The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1884-08-07

faom a SMALL eeolNnHo


Tho practical observer cnn not fail t.
notice the growing strength or the Pro-
Inhibition party, lts object, In the word
n the Chairman oi the Fourth National
Prohibition convention, recently held iu
l'ittShurg, Pennsylvania, IL "tn found,
md tn build up from its foundation, an
Intelligent body uf voters, whose pOllli
cal thought will be- the complete sup,
preston of the liquor traffic" The mag
| nitudp OF the organization appears iil
the following figures; Thirty-Onc
States and Territories were represented
in the convention, by 40 delegates
actually present, out Of u total oi 57i
elected Ia attend, In the opinion of u
| prominent temperance politician, a mil.
! lion votes Will bo east In favor of the
/ pnrty's Presidential ticket in the com.
| ing election, Moreover, the Prohibit
! tionisls are earnestly supported In their
work by the Womeu's Christian Tom
rcrnnce Union, nm auxiliary of potent
influence throughout the country. Man
iicSlly H." movement represented 10y the
above facts aud figures II of gigantic
size and Importance. II is national in
lis extent, with tho ayowcd "ohioct,
aim and purpose Ia build up II
political organization which may
ue safely entrusted with the CON
iuct of national affairs, and To
which may be conlidod, in all the State
and Territories of the American Union,
the Pc - al control Oft all questions in.
vOlvin, sSnc moral and material interests
of the people, Naturally great interest
was manifested in the proceedings of the
late convention, which were re-
ported AT length in all the
,rIi.nS 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,
md unuucStionably IL is growing rapidly
in members and influence.
Jonn 4. ~. John, nominated for the
Presidency by the Prohibition party, was
born ut BrOckvillc, Franklin county,
Indiana, February -, lS3. His
father WAS man of considerable
education and superior natural
ability, and the mother was woman OF
exalted and beautiful character. At II
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
lew years. during which the boy devel-
oped into u student. He was pursuing Il
systematic course of study before he
emerged from boyhood into youth, ana
depended on the Kindness Of neighbors
for the loan of books suitable for gen
eral reading. The family was poor
Incorporate habits of its head.
For this reason st. John went
out to work while in his teens, at a sa.a.
ry of 81 Il month. lie continued % gro
GERS clerk until nearly twenty years old,
when he left home to try his fortunes in
California. There he followed such oc-
.rpations AZ offered from wood chop
10.
,ucamboats. OF the cash he maze, 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 ajourney through |
Central America. In 1852 and 1853 he
served against the Indians, and was
twice wounded.
A life so changing and hard presented |
few opportunities of study, hut the
young aspirant did manage to pick up |
some acquaintance with the law during |
these years, and in 1860 began his career |
a. lawyer by taking a clerkship with a |
irm mt Charlton, Illinois. This led
MS becoming partner with the gentle |
men who had engaged his services, Il |
fortunate connection which lasted t.
8 he outbreak Of the war, when st. John !
enlisted as a private in the SiXty-eighth |
illinois Volunteers. He proved to b, |
4 good souldier and rose to the rank ol |
Lieutenant-COlonel. When he returned |
to private life he settled at lndepen.
lence, Missouri, where he practiced |
law for several years.
st. John became popular as a speaker
in the political campaign of 1865. The
next year he removed into Kansas, set
Ting at Olathe, where be continued the
practice of his profession, and took al,
active part in politics. In 1872 he was
elected to the State Senate of Kansas, his
first public office, and in 1873 was elected
Governor of that State. During the years
between these dates he
served in both branches of the Legisla-
ture and was a recognized leader i'm tn.
Republican party. Lately he has became
identified with the Pro
addition party, cutting off from the Re.
publicans of Kansas, whom he could not
persuade into practical assent to his eX
rene views on the liquor question. He
is still a resident of Kansas, where he
practices law. Much Of his time of lat,
has been taken up with active temper
lnce work.
lie is Il man Of good presence, and
ready, effective speaker. His utterances
ire carefully considered and well ex-
pressed, unaffected and manly. Candi-
late st. John is married man, and ha.
IN interesting family Courier-J ournal.
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