New-York tribune., 1911-01-29

When Judge Alvin Hawkins Repuo-
ucsn. was elected Chief Executive Of Ten
nessee i'm 1851. II some one standing on
bo,sl co,ner in Knoxville had declared the
next Republican Governor Of the state
would he a little waif standing on 'he op-
posite corner. with a few daily papers u"-
der his arm. with his hands IN the pockets
OF his trousers. which were little more tha'
rags: now hopping on one foot now on
the other. TO keep warm, and CRYING BUY
a paper and read about the election OF
judge Hawkins for Governor'-that per-
son would have been laughed at with
scorn.
However. while no such prophecy as that
was made, and while no such dream as
that was dreamed. that little waif was on
January % inaugurated as Governor ot 'he
Volunteer State the first Republican Gov
ernor since the days of Alvin Hawkins ana
xhe youngest man who has ever oeeh
elected 10 the governorship Of Tennessee
Just thirty years ago Ben W. Hooper.
who was elected Governor on November 9
$50. bv the Republicans and Independent
1ernocrsts. was a waif on the streets or
Knoxville. nameless. answering only When
xcnoe one called Ben knowing nothihs
~ his parentage claiming no relatives
homeless. renniless and fIiendless, depen-
dent upon charity lie was born In New
,,ort Tenn. and al the age OF seven be-
xan dreaming OF the "big city down the
country" Of which he had heard older
persons speak. and he decided that he
~,ant.d to GO 10 Knoxville and see II he
ropld find a home there How he got TO
l.
Senerallv supposed that the homeless wall
walked the fifty miles to that city from
Newport However, he got there sol"e
way or other. He roamed the streets Oh
The city selling papers. working mlscineN
Gus tricks on his competitors, ana nhu-
.ng a place to sleep Just anywhere ne lei'
lie would not be run over during the night
FINALLY. some kind hearted person saw
.hc brieht-eyed. brown-haired boy with
,be word determination imprinted upon
his face wandering through the streets
oc tho CITY. wasting precious moments, and
the lad was placed in a local orphanaSe-
the first home nc had ever known. Nheh
the boy was ten years old Or. j. w Hoop
or. q physician or Newport, declared ne
was the father Of the boy. took nm from
Tho orphanage. placed him in his nome a'
Newport. gave him his own name insert
ing q middle initial. and he has since oeen
called Ben ". Hooper.
Young Hooper was placed in the puohc
schools Of Newport and proved TO be one
OF the brightest boys IN the school He
studied diligently. taking advantage OF the
opportuni;ies afforded him. and determined
10 amount 10 somethin." Soon he COM
pletcd tie course Of study prescribed ior
the schools in the little country town, ana
his father sent him 10 carson-NeWmah
College. a Baptist institution, rom Which
he was graduated with honors before ne
reached his majority. Returning TO ms
home at Newport, he 5eSan the STUDY o'
law in the office of q practising attorney
He entered into the public affairs oi inc
town. was active I'm Young Men ChflS-
,iar Association and church WORK ano
soon became a deacon i'm the BapNS'
church. At the time OF his election to the
1overnorship Of Tennessee he was mem
her Of the Newport BAPTIST Church choir
uJe possesses an excellent tenor voice.
To obtain funds TO help support himself