The Washington times., 1908-11-10

William Inglis. writing under the date
Of June is. 1907. from Columbia, Tenn.
for Harpers weekly, has the following
TO say about former Senator CarmaCk-
Fearlessness is the dominant mole in
the character of Edward Ward Car
mack. Life IS for him one long and
cheerful battle. full Of hard knocks
given and taken, and the hope OF many
Iusty blows to come. This is not 10 be
attributed 10 a pugnacious or conten-
tious disposition. for he nights because
he has very clear ideas Of what IS right
and wrong. and having made up his
mind as TO what is the right course on
any question. he follows that course re-
gardIess Of consequences. Often he
wins, sometimes he loses, but, win or
lose, he is ever ready for the fray. Ma
tive OF the same soil as Davy Crockett,
all that he asks is to be sure he's right
then he goes ahead.
The people Of Tennessee like that kind
OF man, and now that he has come 20
the end OF the term in the Senate Of the
United States TO which he was elected IN
1900 they are urging him TO run for gov
ernOr.
Family Is First.
Yet neither the likelihood Of winning
that honor nor the possibility Of being
the next President Of the United States
has thus far swerved him from the plan
he had fixed before leaving Washington
to write and lecture and thereby aCQ lire
a more plentiful income for his family.
He is not rich IN this worlds goods, and
ne is averse to the idea Of seeking the
Presidency. perhaps having IN mind the
historical fact that all those statesmen
who put up the tallest lightning-rods and
tried most assiduOusly 10 attract the
vivid current Of popular favor sat for
many years unhit and ended their days
still hoping against hope
II IS not easy to reconcile the idea of
grave and reverend Senatorship with
such q man as CarmaCk, fun of the
VigOr and elasticity and enthusiasm of
youth. His thick shock or reddish
brown hair shows mere suggestions of
gray at the temples, his blunt musta"he
is untouched OF time, his steady blue
eyes are clear and bright as "a boys. Yet
II ne lives until the fifth day Of next
November he will be torty-nlne years
old. His quick step, muscular residence,
untiTing energy, bespeak the quality OF
youth no less than his alerJness to study
new problems ana accept new truths.
Always Called ed"
There are in Columbia many hu' Ireds
of citizens WHO never refer 20 this man
except as Ed Carmack. This at first
strikes the ear as incongruous, but the
stranger soon percelves that the nick
name is a tribute of affection, spon-
taneOus. unsought: token Of brother
hood whose intimacy does not diminish
respect in the slightest degree.
Here IS a man OF Scottish descent
though American for four generations, /
nearly six feet tall, straight as a hICk- |
DRY sapling, full-Chested as becomes an
orator, Clean-limbed and Of powerful /
grip, betting one who has lived much !
Out-Cf-dOOTs. There IS about him that
Of abundant vitality which /
rarely leaves one who has had the good |
fortune 10 spend his bOyhCOd in the |
country. He lacks the commonest ar |
tifCes OF the politician, for ii is very
difficult for him to remember the face
OF one he has met but few times, and /
utterly impossible 70 recall unfamiliar
names. He never won success by prac-
tlce Of the gentle art OF Misunderstanding.
Nevertheless his Is personality to- !
ward which one warns intuitively, for /
II makes an impression Of rugged sin
certify quite IN keeping with the mans |
reputation.
Left fatherless at an early age. young /
Carmack nevertheless determined to be- |
come Il ldWg GE- 10 lIlaL end ne went ]
TO the celebrated CulleOka School in /
Maury county
But 1 have no money" he said to /
Principal Webb, and / viii have To |
work to pay for my tuition"
Never mind the work Pay me when |
you can" DR.. Webb replied.
Paid for It All.
And it may be recorded that soon after
his admission 10 the bar Of Tennessee.
in 1880, young Carmack paid his tuition /
fees in full. He practiced law at CoIum- |
hia. and without any solicitation or even !
knowledge on his part his friends NOM
mated and elected him justice of the
peace In 1884 they sent him TO the
legislature. He was editor of the Nash
vile American from 1886 until 1892, when
he became editor OF the Memphis Com
mcrclaL He was elected a member of /
The national House Of Representatives
IN 1897 for the Tenth district of Ter
aessee. But not without a hard struggle
On the part Of Josiah Patterson, who