Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-26
Rodoiph Hatfield.


cess of citizen, or however well his stand
ing morally, socially or financially may be
understood, his nomination or candidacy fol
Office is the signal for general desire upon
the part of the public to know all about
him. The candidate of the Republicans Of
the Eightv-ninth district for representative
in the Legislature is SO well and iavorably
known that it seems superfuous to add any
thing in print. He arrived in this city in
1879, and entered the practice of his profess
ion. Being a good speaker and taking a
great interest in public affairs, and so ef-
fective were some of his speeches, and so
comprehensive were many of his views that
he was pressed to make the race for county
attorney two years later, but not desiring Of
fee by one innocent pretext and another, h e
escaped the importantly of his friends. His
present candidacy did not come of his own
motion or desire in the first place, but hav-
ing once consented to go before the eonven-
ton he and his friends, of course. made the
best effort they could, being only careful not
to antagonize any interest of the party or to
do anything which would give other
aspiranst cause to complain. The result is
known. He received the nomination over
one of the strongest men and shrewdest pol
itical workers in the county. OF his election
there ought to not be shadow of doubt.
His educational training as lawyer not
only fits him for the position; his abilities as
ready and pleasant public speaker not only
guarantees that Sedgwick county would be
heard from on the floor of the House; his
advocacy of the reelection of John j. In
gals to the Z. S. Senate and his unequivo-
cal pledge that he will vote for Mr.. Ingalls,
not only because the Republicans Of this
county desire it but because it is his person
al preference to do SO; his open and avowed
expression of convictions in favor Of the re-
submission of the prohibition amendment to
the people, not only these, but, his work as
a. Republican, his standing as citizen, his
honorable course as a business man ought
to be a sufficient guaranty Of his election by
an overwhelming majority. While he has
not been an Office seeker nor posed as man
desiring the suffrages of his fellow citizens,
nevertheless it is very patent to those who
know him best that few men could be found
in the district who could better represent on
the floor of the house this wide awake, grow
ing and ambitious young metropolis Of Kan
sas and with whose financial concerns he is
so closely and intimately identified than
Rodolph Hatfield.
But as We said in the start there is always
q desire upon the part of the public to know
of candidates antecedents and that is what
we started out to tell.
Mr.. Hatfield is a Buckeye boy, scarce
thirty years of age, being born in Lodon,
Madison county, Ohio, October 9th, 1854.
At the age of four years his father moved to
a farm near Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois,
where he was reared. Being the eldest child
he was kept pretty steadily at work on the
farm until he had gained his eighteenth year
when he entered the Lincoln university from
which he graduated with the honor of
degree in June, 1874. The following fall
be entered the Bloomington Law School
and in 1873 was admitted to the bar and the
practice of the courts on full license based
On his examination. A short time subse-
3uently he was married to Miss Hattie L.
Harris of Harrisburg, and Immediately NOV
ID to Trinidad, Colorado, where he first en-
cred the active practice of his profession.
He didn't like the mountains and rocks and |
barren soil of that country but longed for a
country with farms and fruits and growing
.rops, SO came back down the valley to !
Wichita which he found so much to his
mind thai he Immediately decided that here
honld be his future home. He at once
,pened law Office and continued in the
practice until about two years ago when
lacked by monied friends who knew of
lis worth and reliable character as man,
,e organized the Bank of Commerce of this
ity, st the head of which he now stands
nd to which he is giving his whole atter-
ion. As to his politics, his first vote was
asst for X. B. Hayes in 1876. Not only from
but from early training and in
lination he has given thought, votes and
arrest support to the Republican party
-om the time he attained his majority to
he present. He has, as We said before, never
sked nor held political Office and for the
mt time accepts the honor conferred on
inn BY the Republicans Of the Eighty ninth
district, which. If seconded
y his party and the people, he will al to
lie best of his ability no one who knows
i'm can doubt.