The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1915-12-21
lis CHAUFFER BY DAY,
A SENATOR BY night
MARCHAND is ONE OF THE KA-
LEIDIOSCOPIC CHARACTERS IN
WHIRLIGIG OF POLITICS.
WINS ON HONESTY PLATFORM

From a Grimy Motor to Plentifuily
Spread Table Where Toasts Are the
Order and Cheer AbOunds He
Passes Every Day.
LOWELL, MISCELLANEOUS by
day and senator by night, George b.
Marchand, who takes his seat in the
upper branch of the state legislature
in January, representing the Eighth
Middlesex district for the second
term, is one of thoes kaleidoscope
characters in the whirligig of politics
that seem to run the whole gamut
of life each twenty-four hours.
From a grimy motor to plentiful
ly spread table, where toasts are the
order and cheer abounds he passes,
and the transition is so frequent that
to him it is almost commonplace.
Born of humble parents, his practical
everyday experience with the men
who vote has given to him a varied
ability sufficient to command atten-
ton both in the workshops and at
dinners and other social occasions
in the town. In eight years that he
has been in political life-in the
common council, next in the state
house of representatives and now In
the senate-he has maintained his
| friendships in two particular phases
of life, the one as a chauffeur and
the other as a legislator.
From the one he goes to the other,
! and the information he obtains and
imparts is valuable both to his col
| leagues in the senate and his friends
| in the town.
State dinners have been given in
| his honor, and the chauffeur has APP
peared as one of the principal speak
ers after having brought some OF his
| friends to the gathering in his auto
mobile.
With only a common school educa-
ton and no impulse behind him save
his own ambition Senator Marchand
began life with few advantages. lie
had no trade and no profession. SO,
seventeen years ago, when he was Il
wears old, he began work as driver
and a few years later became chaut-
feur. He has had charge of automo-
biles ranging from a small one to a
climb Mount Washington backward
All are the property of Mrs. j. H.
Chalifoux, widow of one of the very
wealthy men who lived in LoWell
Her husband left to her a large de-
partment store, half dozen business
blocks and personal property TO guar
antee a life of independence. Mrs
Chalifoux lives alone in common
Gus house on Wilder street, one OF
the show places of the city. Senator
ielect Marchand's abode is an humble
one at No. / 3 Harding street. Ihe
house is small, but well kept.
The manner of the man gives the
conviction that he is speaking tht
truth. He makes friends quickly by
his simple, frank personality He Il
las wears old, and sitting in his office
with horn trimmed spectacles he looks
more like a business man than one
who has spent years driving horse
and motor vehicles. He says lots OF
worse men than chauffeurs have
gone to the legislature, and no one
in the whole city will deny this.
In 1907, before Mr.. ChalifouX died
the chauffeur thought he might have
a chance to run for tho common coun-
ell. He never had played politics
but he had as sponsor Mr.. ChallfouH
and other business men. He won,
He made no election promises except
that he would be honest with the men
who sent him. Then he thought ne
could go to the lower house. he
was elected for 1910 and 1911, ana
while there was chairman OF the
committee on prisons. In 1914 ne
was elected to the senate, and in the
last session was chairman of the
;committee on public institutions and
of bills in third reading. He was
reelected last month.
= One of the most troublesome queS
tions in connection with the admin
istration of penal institutions IS the
use of drugs of various kinds: sen
ator Marchand last year introduced
bill to put stop to the delivery O
onium in penal institutions. Senator
Marchand believes great deal o.
money is wasted in the present, con
struction of roadways. He Is long
ing for place on the highways com
mittee.
,,orrI,vT NTTrRnTTROVTS