St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-07


party has ever been able to stand
against the Democracy. and none never
will. In the graveyard of American
political parties lie the remains of the
old Federal party, the Wings and the
know-nothings, every one OF whom
went down before the Democracy. The
latter believes in the common people
and stands by them. And the Democ-
racy of Minnesota is as clear Oh this
point as is the national party. and no
episode in its history illustrates this
point so we'll as the nomination of Judge
Thomas Canty for one of the supreme
Wednesday,. Tom Canty is one of
the people, and If ever man has de-
served and earned success, he is that
man. His life reads like a romance.
Thomas CAVITY is thirtY-eight years of
age. He spent his early boyhood days
in Detroit, Mich; near Lodi, Wis, and
in Clayton county, Ohio. His rather
was at first common labOrer, and aft
erwards a small farmer. always poor.
Tom was the eldest Of family of seven
children. He went to school until nine
years of age. at which time he could
"spell down" the school. After that he
ter, and worked on the farm the rest of
the year, until he was fifteen years Of
age. He took to books like duck to
water. At the age of eleven years he
had solved every problem in Rays
Third Part Arithmetic" and at the age
of thirteen he had mastered rays
Higher Arithmetic" without the as
slstance of a teacher. He then COM
menced the study of higher mathemat-
les in the same manner. THE Boy Is
the Father to the Man," and many incl
dents may be given to Illustrate Toms
Traits of Character
at this early age. When he was thir-
teen his father had for several years
rented the Graham farm, four miles be-
low Monona, To-, at a certain rent per
acre. 1t was agreed that the farm
should be surveyed, which was done by
the county surveyor. who made plat
of it for the agent, Matthew Thompson,
of MOnona. Tom examined the plat
and surveyors figures, and found ali
error as to the number of acres in
very irregularly shaped field, by which
his father would lose $50; but neither
Mr.. Thompson, the village schOolmaSter
nor any one else that could be found
would agree with Tom. or undertake to
correct the surveyors figures. His
father refused to pay the extra rent, land
Thompson gave him twenty-four hours
to settle or stand law suit. Then
Tom took the plat and walked fourteen
miles through snow storm to the house
Of the surveyor. a Mr.. Mcclellan. who
lived two miles south of Postville, had
the mistake corrected, and return ed in
time to prevent the law suit.
A short time before this his mother
suggested that he learn the trade of
blacksmith. He refused. She insisted
he must learn trade. He tod her he
would learn trade afterawhile. She
insisted on knowing what trade he in
tended to learn. He told her he was
going to be a lawyer. She answered.:
II wish you could be If you want to.
but, unless times change with US, fear
you are building castles in the air.' At
the age of sixteen he received
Fsrst.CIass Certificate
to teach in the common school: taught
term each winter for the next two
years, and worked on the farm in sum-
mer. Although his opportunities had
been so limited, his education at that
time was unusually advanced. He
was an untiring worker. and devoted
every spare moment to his books.
He was eighteen years of age, and his
every effort to go to college had result
ed in failure. His parents were too
poor to pay for his tuition or dispense
with mis- assistance in supporting the
family. He therefore resolved to seek
some employment which would give
him more time to study. He left the
little farm in Iowa and went South to
obtain a position as teacher, and To-
Gated in Texas. Here he followed the
business of teaching for four years and
half. He applied himself to his books
necessarily, except when he ate and
slept, and in this way he took a very
Thorough Collegiate Course
without ever seeing the inside of a col
lege. But his physical strength and ell
durance could not stand the strain. lie
found himself overworked and his
health in a precariOuS condition. In
the meantime his father had died, and
he went back to the farm to regain his
health and help take care of his mother
and the children. He staid on the farm
three years, working from six to eight
hours day and studying law from six
to eight hours day. The crops failed
two years, III consequence of which
debts accumulated. He could not leave
his mother to pay these debts so he as
sumed them himself. He then applied
for the position of principal of the High
school in the adjoining town. he was
required to pass competitive exam
inatlon with two young men. one
graduate of Harvard, and the
other of the University of Visions n,
who had also applied for the same
position. He excelled both of them. got
the position and taught the school nine
months, paid $1,000 of his debts. and in
the meantime got an extension of time
to pay the balance. Then, in the spring
of 1880, he went to Grand Forks, Dak.,
to commence the practice of law. de
staid there all summer.
He came to Minneapolis Oct. 1, 1880,
and found himself in strange city,
without money and without friends and
$1,000 in debt. He entered the law