
.essful lawyers in the state. Elected
county attorney of Marion county in
1870, he was soon afterwards made at
orney general of the state, which office
he held until 1904, when he was elected
governor. This place he held for two
erms and then came to the Senate,
for the nomination two such
yeterans as Roger q. Mills, the tariff
evisionist, and General John II, Reagan,
ormerly member of jeff Davis cahi-
let II
In April of last year, on invitation OF
10Th houses of the Texas legislaturel
9ulberson gave his views on the trust
question, incidentally opposing the gov-,ii
rnment ownership of railroads idea adj
anced by Bryan. In the course OF that
peech Culberson said:
THE overshadowing evil of the genera
ion is combination of interests which
esult in monopolies, and the state oifi-A
ials can render no greater service to they
'ublie than to drive from this state
very trust, whether organized here or |,
lsewhere. Let us, in addition, send the
nagnates to the penitentiary and give K,
office to the world that Texas will not \
olerate these public plunderers."
lie expressed his opinion of President
in the following terms: Hell 9
n,trn 10 rn NJ ard ,r..-4nf,,l 4. IL -. III