The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-08

| tiyes and nominate Mr.. Dick for the Of
! flee of senator. William Buchtel is no
! orator. He will simply say: II knew
Charles Dick: he was one of my boys.
! one of my boys in the bank at Akron. ;"
Charles Dick became a bookkeeper IN
William Buchtels bank. Thence he went
to a mower and reaper factory, where
| he found employment in the Office and
where he became the ardent friend of L
| c. Miles. who now is secretary Of the
| Great Western Coal Company and presi-
| dent of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber
| Company Mr.. Miles is a strong and in
| fuential man in Akron a man of unusual
| ability, of wealth and fine character.
las boys" Lucius Miles said TO me,
| we who knew Charley Dick were sure
he would become notable man. He was
| a steady, serious young fellow, a leader
among us. He had no wild oats to sow.
/ He took conspicuous place in our liter
| airy society and showed uncommon in
/ terest in our meetings and uncommon
/ talent in the discussions we used TO have
/ We have been as close as brothers since
! our youth and years ago were partners
1 in the grain business
It was as a buyer of wheat among the
| farmers of Summit county that Charles
/ Dick came into the general esteem that
/ has made his life conspicuous in this part
| of Ohio. No young man stood better than
| he IN Akron. The time came when no
young man stood better than ne in Sum-
nit county. This esteem has grown from
/ year to year. Charles Dick has no enc
mics among the people who know him.
He invariably runs far ahead of his tick
| ct in Summit county. Hundreds of Dem
ocrats vote for him when he is candi-
! date for Office. He is admitted to be the
! foremost Republican of Akron, and when
| ever there is a state convention he is al
ways the first delegate chosen and the
! choice is invariably made by acclama ton
/ Summit county is proud Of Dick. is I'M
! envious of him and his fortune in politics,
and upon every occasion nonors him 50
/ far as it can.
! In the next house to Dick, when he was
a boy, lived Dennis J. Long, editor of
/ the Akron Beacon. The editor took a
( fancy to the tall. slender, earnest youth
( He talked politics to the boy and at
! tempted to persuade him to become a re-
| porter. Charles Dick was in William
that time he did more or less reporting at
night for Mr. Long and the Beacon.
Whenever there was an evening assign
ment and no man to cover 1t, the Beacon
sent for Dick. Thus it can be said that
/ he is a newspaper man.
Governor Herrick was a reporter once
doing special work. Lieutenant Governor
Harding is the editor of a daily news
paper Elmer Dover who was secretary
to Seantor Hanna was reporter in Ak
ron not many years ago. And Senator
Hanna himself at one time owned the
Cleveland Herald
Perhaps it can be said that Dennis J.
Long started Charles Dick upon his po-
litical career. Anyway. he helped Dick,
gave him doctrine, and argument, and
quickened his interest. Dick went into
grain with Lucius Miles at twenty three.
At the same time he became a member of
/ the Republican campaign committee Of
Summit county. That was in the year of
1881; Dick Is forty-six, or soon will be.
The farmers liked Dick. He was manly.
cordial amiable. honest. He was a home
spun young fellow and was eager to do
for others. Men have said offensive things
about Dick Democrats have pounded him
for years. Jealous Republicans have
shown him no favor in words or deeds.
But l never heard Charles Dick say
mean thing. a resentful thing, an envious
thing about anyone.
Soon he was asked to run for the Office
of county auditor In a large sense he
has bee masked from the first to accept
political honors and responsibilities. He
has not been a seeker after office. His
young friends in Akron wanted him to be
a candidate for auditOr-they sought to
get into politics and to dislodge some of
the old men who had governed the Re
publican party for years. Dick went to
Hon George W. Grouse, one of the very
best citizens of Akron for advice. Mr..
Grouse said: Il was county auditor many
years ago. The experience was of great
value TO me. / urge you to take the office
if you can get it,
Accordingly, Charles Dick went into
politics, entered upon a career that has
been brilliant in results and honorable 10
himself. Soon he came into personal re-
lation with Mckinley. Summit county was
then in McKinley's district and Mckinley
was running for congress with chances of
election much against him. Dick was
county auditor and chairman of the Sum
NIT county Republican committee. His
capability as a norganizer and as a lead
er of men came to the notice Of Mckinley.
From that time on his political fortune
was ont doubtful. Mckinley gave him
a reputation among state leaders and
workers. In 1892 he was unanimously
eleced chairman of the Ohio Republican
campaign committee-elected without his
knowledge and much to his surprise. Nc
Kinley had determined to he a candi-
date for President in 1896. and he desired
a man Of action. of brains. at the head
of political functions in his own state
That was less than twelve years ago
Dicks reputation was only local Since
that time he has climbed far and fast
He has led the Republicans Of Ohio to
victory ten times. He has served six
years in congress. He has had control
of both Of Mr. Hannss campaigns-can-
paigns for a seat in the ssnate-canl-
paigns of tremendous force. bitterness.
and Importance He was tho predominant
intellect when Mckinley was elected gov
ernor and also when Mckinley was re-
elected TO that office. He i theNunbeaten
general Of the Republican party OF Ohio.
Yes. he is a politician. But he was the
trusted friend Of Mckinley and OF Han
na He bore messages from Mckinley u
Hanns-messages that Mckinley didn't
care to deliver himselw. He told McKin-
ley things for Hanna which Hanna him
self wouldn't tell Mckinley. He knew
both men. knew their secrets. knew their
wants He fought their battles and for
,b.-,, 10 has te.sr dashed IN uubIi~ oDinior