The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1903-05-14

Nearly a month previous to the Grea
Bend convention, Dave Leahy, who hat
worked under Victor Murdoch on thu
Wichita Eagle for thirteen years. ant
who was all that time close observer Of
his development from boyhood, and of al
the phases of his unique and admirable
character, wrote an article or sketch" Of
Mr.. Murdoch that is reckoned, by mer
who know the candidate, to be a very
life like pen portrait Of the character and
characteristics Of the next Congressman
1t Is now, as it was previous to the con-
yentlon, valuable aid to the reading
public In knowing the distinguished young
gentleman who will, in all probability
represent the good people Of the Seventh
district in Congress. He says.
The only justification man can have
for writing an article, from an expert
standpoint, is that he knows his subject.
think I know mine. 1t is a living sub
1ect Of flesh and blood and one that
have been studying day in and day out
from every viewpoint for thirteen years.
My subject is Victor Murdock-the next
Congressman from this district--I hope,
doubt If there is an adult person either
in Kansas or Oklahoma who does not
Know him by reputation. A great many
only know that he has red hair and Is a
brilliant and versatile newspaper man,
Others only know him as clever and
companionable young gentleman full Of
animation and somewhat hostile to dress
.suits-and shams. l take pride in the
fancy that I know him better than any
other living man with the exception of
his father and father-in-law.
If ! owned the Seventh Congressional
district In fee simple, would be willing
to wager every quarter section In 1t
against dime that II Victor goes to Con-
gress he will make his mark and give his
district national reputation within three
years.
Kansas never enjoyed such reputation
as when the lamented ingalls, represented
1t In Congress. His unique mentality and
prodigious intellectually offset and bal
anced everything bad credited to the
state. In admiration Of his phillpics
against Democracy the whole Republican
world forgot the grasshopper calamity
and in their frothy indignation the whole
Democratic world forgot the disasters Of
I the prancing cyclone, How could Kan
Asas be considered bankrupt at any time
when 1t had such wealth of genius in one
man? Kansas can return to the enjoy
m6nt of the reputation ingalls, made for
1t If the Seventh district convention which
meets next month dominates Victor Null
dock. do not say that Victor can reach
the place of Ingalls, Immediately, but do
know, so far as anything not provable
Is movable, that he will reach it ulti-
mately if given the opportunity This
may seem to be nothing but the ebulllen-
cy Of an over-zealous friend, but record
t as my prophecy and I hope to live to
see 1t fulfilled.
Victor knows more today than Ingalls,
knew at 49, If Kansas were born again
he could write for the new state as good
a motto as ad astra per aspera. To my
mind and in my belief he would direct its
course to stars as high as Ingalls, ever
dreamed Of.
Why then, shouldn't the Seventh dis
trict nominate him? Is 1t because he is
a tenderfoot and doesn't know the people
or their needs? Who among the other
candidates has lived here longer? Who
among them but he can say that he walk.
ed his first steps and llsped his first
words in the district? Who stands ahead
of him in loyalty to the party that has
the making Of Congressman? Who
stands ahead of him in the work he has
done for the material development Of the
district? Never was there a time when
the people Of the district had such an op-
portunity to find a man who can fit and
adorn vacant place
Victor was about IS when | first knew
him. He was roofing for his side at |
a baseball game-the freckledest boy | |
thought | ever saw. He was full Of that
youthful life which has never left him.
He was then known over q considerable
portion of the state for his popular para
graphing-better known than Ingalls, was
at Is. lie was not more than 20 when
some of the pleasant circumstances of |
fate made him my boss" do not be-
lleye that day has passed since whether
together or otherwise that have not |
thought Of him and never did thought
come to me Of him that was not accom-
panied by a prophecy Of bright future
Of some kind for him. After working
side by side with him for few years he
went to Chicago to work on the Inter-
Ocean as reporter.
Victor was scarcely two weeks In Chi.
cago when l happened to be there also.
! made quiet inquiries about him and
heard his city editor say: that young
man has future" Within month all
Chicago were reading his articles and
many prominent men called at the man
aging editors room to ask who was writ
Ing them. Youth generally Is vain but
Victor was then as he Is now-absolutely
ignorant Of his genius. He attributed his
success to industry. The year he became
a voter that great Chicago paper intrust-
ed to him the reporting Of the famous
campaign In Ohio when Mckinley, then a
Presidential probability, was fighting for
his political life in that state. The i'm
portance Of victor's assignment will be
more readily understood when II Is known
that the Inter-0cean was then the main
organ Of Mr. McKinleys Presidential as
pirations. Victor Travelled through that
state with Mckinley and when one re-
members his age-2l-the fact Of him be-
in0 IN state he never saw before aiming