The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-05
LIES DESIRE
IS FULFILLED
Little Giant Of Watauga'
Makes Runaway Race
for Governor.
RECALLS "WAR or ROSES"
Sketch Of Tennessee's New
Governor-Brother Of "our
Bob" Taylor.

The adage, Everything comes to
those who walt" might be appro-
priately applied to All Taylor. For
has ' BEEN een" waiting G'I for and '" perhaps
longing for the honor of serving his
state as governor
The long cherlshed wish has at last
been fulfilled by the votes OF the people
In Tuesdays election.
The years that have passed since his
flrst effort TO capture the gubernatorial
chair from his brother, Bob" Taylor,
may have increased the badness OF
his head and added Wilderness to his
fringe Of locks. but they have not
lessened the desire and he has always
been ready to accept the chance to
fulfill that longing.
Mr.. Taylor was past the three-score
and ten mark when he entered the race
for the republican nomination in the
primary Of Aug: s, last. In the be-
ginning many Tennesseans who knew
him simply as the brother of "Our
Bob" late democratic governor and
senator from Tennessee. looked upon
his campaign. as hardly a matter for
derwent a change when Mr.. Taylor
took the stump and began an active
campaign. II became evident that II
was a one-man's race practically all
over the state. So ALI Taylor. woke
UP on his seventy-second birthday to
find himself the republican nominee for
governor of Tennessee for the second
time In his life.
Taylor's first race for governor was
the most famous affair Of the kind in
1885, the republican state convention
met in Nashville and the late Richard
w Austin, for several years congress-
man from the Second Tennessee dis
trict. nominated Taylor for governor.
"War OF the Roses"
In
on Aug. II. 1885. and after considerable
jockeying nominated Robert l.. Taylor.
'Our Bob" for governor on the fifteenth
ballot. Thus 1t was that Tennessees
The two Taylors made tour OF the
state, speaking to immense crowds:
They hammered. the opposition party and
poked fun at one another but wound up
each day as affectionate. a pair OF
brothers as one would desire to see.
in the course OF the campaign. the two
stopped at Bridgeport. Ala. for the night
as guests of a Mrs. Jones, who had
heard them speak that afternoon at
Jasper. The good woman was greatly
impressed with the consideration the
brothers showed each other, not only in
the debate at Jasper, but about the hos
pitable Preside of her home. The next
morning after breakfast she gathered
from her garden two bouquets OF roses.
to the hall Of her home. she found All
and Bob waiting to say good bye. TO
each she presented one of the bou-
quets.
II want you to accept these flowers,
gentlemen" said the warn hearted hos
tess, "for the sake of your mother; l
know that she must be proud of her
boys who can be politicians and still be
brothers. l know that her heart Is with
you and that her blessings follow you"
m ~ LA
and ALI the red. Thereafter during the
campaign, Bob Taylor was known to
newspaper men as Knight Of the White
Roses and All as knight OF the Red
Roses" and Robert still was known as
the Knight of the White Roses" when
he defeated Edward w. Carmack for
denomination as United States senator
in 1906. The war OF the roses" be-
!. tween the Taylor brothers ended In the
November election Of 1885 with Robert
the victor.
"A Member OF Congress.
All Taylor became q member OF con-
gress from the First Tennessee district
on March 4. 1889. and served for three
terms, declining further nomination and
taking up the practice of law In john
son City. His home Is at Miigan Col
Iege. Tennessee, where he is extensively
interested in farming. He Is the father
of several sons, one of whom following
the family bent for political division, Is
D democrat.
The campaign between Robert L.
Taylor, democrat and Alfred A. Taylor
his brother republican. for election as
governor OF Tennessee in 1885, more
than a third of a century ago, was
''duch enlivened by the tactics of Bob
as he was famiIarly known.
He carried with him a fiddle made
so he told, at his home at Happy Valley
In East Tennessee, and which he played
at each Joint speaking. date. He rarely
attempted to discuss the serious issues
of the campaign, spending the greater
part Of his time In telling Jokes. at the
expense OF hts serious minded brother
ALI and playing the fiddle.
During the latter part of his campaign
ALI Taylor has been accompanied by the
Taylor quartet. composed Of his sons
and nephews who rendered old time
southern melodies upon the guitar. banjo
and violin The quartet occupied a
part OF the time al each speaking date
in entertaining the crowd.