Evening journal., 1911-01-16
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Famous Californian
Who Lost His Grip
BY @Honand."


Hiram johnson, who was elected
Governor of California last Noemvber,
has gained national prominence as al
man who successfully fought the so
called railroad monopoly OF the state.
The first Goevrnor Of tho State to win
a like notoriety was Newton Booth.
who led the people in their fight
against the railroads in the early
seventies. Serving two years, from
1872, as Governor. he resigned and was
sent TO the United States Senate by tho
Legislature, and there as great things
were expected OF him as had been done
by him as candidate for Governor
aud as Governor. But from the day he
entered the Senate In 1875. until the
day he left It in March, 1881, he did
not thing worthy Of note. 10 the
mingled wonder and disappointment Of
his friends and his State.
What was the reason Of this COM
nlete reversal of form in the public
service? I knew Newton Booth. I was
among those who wonder at the in
significant--yes, well nigh pathetic
figure he cut as a Senator. But the
reason was not clear TO me until Col
onel Bob" Iugersoll one day lifted the
veil of secrecy for me.
II suppose no man was more griey-
ously disappointed or astonished in
Senator Booths career, which has just
closed, than I, said Colonel Ingersoll.
"In his early manhood he was almost
a neighbor Of mine; I first heard Of
him as a practicing lawyer in Terre
Haute Then 7 lost track OF him for
a while, and when ] next heard of him,
he was in California. About the time
of Grants Inauguration as President,
! began to hear of him as a great po-
litical speaker. as the first real lead
er in the fight against the growth of
monopoly i'm that State. He showed the
manner in which the demoralizing in
fuences caused by the manner in
which California had so swiftly de-
veloped could be ended. That made
him the practical head of the great
anti-monopoly party; that made him
a reputation in the East. and you know
how he became Governor and Senator
well. when the word came to me
that Newton Booth had been elected
TO the United States Senate. was
greatly pleased. Now " / said, " this
old friend of mine will show the coun-
try that he has the makings of a Pres
ident i'm him. Fondly ! looked forward
to what he would do in the Senate.
doubt II any man ever entered the Sem
ate from the section OF the country
west of the Missouri river who was so
widely known, and of whom so much
was expected. as in the case Of Sem
ator Booth.
"But something puzzling happened
as soon as he took his seat. He lapsed
into absolute senatorial obscurity He
seemed almost indifferent 10 his re-
sponsibilities. He sat day after day in
| his place. twirling his thumbs or
plucking nervOusly al his beard. ! was
/ astonished-s -shocked-c chagrined: and
no one could explain the peculiar phe-
/ nomenon to me, until. one day, my
curiosity getting the better of me
when | met Senator Booth. asked
him point blank why he was not TAX
ing an active part in the proceedings
Of the Senate. in view of the fact that
the country had expected real leader
ship Of him.
For perhaps a full minute he look.
ed at me sadly. and then. in tone OF
voice that ! shall never forget-it was
so full of pathos-he told me that nc
was conscious of a great change IN
himself on the very day that he had
taken his seat in the Senate; he felt
that day. and for days afterwards, that
he had lost his grip But at first he
could not fathom the feeling. Now
however. he knew the cause Of II
Colonel he explained, I am suffering
from a mortal disease. I am sitting IN
tho Senate with a death sentence
hanging over me. / have no heart &c
try TO do the things which my State
and my country expect of me-.
Then saw the tears fill his eyes
and I realized that his heart was
broken by reason of his failure as q
Senator, the anti-climax of a promin.
ent public career. due to physical i'm
pairment"
Copyright. 1911, by e. J. Edwards Al
rights reserved.)