New-York tribune., 1912-04-01
ROBERT |. TAYLOR DEAD
Tennessee Senator SuCCumbS to
Shock of Operation.

Washington, March 31.-Robert Love
Taylor, senior United States Senator from
Tennessee-"Fiddling y u" to all the
South-died here to-day, unable to with
stand the shock of an operation for gall
stones performed last Thursday.
Mrs. Taylor. worn out by day and
night vigil. had gone TO her apartments.
when at 9 o'clock this morning the SEN
ator began to sink so rapidly that she was
sent for. She was at his side when the
end came, at $40 O'Clock
Mrs. Taylor, David Taylor a son, and
three married daughters survive the Sen
ator.
Mr.. Taylor was stricken on March Is in
| the Union Station as he was aboul to take
| a train for North Carolina lie was hur-
| ried to his apartments, suffering intense
pain. An operation was urged but SEN
| ator Taylor at first refused to submit to
| the knife.
Meantime the poison was diffused in the
Senator's system and he finally consented
| to the operation. but his death is attrib-
uted 10 the delay. The operation was re-
garded as successful, but stomach com
| plications developed, causing extreme
weakness. to which he finally succumbed.
The Senate will pay tribute by an early
adjournment tomorrow. Both houses Of
Congress will appoint committees to leave
here tomorrow night to attend the funeral
at Senator Taylors old home. i'm Knox
Vile. The burial service will be held
| there, probably on Wednesday.
| "Fiddling Bob" Taylor was one Of the
most picturesque figures ever seen I'm the
United States Senate for membership in
which he made five separate races before
he won With his beloved violin he won
universal popularity. Ile gained national
note by stumping the state for Governor
| against his brother.
The two Taylor brothers were insepara-
BILE companions. They travelled together
ate together slept together and lectured to-
sether. Yet they were bitter partisans in
politics and strongly opposed to eaon
others views In their campaign for the
governorstip Robert was the Democratic
candidate and Alfred was the standard
bearer of the Republicans. The campaign
was fought without the slightest reference
| to personalities
When Robert was asked about this Tree
dom from the personal element he replied :
We'll, you see | couldn't say anything
about AIRS pa. and as gentleman he
couldn't say anything about my ma
When Mr.. Taylor won the governorship
he won, too his title Of "F'iddling Bob Tor
his violin went with him in all his cam
paigns. Later he confessed that his brother
was a better player than he
Senator Taylor was born in cabin in
Happy Valley. Carter County, Tenn, sixty
two years ago. His father was well
known Methodist preacher and his mother
was sister of the Southern orator,
| I.andon c. Haynes. lie completed DIS
education at Pennington Seminary, in New
| Jersey and in 1878 was admitted to tho
bar That year he made his first race
| for office, in which he defeated for Con-
gress Colonel A. II. Pettibone, his carpet
bag" rival. in spite of the fact that there
was a normal Republican majority oil
| Z 600 in that district. At the next cleo
| ton, however, the Republicans recovered
their hold and Mr.. Taylor was defeated.
Won Against His Brother.
Mr.. TAYLOR was chosen one of the Dem
ocratic electors at large for the state on
the Cleveland Hendricks ticket in 1884.
His brilliant campaign made him possl-
bility for the eovernorship, and in 1896
he ran against his brother and was sue
cessful lie was reelected in 1883.
on retiring from public life temporarily
in 1891 Mr.. Taylor went on the lecture
platform. and for several years appeared
| I'm all parts Of the United States. lie
sought the nominate tion for Governor again
! in 1892, but failed to obtain IT. lie was
unanimously nominated. however, IN lSSo'
and won after stirring campaign.
The Legislature was convened in extra
| session in January, 1895. and one OF the
duties devolving upol it was the election
OF Senator. Taylor, Turley and McMil-
| lin were the candidates. After l45 ballots
Turley was nominated I'm the Democratic
| caucus. Governor Taylor announced his
! candidacy for the Senate to succeed Gen
eral Bate whose Second term expired the
! next year. Headquarters were opened ana
preparations begun for an active contest
between the two. when, without warning,
| Governor Taylor announced his with
| drawal from the race and his final retire
ment from public life. His fourth race
| for the Senate was made i'm 1904. lie an
nounced his candidacy in opposition to
Senator Carmack in 1906, and in that. his
ff,b race. success crowned his efforts.