The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1921-07-06

an attorney in a big mining suit
but WAS denied the right of practice
before the gold commissioner, even
after he had passed his examination
because he had not served three
years as an apprentice in the solicit
tor's office in Canada
Disguised with the unreasonable
regulations of the Canadian govern.
ment, Pittman temporarily forsook
the law and worked with his own
hands as miner for over two years
Leaving Dawson, he proceeded to
Nome, just after the famous camp
was discovered, and he helped or
/ ganize the consent form of govern
meAt for the miners. Ine part he
played IN bringing order out of cnaoa
resulted in his election as the frs
district attorney of the section. Re-
aiizing that the new district attorney
occupied position fraught with ex-
treme danger, the authorities assign
ed three deputy mafshals for duty
IN the court room to protect the dis
trict attorney syhile he prosecuted
cases.
Those who were in Alaska at the
time said that although numerous
attempts were made to assassinate
Pittman and that numerous plots
were hatched, the district attorney
failed at any time to show the slight
est sign of nervousness. Then Con-
gress passed a law that resulted IN
Rex Beach writing his famous novel.
THE Spoilers" Plttman then be-
came the attorney for the miners
ana others who owned mining
claims.
Upon his last trip to the states.
where he appeared before the circuit
court at San Francisco, which court
heard Of The strike made at Tonopah
and for those not familiar with the
nomenclature Of mining, strike" in
mining means a discovery. When he
heard Of the wonderful find. Pittman
finished his legal work and proceed
+ ed 70 this new III Dorado. The train
IN those days ran as far as Sodayille.
/ from which point it was necessary to
stage il into the new camp. This
ride took eighteen hours with three
changes of horses. When he arrived
at Tonopah he became interested IN
the mines aud rapidly acquired one
OF the largest practices OF any law
yer in the state. He had given but
little thought to politics. With a
number of friends he iourneyed to
Reno to witness the Jeffries and
Johnson prize fight, and while there
he accepted the nomination for the
United States Senate on the demo-
cratic ticket to oppose the late Geo.
5. Nixon.
Nixon was popular and had numer-
Gus mining and banking interests
and knew nearly everybody in the
state. After Pittman's nomination
he approached Senator Nixon and
suggested that the loser abide by the
popular vote OF the state, so that
there might be no suspicion of cor
ruption of the legislature. This was
the first time in the history of the
United States that such a proposition
had been made. Pittman was de-
feated, but tie legislature was dem
ocratle by three on joint ballot.
Friends urged Pittman not TO stand
by the agreement, because they
charged that Nixon's friends had
spent considerable money in the
fight. Pittman not only refused TO
heed these pleas. but went before the
legislature and urged the democrats
to vote for Nixon. stating that any
other action would destroy the the
Dry of popular government. The
members OF the legislature followed
ais advice, with the result that every
democrat voted for Nixon. Then
both the senate and assembly passed
joint resolution congratulating
fPlttman on the high stand he had
aiken IN the matter.
Two years later. while Pittman
Sas addressing the democratic state
convention assembled to elect dele
gate TO the Baltimore convention,
news came that Senator Nixon was
i diving. Mr.. Pittman expressed the
ope that Senator Nixon would win
MS fight against death. After Sen
tor Nixon's death Judge Massey was
appointed by the governor, elected
as a republican, to serve out the
unexpired term Pittman was NOM
mated as his opponent Judge Mas
sey had occupied positions of trust
in the state and had made many
friends. The fight was a bitter one.
1t was cleancut throughout. The
day after the election Pittman was
one hundred votes behind on the
returns and 1t was a week before the
final result was announced. The
contest was the subjest of much bet
ting between the frtepds of each can
didate. The outside precincts, the
farmers. the ranches and the mining
camps, brought In total which gave
MIR. pittman the election by eighty
nine votes. The same agreement had
existed between Judge Massey AM
pittman as had existed between Sen
ator Nixon and Pittman. The legis
lature gave its unanimous vote foi
pittman. After having served
through the unexpifed term to which
he had been elected, Senator Pitt
man was again nominated and elect
ed by n plurality of over 2'4OO.
BY birth and raising Senator Key
pittman was a democrat; by exper
ience and association in the wesl
he became more independent, ano
while he has stood by the party ol
which he is member in matters