The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-04-05
MAI. All. PETT|BONE
TELLS Of CAMPAIGN
WITH DEAD SENATOR
low .FlppLyNc BOB WON SEAT
IN CONGRESS IN FIRST
DISTRICT.
MADE CANVASS LIKE BROTHERS

MADE CANVASS LINZ BRUIhEkS
Recounts Many Incidents, Both
troublesome & Humorous Among
the Mountaineers.-Made Three
Races for Lower House Together.
NASHVILLE, April 2.-Probabiy
no man in Tennessee knew Bob Tay-
lor better, especially in his early pol
,tical life, fought him harder politi-
cally, and loved him more sincerely
than Maj. A. H. Pettibone, now con-
nected with the department OF agri-
culture at the Nashville custom
house, and formerly for many years
representative in congress from the
First district. He was the republi-
can Bob Taylor defeated for congress
iii q remarkable campaign In the
First district In 1878.
When seen Sunday, Mai. Pettibone
expressed deep feeling over the
death Of the senior senator.
"Cn the whole" said Maj. Petit
bone, bob Taylor was the most lov-
able man I ever met In public life.
He was always ready to do a kind
ness for the lowliest Of Gods Great
ures. | sincerely regret his death,
Tor he was one Of the closest person
al friends had. / cannot say more.
The last words had with Bob Tay-
Tor was during the occasion Ct his
last visit to Nashville, and went to
his rooms In the Maxwell House to
thank him for very great kindness
he had done me In Washington. We
had a long chat then about the vari-
ious incidents of our campaigns,
which we did every time we met, and
at the close OF the conversation we
shook hands and again pledged our
undying friendship.
"At that time / was impressed
wit hthe fact that the senator was
not himself, physically, and ! had an
inward feeling that the man was ap-
preaching his end, although he was
still ~ cherry and jovial as ever.
He said to me that the pain his gall
stones were giving him was the most
excruciating that he had ever suffer-
ed In his life"
In speaking Of the three congress
sional campaigns participated in by
himself and Senator Taylor, when
the latter was just budding forth In
10 state politics, Maj. Pettibone said
that they were the hottest times ever
had In Tennessee. I'VE contested
In the First district In three success
sive campaigns" said Maj. Petit
bone, sand during this time we had
100 joint discussions, about 40 each
campaign. In the first Of these when
Senator Taylor defeated me by 700
votes In the district, excitement
grew 80 high that he and agreed as
Free Masons not to indulge in per-
sonalities, and we stood by the agree
ment all through the following cam
paigns and all the years that follow
cd. have never said an unkind
word about him, and have heard Of
mis- saying a thousand kindly things
about me. Our first campaign was
in 1878, and the other two in 80 and
49,"
THE first campaign for congress
was Bob Taylor,s first essay in the
political arena, and he was then the
same rollicking, good-natured fellow
that everybody knew him as. He
was full Of fun and life, and when
after we had completed the serious
parts OF our speeches and got down
to telling yarns and swapping jokes,
no was in his element.
~As matter Of course We Oid .
lot Of travelling together. and we
were always on the best Of terms.
never win forget time when we
were travelling along together from
one little town to another, / in a
buggy and Bob alongside on big
horse. 1t was necessary for us to
pass certain Lick creek, and at
that time the creek was tremend-
Gus stream. due to heavy arms Of the
past week When we reached it
happened to know where to ford it,
and had started to drive across,
when / happened to glance at Bob's
face. and it was the most woe be-
gone that ! ever looked at His ap-
pearance indicated that the chances
OF his being left behind were very
bright Major" he said, you reck-
On can get across with this ami
mal?"
well, Bob" I said. you get on
and get up In the buggy with me,