The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-01-14
SHAW'S EARLY DAYS.
Amusing Incidents In the Latest
Cabinet Members Career.
MISTAKEN FOR A MAP PEDDLER.

How an Overconfidcnt Lawyer NnS
Defeated by the Governor.
The advancement of Governor Shaw
TO the position of secretary OF the
treasury has brought out new crop OF
stories concerning the man who in less
than five years has grown from u com
paratlvely obscure country banker to
the chief figure in the financial affairs
of the country, says a special from Dcs
Moines Ia. TO the Chicago Tribune.
In the campaign OF 1896, when Gov
ernor Shaw made the start which has
brought him to a position only two
points removed from the presidency,
he travelled over Iowa making Repub-
llCan speeches.
MIR. Shaw has q ready faculty OF
presenting figures in an interesting
and convincing manner, and to aid him
he carried at all times q bundle of
maps which had been prepared by
himself These maps the governor
would unroll during his speech and
place on the wall and by this means
would drive home TO the most cloudy
mind the chief points IN his argument
He usually Travelled alone, carrying the
bundle OF maps under his arm.
On one occasion n wreck on the rail-
road prevented Mr.. Shaw from meet
Ing q speaking date and compelled him
20 remain overnight In n small country
town. When he sought the only hotel
In the town and asked for accommoda-
tions for the night, the landlord, seeing
the roll of maps under his visitors arm
and having had experience with map
peddlers who remained overnight with
him and then compelled him to accept
map In payment, gruflly informed
the stranger that II must be under
stood no maps would "go;" that he
must have the cash down for lodging.
Shaw laughingly Informed the land
lord that he had enough change In his
pocket TO pay his bill. and the state
ment was finally accepted, and he was
allowed to register. The landlords
eyes opened wide later I'm the evening
when citizen of the place happening
into the hotel office recognized Shaw
and began conversation which was
overheard by the hotel keeper concern
ing the making of loan OF several
thousand dollars from one OF the gov
ernors string of banks.
When the real situation finally dawn
ed upon the landlord and he found that
the man of whom he had demanded
cash was worth not less than quarter
of a million and instead OF a map ped
dler was a political speaker. he made
n sincere apology, which was accepted
In good part by Shaw.
During the time the public was In
suspense over the reported tender OF
the treasurershlp portfolio to Governor
Shaw many of the governors friends
sought to draw from him some word
which would give them light on the
matter. Particularly were his friends
desirous of learning whether or not the
governor would accept.
J At dinner where none except close
friends of the governor was present
and every effort within the bounds OF
propriety was being made to get him
to indicate whether under any circum-
stances he would accept the portfolio
II 1t should be rendered to him the
governor watched the efforts OF his
friends with apparent amusement and
finally told the following story:
, Two boys, Bill and Bob, were at the
dinner table. Some time before the end
OF the meal was reached the pie was
7 passed. Bill declined to take any, say
ing he was not yet ready for dessert
Bob helped himself to the biggest piece
on the plate and. turning to Bill. re-.
marked. "Bill. allus take pie when pie
Is passin'."
The governors friends saw the appli-
cation of the story to the treasury sltu-
) ton. and all were thoroughly convtnc-
0 ed that the governor would not decline
. the portfolio.
A prominent Des Moines lawyer was
i once employed to defend case In a
r county adjoining that In which Gov
ernor Shaw, then a practicing attor-
ney, resided. The Des Moines man en-
joyed reputation In his profession.
: while Shaw was almost unknown out
} side OF his home county, SO that the
former when the case was called and
> he had surveyed the somewhat unso-
: phisticated appearing figure Of the op-
a posing counsel concluded that he had
J, snap anu sellleu uOMh W ehS S"J"J
ment of cigar.
In relating what followed the Des
:, Moines lawyer said that Shaw withour
= doubt realized that he was being held
lightly and determined TO allow him to
: rest secure In that belief. Shaw offer
ed few objections during the early part
OF the trial, and those he made were
feeble efforts such as might be expect
ed OF an inexperienced attorney. The
Des Moines man swept on with his
side Of the case. taking advantage OF
\ the supposed greenness OF the opposing
! counsel and adopting tactics that he
would not dare to introduce IL con-
Srontad NV an old nra ctitioner