Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-05-17
Sketch OF LONG LIFE OF ENAT0R
THOMAS B. cATR0N

| light battery. He then returned to
| his home to further pursue the
study of law, his chosen profession,
| but soon learned that the state OF
Missouri had during his absence
passed a statute prohibiting any
person from becoming a licensed
attorney unless he first subscribed
an oath that he had not borne
arms against the United States
government. Unable to comply
with the requirements, and still be-
ing set on his chosen profession,
he journeyed westward, leaving In
dependence, Kans, the latter part
of May, 1855, with New Mexico as
his destination.
Approaching that the Spanish
language prevailed in New Mexico
at that time, he purchased n Span
ish grammar and dictionary, to be
his constant companions for the
long sixty-day journey overland
with a train of freighters. He de-
voted himself exclusively to the
study of Spanish grammar until he
had mastered the same, and also to
the dictionary until he had ac-
CURED large vocabulary and was,
as he thought, able to make him
self understood,
He arrived in Santa Fe on july
81, 1886. He at once took employ
ment under Judge Benedict, as law
clerk and scrlbner. While thus
employed, he found that although
he could make himself understood
in the Spanish language, he could
not understand anything the ma
tive people said to him. He was
offered the appointment of district
attorney of the Third judicial dis
triCt, with residence at Mesilla,
Dona Ana county, n. M, but be"
fore accepting said position, he
moved to Alcalde, Rio Arriba
county, n. NJ, where no English
was spoken, and resided at ma
tive home for the purpose of train
ing and accustoming his ears TO
the Spanish language. After be-
coming proficient in Spanish he
returned TO Santa Fe and accept
ed the appointment of district at
torney of the Third judicial dis
tlict some four months before ne
was admitted to the bar, and
moved to Mesirla, Dona Ana coun-
ty, on February 20, 1867.
He was admitted to practice law
on June Is, 1867, and continued
his practice as district attorney of
the Third judicial district until
1868. In September, 1858, he was
elected to the house of representa-
tives of the territorial legislature,
from Dona Ana county, and served
in that capacity during the sessions
held December Is. 1868, and jan
uary IS, 1869.
During the month of January,
1863, he was appointed attorney
general of the territory OF New
Mexico by Governor Mitchell and
Immediately took up his residence
in Santa Fe, fulfilling the duties
of said office for three and one
half years, until in 1872 he was
appointed United States attorney
for New Mexico by president Ulys-
ses S. Grant and served in such
capacity for six years, when ne
resigned. In the meantime, he
had formed a partnership with ms
former classmate, Stephen B. Ell
kins, which partnership continued
to exist until Senator Elkins lett
New Mexico for West Virginia.
He served four or five times as a
member of the legislative councll
in the territorial legislature, during
which period he helped write much
of the present law of New Mexico.
He was elected delegate to congress
from New Mexico for the Fifty
fourth congress. and throughout
his term of his office he endeavored
to further advance the interests OF
New Mexico towards statehood and
to enlighten and educate the sena-
tors and Representatives in con-
gress as to the true facts regarding
the territory of New Mexico.
From the earliest date he was
an energetic and enthusiastic work
err for statehood, and although he
was much discouraged when the
people of the state of New Mexico
rejected the constitution adopted by
the first constitution convention of
the state of New Mexico, neverthe-
less he continued in his work and
was finally rewarded In seeing New
Mexico admitted as a state and be-
come one of the first United states
senators representing said state in
congress, which office he held until
March 4, 1917.
He entered politics early in his
career and helped organize the first
republican organization in New
Mexico, and soon became a prom
inent figure In politics and never
ceased to participate and take a
leading part therein up to the
very last 1t was indeed during the
last political campaign of 1920 that
the illness started which resulted
in his death.
AS an attorney he became noted
throughout the United States as q
lawyer of great ability, and especi-
ally as an authority upon the Law