The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-14
THE BoorBnAoK ORATOR.

"ShmF Hllefh hhIAeu NHtNN W
Mako speeches for the na!iean
Ticket.
New YoRK, Sept. lS.-"sam' Hitler,
the bootblack orator OF Ohio, who has
come to New York for tho purpose Of
making speeches for the Republican
ticket, began work in factory when he
was small boy. 1.-THE end OF tho first
days work he asked his employer what
his wages we're to be, and was informed
that he was to get 81 week. Sam
asked his employer to figure Nout for
him how much that would amount to
in day, and when told that it was IL
cents, be demanded pay on the spot for
that days work, and closed his career
as factory hand. With that IL cents
lie purchased box of backing aud a
secondhand brush, with which he be-
gan his career us bootblack. lie was
then not more than six or seven years
old. Since that time he has travelled
from one end OF the country to the
other. and has seen the most OF London,
and much Of Continental Europe.
When his brush did not earn money
enough for his travelling expenses he
eked out the sum by selling newspapers,
and when both callings failed him he
managed to reduce his expenses by
slowing himself away IN boats, by
travelling upon the trucks Of passenger
cars or slowed away in box cars as
opportunity offered.
During the last ten years sam" has
attended nearly every convention or
great gathering in this country, aud by
being always conveniently under the
feet of prominent men, noting their
wants and supplying them, SO far as
was in his power, running errands lit
tie faster than any other messenger
they could send, he succeeded in at
tracing the attention Of many impor-
tant men OF the nation. His collection
,of autograph letters from these men IS
valuable, not only rs an autograph col
lection, but because OF the wise and
kindly advice given to him in them.
When President Cleveland swung
around the circle in 1887, sam" FOL
lowed the crowd almost throughout
the trip, backing boots. selling news
papers, peddling badges, running
errands, making ends meet in any way
possible to a bright boy. In one OF the
southern cities some OF the newspaper
correspondents made up purse and
offered it to "Sam" il he would make a
speech to the crowd i'll opposition to
Grover Cleveland. "Sam," having an
eve to business, mounted the platform
after the regular programme had been
carried out, and made speech in be-
half OF "the suffering bootblacks Of the
United States" saying that they would
be found under the banner OF protec.
ton, since they wanted freedom and
competition with the London boot
blacks, who received only ha'penny
for shine. The speech was loudly APP
plauded. and Sam" then and there
was christened "The Bootblack Orator"
His next speech was made at Pontiac,
before 5000 people. The victorious
Orchard Lake cadets had just returned
from drill contest at Washington,
whittier "Sam" had accompanied them
as their mascot. Adjutant General
Anger, closing his address of congratu.
lation to the cadets, called on Sam"
and introduced him to the audience,
saving that he would make an i'm
promptu speech. sam" began with
these words: ~ am going to make an
impromptu speech. don't know what
impromptu means, but General Ainger
does, and whatever kind Of speech he
wants, that is tho kind of speech am
going to make" The audience was in
good humor, aud "Sam's" speech was
counted brilliant success.
In 1888, Willis B. Hawkins, then the
editor OF the Toledo Commercial. found
"Sam" asleep in his office one day, and,
having reused him and learned some
thing OF his history, gave him aplace
as otlice-boy. Mr.. Hawkins soon after
ward went to Washington, and in about
two mohths was surprised to see "San"
walking into his Office wearing q soldier
overcoat, which dragged upon the floor,
and q soldier cap many sizes too large
for him. "Sam" had left Toledo with
S. in his pocket, andshad arrived in
Washington by way OF New York with
81.
In Washington he made himself so
useful TO Frank Hatton, Congressman
McComas, Senator Hansbrough and
others, that they secured for him DO
sition as page in the house OF repre-
sentatives. He had not occupied this
position long before he organized and
was elected speaker OF the junior house,
which became AN interesting school OF
eloouence. He also tried his hand at
newspaper correspondence, and sent
some highly interesting gossip to the
Toledo Commercial and other papers.
At the Minneapolis convention this
year sam" was appointed chief Of
pages, and since that time has devoted
himself almost exclusively to efforts in
behalf of the ticket. He is heartily in
sympathy with the lowly class from
which he sprang, and is earnestly de.
voted to their interests. Sam" will
make his first appearance as an orator
in New York this week.
Martins Ferry.
Prof. schofeld's musical institute in