The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1912-04-05
SENATOR r. L. TAYLOR

Senator Robert Love Taylor died last
Sunday morning at $50 O'Clock at the
Providence hospital in Washington,
D. C.
The body was taken to Nashville
and lay in State Wednesday and then
to Knoxville.
Senator Taylor's illness dates back
thresomonths. Throughout that time
he had been in bad health. His COM
plexion was bad and he lacked energy,
and the humor that has always given
such delightful flavor TO his friend
ships was noticeable by the rarity of its
appearance. Ever since the first Of the
year the Senator's old friends had been
shaking their heads and muttering, I
am afraid we are going to lose Our
Bob. But neither the Senator nor
his friends realized the seriousness OF
the illness which was then in its incip-
lent stage. He was suffering from gall
stones.
Robert Love Taylor was born in Hap
py Valley, in Carter county, East Ten
nessee, July 81, 1850. He was the son
OF Nathaniel G. and Emily Haynes
Taylor, his mother being a member OF
the distinguished Haynes family, and
a sister Of Landon G. Haynes, Congress-
man and orator His father was a
member. OF Congress and commissioner
OF Indian affairs, and was also preach
er.
After completing his preparatory edu
cation at Buffalo institute, two miles
away, the young man completed his
scholastic training at Princeton. He
studied law in Johnson City, and quick
ly turned his attention to the political
game, in which other members OF his
fathers and mothers family had been
famous.
In 1878 he was chosen as the stand
ard-bearer of the Democratic party in
the First District, which was overwhelm-
ingly Republican. His opponent was
Maj. A. H. Petkbone, now resident
OF Nashville. 1t was during this cam
paign that Taylor won the title Of Fid-
ding Bob, y from the unique manner
in which he conducted his side of the
contest On the violin he was an artist
OF renown in his own district, and to
that citizenship this was greater re-
commentator than the deepest legal
learning.
From the platform, instead OF at
tempting to meet his opponent in Sc
rious debate, he would break off into
jig time music on the fiddle, sweeping
his audience off its feet literally. When
the votes were counted young Bob was
elected by good majority. He served
only one term, however, his opponent,
Maj. Pettibone, rallying at the next
biennial election and winning the place.
In 1884 he was Presidential elector
Tor the State-at-large, and again in 1892
He was pension agent at Knoxville
rom 1SS5-S7.
In 1886 he made the race for Govern
4
Or Of the State, his opponent on the
Republican ticket being bis brother,
Alf Taylor. The contest was made
by the fact that the two
orothers led the rival factions, and this
vas known as The War OF the Roses, 2
he emblem Of Bob Taylor being the
white rose and that OF All the red rose.
The campaign was also remarkable in
he way Of oratory, the two brothers
making brotherly gibes at each other.
But it was, OF course, free from the
usual bitterness Of joint debate Bob
raylor was easily the winner, being re-
lected in 1888 to succeed himself.
Many stories are told Of this memo
able contest, the chief issue Of which
eemed to be which Of the Taylor broth
RS should be Governor OF the State
he result was never at any time in
erious doubt, but the people greatly !
njoyed the novel spectacle Of two
rothers running for the same Office.
one night during he canvass with
il brother, All, for the Goyernorship.
d their way into Middle Tennessee,
ley stopped in Bridgeport, Ala.
In the morning the Iandlady present.
herself At her distinguished guests !
COR. y
'Hme. she said TO Alfred. lis a
ouquet ot red roses Z 7
And here, she exclaimed to Rob- 7
Il, is a bouquet Of white roses. Now,
want you boys 10 take these flowers
,r the sake 81 your mother. know
,e must Be proud to have sons who B