McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1913-02-14
WEBB'S TRIBUTE
TO Bob TAYLOR
JUNIOR SENATOR EULOGIZES MAN
WHOSE SEAT HE OCCUPIES.
Does Not Attempt to Cover Political
Record, but Gives Personal Ex.
periences With Him.

Washington.-That Senator w. r.
Webb's first speech in the United States
senate should be tribute to his friend
and the man whose seat he now occu-
pies, Robert Love Taylor, was fitting in
the extreme. That opportunity was
given him at the memorial service held
in the senate chamber and dedicated to
senators who have died within the past
year.
In his eulogy Senator Webb said, in
part;
Senator Robert Love Taylor, though
poor in early life in things of finan-
cial value, was rich, indeed, in the tru-
est sense of the great multitude of his
friends. His friends stood the test.
They never deserted him. He gripped
with power stronger than steel. No
man ever had friends in greater multi
tude. Senator Taylor did not seek
friendship for the hope of reward, but
for the enjoyment, as Cicero said, which
is found in love ITSELF Senator Tay-
lor's platform for life was, All men
are neighbors.'
Robert l.. Taylor, when young man,
was elected governor of Tennessee. He
naturally desired second term. His
nomination was bitterly contested. 1
was a delegate to the convention which
was authorized to nominate his sue
cessor. 1t was perhaps the longest po-
litical convention on record. /, with
his other friends, voted every time for
Robert L. Taylor. L have never seen
such fidelity. He loved the people and
they loved him.
Robert L. Taylor will go down in
history as the Apostle of Sunshine
He lived for the happiness of Others
He made everybody about him have a
good time. His personal good humor
was contagious. There was joy and
gladness wherever he was.
During his first term as governor
the young man was very much criti-
cised for going against his party plat
form in advocating federal aid to edu-
cation My county was against him.
invited him to lecture ut my school,
and said to him:
"'When the roll of counties is called
at the approaching convention, Bedford
county will stand, phabetically, almost
at the top of the roll
HE delivered a great speech ON that
occasion, on THE Cabins of Tennessee
and, with great eloquence, showed what
education could do for the poor boy. He
never afterwards lost Bedford county
delegation.
''The children never forgot his visits
to home, and always lined up with
him when old enough to vote. His Wis
its to my home were green spots in the
childrens' memory. At night, after his
inimitable lectures, he would assemble
the school boys around him and they
would enjoy his splendid social enter
tainment till the wee small hours, greet
ing his fine wit and unique anecdotes
with hsouts of laughter.
"Gov. Taylor was criticised for his
number of pardons. He said to me,
when the papers were full of eensure:
"'Webb, l asked the Tennessee leg
islature to make proper provision for
youthful convicts; not to senu them to
the penitenetiary, to that school of
crime with hardened villains. They
would not grant my request. They shall
not send the boys to that school of
crime as long as I am governor of Ten
nessee.'
at was that splendid stand of Gov.
Taylor that called the attention of the
people to this great need of proper pro-
vision for those guilty of the indiscre-
lions of youth and needed reformatories
for education and training into citizen
ship and not penitentiary at hard Ia
Dor in the company of those older and
more vicious incorrigibles that could not
be reformed and made good citizens.
This was right and required great force
of character and strong conviction to
stem the tide of adverse criticism.
"The papers never gave him credit for
the list of young people pardoned. The
number looked large. Gov. Taylor, in
that same interview, said to me: VI
"'Webb, what would you do If
lovely little country girl were to nestle
down in your lap, put her arms around
your neck and ask you to give her her
father for Christmas gift and tell you
that she did not even know her father;
that he did kill that man, but was drunk
and did not know what he was doing?
Webb she took him home. | could not
help it,"