The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-02

and Norton-were collegians Young Mr.,
bryan is the only coliegian from Nebraska
-Four of the six statesmen from New Jer
sey-Messrs. Bergen, Geissenhainer, Fow-
Ter and English-are college men, and two
OF Observation-Disclosures and English-haye
received honorary degrees
OF the thirty-four congressman from New
York only nine-Messrs. Chaplin. Dunphy,
Warner, Fitch, Bacon, Sanford, Viewer,
Payne and Lockwood-are college gradu-
ates- On the other hand, six of the eight
North Carolina members, including the
colofed congressman. Cheatham, were col
lege or university graduates. Seven of the
twenty-one members from Ohio had the
advantage Of college training, and eight of
the twenty-eight members from Pennsvl-
vania The Tennessee delegation presents
high standard of educational excellence
seven OF the ten mem bers being college
men and oae-Judge Patterson. of Memphis
says in his biography that he was edu-
Gated in the old field schools and attended
Tor two years ne Somerville academy, read
law on his fathers farm without the aid of
an instructor and was admitted to prac-
tice"
Judge Patterson IS now known as one of
the ablest lawyers in the house The Vir-
ginia delegation is another of fine scholastic
preparation for legislative duties, all of the
members from that state. with a single ex-
ception, being college graduates. In strik-
ing contrast with this showing is that
made by the more prosperous state of Wis
consln, not one OF whose representatives in
the house ever saw the inside of college
In addition to the self educated mem
berS already mentioned there are many
others. General Oates, of Alabama, and
MeSsrs. Turpin and Bankhead, of the
same state, educated themselves Mr..
Loud, of San Francisco, never went to
school. He was a sailor lad at thirteen,
soldier at fifteen and a dashing cavalry
man with Sheridan till the close of tho
war. Then he studied law. His colleague,
Mr.. Bowers, never had any education save
that to be had in a district school up to
the age of fourteen years. Mr.. Walker, Of
Massachusetts,, who is now a millionaire
and one of the most influential men in the
house, worked On shoes in his fathers fac
tory till he was a man, when he was adj
mitted to the firm. He is wholly self edu-
Gated, but a man of wide culture. Con-
gresham Sam Stephenson, of Michigan,
never attended school
Congressman Harris. of Minnesota, left
Ohio as mere boy and drifted to Wiscon-
sin, where he worked on a farm and went
to the war without ever setting foot inside
school house. On coming out of the mil
itary service he read law and went to a law
school. Bartine, of Nevada, had much the
same experience. He was 4 poor boy in
New York city, attended public schools
until he was fifteen, and at fifteen and four
months enlisted and served throughout the
war. Going to Nevada he worked as a
mill hand and endeavored by studying
nights to supply the defects in his educa-
ton. In the same way he studied law.
The fact is, the average American who
has aspirations toward education will get
it in one way or another. He Will work
nights and attend his class during the day,
or work in the day and study at night. If
he can't acquire his mental training while
boy, he will do so after reaching man
hoods estate. It IS noteworthy that a large
number of our successful public men found
it necessary to teach school in order to sup
port themselves while completing their
college years or to obtain the means with
which TO study law. Judging from the
recipes given in The Congressional Direc-
tory, the surest formula for the manufac-
ture of an American statesman would be
as follows:
Born of poor but honest parents; lived
on q farm; educated in Iublic schools;
taught country school; studied law; was
admitted to the bar and elected, etc
Just look at this list of members of the
house who have been school teachers: Cate,
of Arkansas; Mallory, of Florida; Bullock,
same state; Moses, of Georgia, who was
principal of a seminary; Watson, same
state, who taught school to get money TO
study law with; Judge Holman, OF Indi-
ana, and his colleagues Bretz, Shively,
Waugh and Brookshire; Baker, of Kansas;
Stout, of Michigan, and his colleagues,
Judge Wheeler and Mr.. Weadock; Lind, |
of Minnesota, who was born in Sweden; |
Lewis and Stockdale, of Mississippi; Ar
mold, of Missouri; Mckinney, of New
Hampshire; Bourke Cochran, who came
to this country from Ireland when only |
seventeen years old, and within three years
was principal of public school in West |
chester county, n. Y; Raines, of New
York; Grady, of North Carolina, who was
a professor of mathematics, and Wilson, of |
West Virginia who has been a college pro- |
fessor and is now college president; |
Houk, Donovan, Hare, Doan, Taylor and |
Cultivate, of Ohio, the last named, who is /
now one of the most prominent men in the /
house, teaching for five years; Drummer, !
Amerman, Wolverton, Wright, Hopkins |
and Griswold, Of Pennsylvania; Page, Of |
Rhode Island; Lester, of Virginia and |
Lynch, of Wisconsin. With few excep- |
tons these educator-legislatOr are new |
men. Who can tell why the school teach |
ers of the country were lucky enough to |
ride on the crest of the cyclone which made |
this house Of representatives, SO peculiar |
and interesting? ROBERT GRAVES.