Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-12
New York Herald's Sketch OF Col
onel David B. Henderson.
is A MAN OF GENEROUS IMPULSES.
He is Credited With Being Pusnacious,
but Admitted to be sincere-some-
thing of HIS Personal
History.

New York Herald: The speaker OF
the house of representatives has,
through the evolution of the political
system of the United States, grown so
steadily in power since the era of re-
construction that he is today, eNcept-
ing only the president, the man of the
most ample influence in public affairs
on the continent. 1t is not surprising
therefore, that the election OF David u.
Henderson of Iowa to that important
Office at the coming session of congress
should awaken widespread interest
among his counfrymen.
Who is he? What are his qualifica-
tons for the office? What is his char
acter, personality and temper? Does he
place partisanship above patriotism?
Will he be tempted to abuse the mighty
power intrusted to his charge? Has he
Intelligent grasp of all public ques-
lions, large and small? What is his
attitude toward the significant political
problems now pressing for solution
the currency, the situation in Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines; the
Nicaragua canal project, the Alaskan
boundary dispute and other questions
of internal policy? Will he run the
house of representatives on business
principles" as his predecessor did?
Will he apply the scientific spirit to the
Investigation and solution OF large prob
lens, or will he adopt the more pictur-
esque method of ruling all legislation
by the human and personal standard?
Has he the rare faculty which not
only plans methodically but also
reaches conclusions surely and executes
them with celebrity? Does his election
as speaker encourage the people TO
hopesthat the fifty-siNth congress will
be epoch-making in its deliberations?
A Scotchman by Birth.
David B. Henderson is Scotchman
by birth. He was born at Old Dear,
Scotland, fifty-nine years ago. His
parents, probably remembering the
pleasantly that much might be made
of a Scotchman if he be caught quite
1876, when the boy was only six years
old, the family left the old country and
sailed for America, settling first in Hi.
nois and moving in 1s49 to Iowa.
Davids boyhood was not unlike that
OF thousands of American boys brought
up on the farm, He inherited the cour
age of his pioneer father, and learned
early in life that he must make his way
III tHG sNOIlu. lis HIst, anu aS He Ike
often been heard TO say, his best disci
pine, was obtained at the plough, ant
he has neyere ceased to be grateful tina
~ Erdnired the genius for hard worl
in long hours of labor in the winter.
cold and under the vertical rays Of sum
mer suns on his fathers farm.
He stuc.. TO the farm until he was 81
During these years he was laying
surely the foundation for that charac
ter OF earnestness, method and fpersever
ance which has made him a power i,
national pohtics. The road he travele,
was not easy, and often the journe,
seemed long and tiresome but Dave
Henderson kept at his work like Burn
sang gayly as he ploughed his faith
er's fields, and came home at nightfal
to cheer his mother and sustain ant
strengthen her with filial sympathy
His devotion to his home was marked
and his attentions and ministrations t
his parents at all times unfailing.
There goes a young man." said al
old neighbor one day, observing Hen
derson's tenderness and kindness i
his parents, "who will some day be on
of two things-a great minister Of TIL
gospel or commanding leader Q
men"
While on the farm young Henderso
continued to attend the common school
and the Upper Iowa university. Fl
was diligent as a student, but his an
bition for profound study was cut shor
in 1861.
Crippled in Battle.
I, !. l,,a al !