Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-04-04
SENATOR BOB TAYLOR DEAD.
Brilliant Tennessee Statesman and Lecturer
Died in Washington SUNDAY,


Robert Love Taylor, aged 81 years,
senior United States senator from Ten
nessee-''F 'Fiddling Bob" to all the south
died at the Providence hospital in
Washington Sunday morning, unable to
withstand the shock of an operation for
gallstones, performed last Thursday.
Senator Taylor was taken to the hos
pital on Wednesday in a state border
ing on collapse. He rested well during
the night, however, and the operation
was performed early Thursday morn
ing, but the distinguished patient never
rallied from the shock.
The remains were taken to Nashville
on Tuesday to lie in state for a day and
where funeral services were held. A
large delegation from both houses of
Congress as we'll as friends of the dead
Senator accompanied h e remains.
Burial will be tomorrow ip Knoxville.
Senator Taylor was distinctly pro-
duct of East Tennessee. He was born
in HALEY Valley, Carter county, July
Is, 1850, being a son of Nathaniel G.
Taylor and Emily Haynes Taylor, sis
ter of Landon c. Haynes, one of the
most noted orators that Tennessee ever
produced.
From his early childhood, Robert dis
played sense of humor and congenial-
ity of nature that were destined to make
him favorite with the people of his
state. From his first appearance in
public life, when in 1878, he made the
race for congress in the First Tennes-
see district, it was plain that he was
destined to claim the support of the
people of his state for any position he
might ask. Although opposed by Au-
gustus Herman Pettibone, veteran of
the civil war and man of scholarly at
tainments, he proved his popularity ms
a campaigner when he stemmed the tide
of natural republican majority of more
than ten thousand, and wrested the
honor from his astute opponent by a
comfortable majority. 1t was Bob Tay-
lor's personal popularity and his clever
ness at telling jokes that won for him
his first victory and pointed the road to
his long line of successful political
achievements. His oratory as an cleo
tor on the Cleveland ticket in 1884,
opened the way for him to become gov
ernor of the state. He was three times
elected governor, the first time in 1886,
when he defeated his brother, Alfred
Taylor, who was the republican stan
dard bearer in that unique campaign,
which became known as "the war of
the roses," for the reason that Bob and
his followers adopted the white rose as
their emblem while Alf and his follow
ers wore the red.
Popular as campaigner and success
full during three administrations as gov
ernor, Senator Taylor was perhaps more
successful as public entertainer than
ss statesman. His popular lectures
brought him nationwide fame, and he
was making a fortune out of his "Fid-
die and Bow" and other popular lee
lures. When he left the platform to
heed the call of the people to seat in
the United States senate, an honor
which had long been his cherished
dream, he won the nomination over
Senator Carmack in a statewide pri-
mary in May 1906, and was elected by
the legislature in January, 1907. His
term as senator would have expired in
March of next year.
1t is quite probable that Governor
Hooper will appoint the dead senator's
brother, Hon. Alf Taylor, republican,
to fill out the unexpired term.
Senator Taylor has lectured in Taze-
well, and made many friends here on
the occasion of his visit by his genial
manner.