Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1912-10-12
LIFE WORK OF w. A. MASSEY.
Brief Sketch of His Life as Lawyer,
Supreme Judge and U. S. Senator.

suppose you lldtI DSNii iNhiNh VII "
farm. and then mucked in a mine, after
which you practiced law and later on
became Supreme Court Judge And
after YOU had done all of these things,
and had done them WELL so that your
friends and :neighbors, even your enc
mics. were proud of you and gave elo-
ouent testimony to your unusual abil-
ity-suppose all of these things had
happenedtto you, and then one hne
dav YOU ~ere.icalled upon to address
the Scnate-o flthe United States on a
most important subject Do you think
YOU would make a deep impression
upon that staid body
Well. those of us who have never
addressed the Senate in solemn ses-
SION cannot conceive just what would
happen; but the chances are that any
one of MS would be searching Tor a
convenient knot-hole into which we
might crawl, that we might escape
that cold. cruel stare OF the Senate.
For be it known that the Senate Is
cold. cruel and stareish when the
speaker is new member
But suppose: you did shake up that
august assemblage and startle 1t into
unusual attention; and the old mem
bers came clamoring back from the
cloak-room, listened, and applauded,
and then complimented you by adopt
ing your ideas. don't you think you
could go back home and say to the
folks: well, have done my best to
represent you.
happened in the life OF William Alex
Now all of these things actually
ander Massey, Junior Senator from
Nevada. The incident in the United
States Senate took place in August.
few weeks after Mr. Massey assumed
his duties in the upper house. The
measure under consideration was the
Panama Canal bill and the debate con-
cerned the right of the United States
to establish tolls for vessels using the
canal. Senator Masses brilliant
presentation OF the position OF the
United States and the Hay Pauncefote
treaty absolutely silenced the pro
British claims then being advanced
and not even the Jingo press OF Great
Britain longer suggests that this
nation may not administer her own
affairs along the canal.
A Remarkable Life.
Mr.. Massey has had remarkable
career. and to become acquainted with
the history of his life is to be inspired
TO loftier ideals. Born i'll Perry county,
Ohio. October 7, 1856, his parents re
moved to Paris. Illinois, where young
Massey lived until 20 years old. He
was educated at the L. c. College and
at Asburv University. in Greencastle.
Indiana. and was admitted to the bar
and practiced law. in Indiana until
1885; In 1886 he cnle west, attracted
by the then mining excitement OF old
Tuscarora in Elko county, and has
ever since been identified with and
residing in this State.
Old miners and prosecutors will re-
member the Commonwealth mine at
Tuscarora they will also remember
the Beard Tunnel and Steve and john
Beard. | was John Beard who had
his feet frozen in the terrible winter
OF 1880 1890 Steve Berd died about
year ago. Senator Massey acquired
one third interest in the Beard tun-
mel by viY.uc OF, his days work in the
Development OF the roperty. For
three years, he lived in his cabin, near
the entranceiuf this'tunnel, about four
miles, from .Tuscarora, with one or
both of his partners. AT times when
steel; the, Senator worked at days
wages, as n miner in the Common
wealth mine, and Tor several months
worked upon the klainc ranch, in the
O.wybe Valley. near Tuscarora, milk
ing his share OF forty dairy cows and
doing other work incident to a dairy
The BEARD tunnel looked good and
at one time they were offered S45,O00
for the property, but held Tor hign-
err market,
aaa. Snowbound for Months.
In the great storm that closed the
hard winter of 1880 1890 Senator Mas
sey was showed in at his cabin at the)
Beard Tunnel, his partners having
gone out after grub and supplies
Fortunately he had flour and bacon
enough TO carry him through but for
nearly two months he saw no human
being. He put in his regular shifts
in the tunnel alone. and during the
long nights he read his Bible COM
pletely through There are few men
his equal in familiarity with the