Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-28
CANDIDATE ST. JOHN.
A Sketch of the Leader of the Prohibi-
ttonistS.

John P. St. John, whom the Prohibi-
tionists have nominated for the Presi-
dency, says the Chicago Times, was born
at Brockville, Franklin county, Ind, Feb.
%. 1888. His early education embraced
only the meagre advantages afforded by a
country school in log school house in a
new settlement, but natural thirst for
knowledge led him to employ his spare
time so usefully that he repaired, in large
measure, his early deficiencies.
While still quite a lad he found en-
ployment In a store, where ne received
So month for his services. Before he
mad reached his twentieth year he caught
the ''gOld teVer," and started for CalifOr-
mia. Fortune, however, did not favor
him in the land of gold, and he was
Obliged to turn his hand at almost any
thing to make a living. He chopped
wood, cleaned decks. served in stores,
and did whatever else he could find to do.
during ms stay on the Pacific coast he
made voyages TO South America, Mexico,
Central America and the Sandwich
Islands. and in 1882 and 1858 he was en-
gagged IN the Indian wars in Northern
California and Southern Oregon. He en-
countered many dangers, and was twice
wounded. In the meantime he kept in
mind tie determination formed in early
life TO sometime study law. While vet a
miner he used to study law books in his
cabin.
In 1860 he returned to Illinois, and went
into the law office of Starkweather & Nc
Lean, IN Charleston. A year or two later
he became member of the firm. AT the
opening Of the war he enlisted as a pri-
vate in the Sixty-eighth Illinois Volun-
teers, and at the election of officers was
unanimously chosen Captain of company
q. At Alexandria he was detached from
his command, and assigned to duty as
Assistant Adiutant General. He was
afterward placed in command ofthe troops
at Camp MattOon, LII. Upon the organi-
cation OF the One Hundred and Forty
third Regiment he was elected it's Lieuten-
ant Colonel. The services of the regiment
were confined mainly to the Missis-
sippi valley. After Lees surrender he
returned to the practice of law at Charles
ton. His next move was to Independence,
Mo-, where he practiced law with much
success for eight years. There, too, he
won his first reputation as a temperance
orator. In May, 1869, he removed to
Olathe, Kan. Three years afterward he
was elected to the State Senate of Kansas,
where he distinguished himself as a de-
batter and man of marked general ability.
In 1878 he received the Republican nomi-
nation for Governor, and was elected by
very complimentary majority.
In 1879 the temperance agitation was at
its height. The blue ribbon excitement
swept all over the State. In the Legisla-
ture large number of bills were intro
duced for the restriction of the liquor
traffic. They crystalliZed finally into a
amendment which the next
year was adopted by nearly 5000 ma
lorlty. st. John became a candidate for
reelection, supported by Republicans
and ProhibitiOnists, and after an exciting
that attracted general at
tentiOn he was elected for a
second term. Two years later he
was again candidate. The prohibition
craze had then diminished, the liquor in
terests made remorseless fight against
him, jealous politicians who thought he
ought to retire and give them a chance
united with them, and st. John was
beaten by over 5000 votes. He has since
taken an active part in the general prohi-
bition movement, being especially active
at State conventions and delivering tenn
perance speeches everywhere.