The Portland daily press., 1892-03-14

which he is very proud, too, for it bears
the impress of Shelby Cullom's bare foot
"a souvenir of the days in which he
was out breaking prairie with his ten OK
team.
When he was about eighteen Cullom
went to Rock River university, where it
was hoped he would be able to learn
more than in the log school house which
he had been attending during the winters
in Tasewsll county. But his health
failed and, hs found it necessary to re-
turn home 81 hadn't been back on the
farm more than twenty-four hours" said
the senator, in telling me of his early
experiences, >'before was myself again.
/ went out into the meadow and led
eighteen men with scythe in my hand,
and did more work than any of them"
C1llom,s father was a. prominent
Wing, and served two or three terms in
the legislature. Among his friends was
Abraham Lincoln, whom the elder Cul-
lon had helped in his race for congress.
When Shelby became seized with an
ambition to become a lawyer, it was ar
ranged that he was to so up to Spring
field and study law in Lincoln's Office.
But it turned out that Lincoln was at
that time a busy man, riding the circuit
ON horseback as all the successful law
yers of the day did, and he advised Cul-
lom to go into q law Office where the
lawyer was at home more than he was.
So he went into the Office Of Stewart &
Edwards. While studying law his
friends asked him to run for city attor-
ney and he consented. Though mere
STRIPPING, who had not yet been admit
ted to the bar, he was elected by a
majority Of four votes.
''Those four votes changed my whole
career" says Senator Cullom, "and |
sometimes wish the four majority had
been on the other side. Had been
defeated for that office, probably should
never have run for another, and instead
of being nearly worn out public serv-
ant with nothing in the house to eat
and poverty stricken old age coming
on should now be rich lawyer"
Those four votes settled the business,
however. From that day to this, with
a UllC lllOCl o1 VI OWO1 11C lico DOSAA
working FOR the public at pretty small
salaries. Next year he was elected to
the legislature, and was reelected,
though in a county strongly Democratic.
This time he was made speaker of the
house, and began to be looked upon as a
rising young man for whom almost any
thing might be in store. He made
splendid speaker, and after the session
was over was appointed to responsible
post by his old friend Lincoln, who by
this time had become president.
Lincoln made him a member of the
commission to examine and pass upon
the accounts of quartermasters and pay
masters in the army. 1t was important
work, and much depended upon the
manner in which it was done by Cullom
and his associates on the commission,
Governor Boutwell,, Of Massachusetts,,
and Charles A. Dana, now editor of the
New York Sun. It was quite an honor
to Cullom to be associated with these
men, and Lincoln gave him the place in
recognition of the services which Cul-
lom's father had rendered him years be-
fore.
In 1862 Cullom met with his first de-
feat, failing to win election to the legis-
lature. But defeat only stimulated his
ambition, and in 1864 he beat his old
law preceptor, Congressman Stewart, in
a Democratic district, and entered con-
'gress from hecapital district Of Illinois.
He remained six years in the house,
where he was chairman Of The commit
tee on territories, and where his record
was very good one. In 1870 his party
was split in twain by faction fight and
the district was lost.
Cullom returned from Washington at
the expiration of his term determined to
retire to private life and try to make
some money. But it happened that an
effort was being made to remove the
capital of the state from Springfield.
Peoria, Bloomington and other ambitious
towns were bidders, and finally there
was talk of Chicago entering the race.
Then the citizens of Springfield became
alarmed, and insisted that Cullom should
go into the legislature to champion their
cause. He consented reluctantly, and
being elected was again chosen speaker.
Seeing that fate had evidently intended
him for public service, and that there was
no escaping it, Mr.. Cullom decided thaS
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E= IGs