Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-03-16

| The value Of persistency and the
| qualities that made out Of a farm boy
! q United States senator are Well shown
In the life history OF Joseph Ralph
Burton. the choice OF Kansas for sem
ator for the six years commencing
March 4 1901, says the Chicago Record
He won because he had set his mind on
that goal and he was prepared for the
fight by the training Of years OF contest
with the world winning his own liyeli-
hood and his own prosperity unaided.
Slight of form, blessed with more ner-
vous energy than physical strength, he
has nevertheless been equal 70 the tests
put upon him and has endured eXer-
tions that would have weared many
men better equipped. but without his
knowledge OF the best means for pre-
serving his strength.
Senator Burton was born on farm
near Mitchell, Ind, in 1859. He spent
his boyhood working on the farm for
nine months Of the year, and during the
other three he attended the district
school and sat beneath the minstra-
tons of the typical 'Hoosier school
master" Later he attended the acad-
envy at Mitchell and at Is entered
Franklin college. remaining two years,
In addition to the usual studies he took
up the study Of oratory and later, when
he went to DePauw and Asbury uni
versities, II came In good stead. He
went out in the country villages and
taught the youths elocution and earned
enough TO keep himself in school, He
may not have been very profoundly
versed in the art. but 1t WIS his delight.
DR.. Wayland. John Clark Ridpath and
Bishop Bowman were among his teach
ers, and DR.. j. b. Denote was his
roommate.
Leaving college. he read law In Indl-
annapolis with the firm of Gordon.
Brown g. Lamb. In 1875 he opened a
law Office in Lafayette, Ind, and at
once took part In politics. He was on
the Republican electoral ticket IN 1876
and made sixty-three speeches In that
campaign. 1t is noteworthy that this
was with the exception OF three terms
In the legislature, the only office ne
ever held until he reached the height OF
his desire He was married IN Mitchell
to the niece OF Sunset" Cox ana in
1873 the young couple started westward
and sought new fortunes on the wide
plains OF Kansas, then receiving the
first influx Of immigration.
Their home was chosen at Abilene,
Just then recovering from Wild period
OF cattle-day excitement and with
wheat-raising speculation giving II an
other Kind Of boom that was to make
succeeding years OF depression. The
young lawyer was worn in health, but
ne found a partner In j. H. Mahan. one
OF the Oldest lawyers in the State. and
entered on his duties. At once he took
place as jury advocate and was In
demand 10 try criminal eases Several
OF the most famous trials of the States
early history came under his care. and |
he made a reputation as an orator that
carried him into politics.
In lSSg he was elected TO the leglsla. |
ture and served three terms in all, once
being elected while speaking IN Maine
Tor the national committee. He was de. |
feated for the congressional nomination
once by two votes, and went 20 work |
for the winner, making school house
campaign He ran for Congress once |
and. though he cut the Populist ma |
tority down from 5000 to 1900, he was |
yet defeated. But the fact that he was |
the best speaker on the platform in !