The Detroit times., 1910-10-19
NAMELEss ORPHAN
IS NOW A LEADER
Ben W. Hooper, Abandoned in Child
hood, Is Honored Candidate for
Governor of Tennessee

Gratis. viii be elected governor Oh
Tennessee on Nov. s, next.
His election will crown and make
glorious the romance with which his
l:fe Is flled-romance redolent OF the
fragrance OF the old south.
Two years to the day on which the
result OF the approaching election
will be published-on Nov. y. lsos-
the brilliant Carmack was assassin
ated by Robin Cooper and his father.
Duncan B. Cooper, the political advis-
er OF Gov. Malcolm X. Patterson. The
Republicans Joined the Independent
Democrats in the judiciary campaign
TO rebuke and humiliate Patterson. In
turn the Independents Endorsed Hoop
er for governor. Patterson saw the
handwriting on the wall and refused
even to consider a second nomina-
ton.
Running Against "Fiddiins Bob"
The straightout Democrats have
nominated Robert L. Taylor-"Fid-
ding Bob" Orpheus, with his flute,
moved rocks and trees: Taylor with
his fiddle won votes. He has been
governor twice, defeating his brother.
Alfred A. Taylor, at one election, and
he is United States senator now.
II Ben Hooper is elected he will
have the honor Of being the first Re
publican governor Tennessee has had
for 80 years. and he will have the
further distinction OF having won his
high place largely by Democratic
votes In a southern state that should
be safely in the Democratic column.
A striking feature OF the "lndepen-
dent" Democratic convention. by
which his candidacy was Endorsed.
was a procession OF more than hve
hundred Confederate soldiers clad in
their faded suits OF Confederate gray.
So Hooper is a political curio. but
much more important, he is an I'M
usual man.
He was found in the streets OF
Knoxville about 40 years ago, help
less and deserted orphan. and was
committed to a Baptist orphan asy'
lum.
Where he came from no one knew
and no one seemed to care. He was
not attractive in appearance, being
small and delicate looking. but there
was something in the bright gray
eyes and in the way he had OF look
ing at things that enlisted the inter
est of a prominent citizen OF East
Tennessee who had the boy thorough
ly educated. At the age OF twenty
one he graduated with hcnors in law
and II was about this time that the
romance of his life began to develop.
Woos Tennessee Belle.
He fell in love with the bell Of
East Tennessee and she returned his
"a ha
plished and a representative OF one OF
tn Oldest and most aristocratic famil-
les of the south.
Her family was not wealthy but
she lived in a section in which
proud ancestry and blue blood count
ed for more than money.
The wedding day was fixed and
then gossips began to whisper and
ask: who is Ben Hooper, any way.
and where did he come from" An
no one could answer.
The girls family felt the irrepres-
sible pride OF the old south. and hear
ing the question they too strained
their ears for the answer. There
was none
The wedding day was postponed and
there must have come tragic mo-
ment in the boys life when he was
called in and solemnly questioned
concerning his parentage. He told
them that hiss earliest remembrance
was of the long rows OF children eat
ing their simple meals in the orphan
asylum. Even his name had been
given to him by his benefactor. who
had proved his faith in him all his
life. Hooper told them that back of
the orphan asylum he knew nothing.
and from that moment he walked
new way.
Spurned, cast of by the girl he
loved SO devotedly, the blow seemed
to the sensitive young man to have
crushed him and destroyed his am
billions. Then. recovering his manli
ness, he. who knew not his fathers
name determined 10 make a shining
name for himself
Begins Life Anew In Texas.
With few thousand dollars which
his benefactor lent him 10 start OH he
went to Texas. Among strangers, un-
known and uncared for he was as
much alone as when he had been left,
forsaken and fCrlorn, on the streets
of his home city But he set about
his task with grim determination to
prove to his friends back home that
mans success does not depend on
the accident of his birth
He invested his small capital in the
then rapidly developing oil wells Of
Texas, and In six months he had
made sl50,000.
Back TO the rugged hills and sing.
ing brooks OF East Tennessee he
went. buoyant and hopeful The past
he had put behind him; the future
he would carve out for himself
The Ben Hooper who had gone
away six months before, downcast
and deaDondent. was vastly different
from the Ben Hooper who had return
ed, and those who had scoffed came
to respect and admire him Ne began
the practice OF law and success fol-
lowed He was soon elected to the
state Legislature, was made Judge in
his district and has had a brilliant
professional career. He went his
quiet way and smiled at the changed
attitude OF his former sweetheart and
her family toward him
Ten years ago he married Miss
Jones, daughter OF one OF the wealth. |
lest citizens OF East Tennessee. His
home Is one OF the handsomest in
that section. and he has four bright !
children.
Mrs. Hooper Is attractive and ac- |
coniplished. She graduated from the |
Carson and Newman and Virginia In
stitutes, and is also a musician. She
Is well fitted to grace the governors