The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-08-02
FROM A SMALL BEGINNING.
Grows Great-A Grocer's Clerk-A SOL
dier-A Traveler-A Lecturer-A
Politician-A Candidate, and
without Any Hopes.


The practical observer can not fail to
notice the growing strength or the Pro-
hibition party. Its object, in the words
of the Chairman OF the Fourth National
Prohibition convention, recently held in
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, is "to found,
and to build up from its foundation, an
intelligent body of voters, whose politi.
cal thought will be the complete sup
preston ofthe liquor traffic." The mag
nitude of the organization appears in
the following figures: Thirty-one
States and Territories were represented
in the convention, by 4i6 delegates
actually present, out of a total of $40
elected to attend. In the opinion of a
prominent temperance politician, mill
lion votes will be cast in favor of the
party's Presidential ticket in the COM
ing election. Moreover, the Prohibi-
tionists are earnestly supported in their
work by the Women's Christian Tenn
perance Union, an auxiliary of potent
influence throughout the country. Man
ifcstly the movement represented by the
above facts and figures is of gigantic
size and Importance. 1t is national in
its extent, with the avowed "obiect,
aim and purpose to build up a
political organization which NAV
duct of national affairs, and to
which may be contided, in ali the States
and Territories Of the American Union,
the political control of all questions in
yolying the moral and material interests
Of the people, Naturally great interest
was manifested in theproceedings Of the
late convention, which were re-
ported at length in all the
leading newspapers. This interest was
the greater because the Prohibition
party has manifested considerable
strength in the politics of California.
Kansas, Iowa, Ohio, Illinois and Maine.
and unquestionablyitis growing rapidly
in members and influence.
John p. st. John, nominated for the
Presidency by the Prohibition party, was
born at Brockville, Franklin county,
Indiana, February 2j, 1888. His
father was man Of considerable
education and superior natural
ability, and the mother was woman of
exalted and beautiful character. At a
tender age young st. John began to as
sist on his fathers farm, working morn
ing and evening, and attending the log
schoOl-house in the middle hours of the
day. This kind Of life was continued a
y
oped into a student. He was pursuing a
systematic course of study before he
emerged from boyhoGd into youth, and
depended on the Kindness of neighbOrs
for the loan of books suitable for gen
eral reading. The family was poor
and grew poorer on account of the
Incorporate habits Of its head.
For this reason st. John went
out TO work while in his teens, at sala-
ry of IS month. He continued a gro
GERS clerk until nearly twenty years old,
when he left home to try his fortunes in
California. There he followed such oc-
equations as offered from wood chop
ping to comparatively lucrative work on
steamboats,. OF the cash he made, a
good share was sent to his mother, and
the habits OF the young man was uni
tormly exemplary. At this period of his
life, st. John made voyages to South
America, to Mexico and the Sandwich
Islands, and also took aiourney through
Central America, In 1852 and 1853 he
served against the Indians, ard was
twice wounded.
\ life so changing and hard presented
few opportunities of study, but tho
young aspirant did manage to pick ur
some acquaintance with the law durinl
these years, and in 1860 began his career
a lawyer by taking Il clerkship with
irm at Charlton, Illinois. This led t,
his becoming partner with the gentle
men who had engaged his services,
fortunate connection which lasted I,
the outbreak of the war, when st. JOIN
enlisted as a private IN the SiXty-eightl
Illinois Volunteers. He proved to bl
good souldier and rose to the rank o
Lieutenaut-COlonel When he returned
to private life he settled at Indepen
dence, Missouri, where he practicet
law for several years.
st. John became popular rs n speaker
i'm the political campaign of 1868. Th,
next year he removed into Kansas, set
thing at Olathe, where he continued III,
practice of his profession, and took al
active part in politics, In 1872 he wa
elected to the State Senate of Kansas, hi
first public Office, and in lSiSwas elected
Governor Of that State. During he year
intermediate between ,hese dates hu
served in both branches Of the LegiSla
turC and was q recognized leader i'm tn
Republican party. Lately lie has became
prominently identified with the Pro
mbition party, cutting of from the Re
publiCanS of Kansas, Vh'm ne could no
persuade into practirG assent to his eN
treme views on the liquor question. II,
Is still resident o. Kansas, where h
practices law. Much Of his time OF lat
has been taken up with G'yive temper
anCe work,
lie is man Of good presence, and
ready, effective speaker. Ills utterance
are carefully considered and well OK
pressed, unaffected and manly. Candi
date st. John is a married man, and ha
an interesting family. Courier-Journal