The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-07-03

Democrats in the Uuited States SEN
ate, after the loss of German, the
astute politician from Maryland, be-
gan looking about for new lead
err, they passed by the brilliant Bail.
ey the argumentative Bacon, the e,o-
ouent Daniel, and the matter OF TACT
Simmons, and cast their choice on
Charles A. Culberson, of Texas.
When a party makes a decision
of such moment there must De
among its members a supreme con-
fidence that the man of their choice
possesses the necessary qualifica-
tions of resourcefulness in debate.
alertness of intelligence, political
sagacity, and the ability to COM
mand the support of his colleagues
In none of these important mat
ters has Culberson been found want
ing The position OF leader of the
minority In the Senate is a thank
less one at best But Culberson has
made the most possible out of 1t,
and has realized as much from 1t
as his colleagues had any reason
to expect.
Always vigilant, he has fought
for and maintained the rights OF
bis fellow democrats on the floor
without pushing himself forward to
offensive prominence. In fact If any
criticism might be made It would re
that he lacked aggressiveness as d
leader. Possessed Of a retireing mod
esty--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 fifty-three years old
but except for his curly, iron-grav
hair, 1t would be difficult to he
lieve 1t. A trlfle below six feet in
height, he is erect, we'll built and
active, with a clear complexion ana
merry gray eyes that can, at times,
get very steely and pieredrlg.
no mean degree while at college
Culberson is responsible. for the fac:
that no exhibitions of the 'manly
art of self-defense" cam be pulled
off In Texas. While Governor of the
State in 1895 the match was arrang.
ed between James j. Corbett and
9 Bob FitZsimmons for the title OF
champion pugillst of the world,
then held by the former. Searching
about for place where the laws
did NIT prohibit such exhibitions
II was decided to fight the contest
at DaElas. AS soon as this announce
ment was made, Culberson declared
that he would prevent 1t. Ii was
pointed not to him that there was
no law OF Texas against boxing.
but one bright day Culberson pro-
ceeded to one OF the busiest cor
ners OF Dallas and mounting upon
box soon had a crowd gathered
around him. The burden OF his
speech was something like this:
''Do you men OF Texas propose to
allow a prize fight to be held I'm
our State? Are you wbllinlg TO le.
these men from New York and
California say that the law won
let them fight at home but they
can come down TO the rowdy State
OF Texas and pull off a ring bat
tie? Do you want TO have our State
disgraced before the whole civlliz-
ed world?" and much more along
that line. Some one in the crowd
called out that there was no law
against 1t. mo" replied Culberson
but there soon will be-"
The public sentiment In The
State was in favor of allowing the
light to go on and 1t was adyertls-
ed as the greatest battle In the his.
10Y of The ring. Three days after
his speech, Governor Culberson had
called special session of the lelgIs-
lature directing attention to the
iack OF law on the subject and de
Glazing THAT every legislator with
decent regard for the opinion q,
mankind should hasten TO enact n
proper statute The bill was missed
and there has been no prize fighting
In Texas since
old-timers around Washington
weh remember old Dave Culberson
father OF the present Senator. with
his great shock of hair and his SLOW
cumbrous method of getting about
although a pretty successful Doll
ticiah-he was in Congress for 2z
years-he conceived the idea thai
MS heavy gadt was a drawback 10
ham' so he determined that
'Charley" who even at that early
age accompanied his father on his
political campaigns. should be train
lea differently. With this end in View
ne sent him to the Virginia MAhtary
institution. Ii Is to The drill that he
received there that the erect mill
tary garbage OF the Senator Is now
due.
After taking a law course al tbe
Al -