The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1903-05-14
VANDERGRIFT ON
THE CANDIDATE
Clever Pen Picture of Victor Murdoch by One
of the Veteran Correspondents of
the State Capital

mans worth Is heard all over this town.
The humber classes are even more kind
In their praises than the business and
professional men, Victor Murdoch knows
every street car driver and motorneer in
town, He always rides in front with
them, and they exchange condolences
He tells them his likes and dislikes and
they tell him theirs. They tell him Of
their families, Of their hard luck and
good, of their children and of their hopes
and fears. 1t Is his curious and ever
broadening mind. He wants to know
what is going on at the bottom; what
the people are thinking.
""rhis Is a good world, Mr.. Murdoch
said today Since got into this race
have made up my mind that it Is not
half bad
How about the other half?'
"'Oh, that is good, too. Nature does
nothing wrong. We only take wrong
view of things sometimes, that't ALL
Victor Murdoch Is man Of high ideals
and he also has idols. Sometimes he gets
the two mixed. His idols are often men
Of borrowed ability, but all men Of that
class are brilliant In the use Of the gift
of others, and so this young man, who
looks up and never down, always has
little joss house slowed away in his mind
and it is full Of idols.
Some years ago there came to Wichita
young man, brilliant and well born, but
improvident and dissipated, and he knew
books by heart. He could turn his hand
to anything, and he was especially bril-
liant writer. He could initiate Thackeray
or Dickens and could inject Shakespeare
and all that. He was not original or crea-
tive, but his brilliant conversation and
charm of manner fascinated young Muir
dock. While Victor worshipped, his idol
never gave word Of commentator in
return.
"'You don't drink and you must never
form the habit he used to say between
his own cups. Or You smoke tov much;
let me kill myself that way. but you shall
not" Or You go home, Victor, and be
fresh for work tomorrow
Only good advice and commands; never
a word Of praise from the idol.
Zone day while the two young men
were working in Chicago, the idol was
killed in railroad collision, and in a few
weeks the paper which employed them
sent Victor to unveil little monument
that 1t had erected to the dead mans
memory. At the side Of the grave stood
a cousin Of the dead man. 1t was young
woman, and she took from her purse
mans visiting card. 1t bore the name
Victor Murdoch
az am the last living person who spoke
to our friend she said to Victor. Eff
teen minutes before he was killed he
gave me this card, saying: "There, my
cousin, is the name Of the brightest man
ever knew"
AT last the idol had spoken and given
his friend one word Of praise, but 1t was
from the grave.
"Still Victor is true to his idol and
ldealizes him, although during all the
years Of their friendship Murdoch was
coming into fame and broadening in
mind, while the other was idling In Dor
rowed plumage. Victor Murdoch is a man
who never loses faith.
"'Ah, Victor his gradfather observed
one day, what tragedy when you ma
lure and find out the sham Of this worldr
THAT was a good many years ago, and
The old man Is in his grave now, but
nave not found the world so very bad"
said Mr., Murdoch last night.
1.-THE race of Murdocks are a bit hard
headed when they think they are getting
he worst of 1t, and sometimes they as
,ert their independence even in their fam
ly They never stoop to contention, but
hey set up in business for themselves,
Ind that Is what young Victor did once
Upon time. lie was only 20 years old,
,ut he was married, and his wife shared
n his spirit Of independence. He had
,een working on the Wichita Eagle since
lis graduation from the Wichita High
|chool, and one day he went to his father
or raise He was getting 50 a week,
md he wanted $lS.
"'That would not be fair, Victor, to the
ther boys, Colonel Murdoch said. I
ant promote you over older and more
seful men,
1.-THE spirit of fair play Is also In the
f1rdock blood.
81 am worth as much as the book
eeper,' the young man protested.
"'No, Victor, we could not replace the
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