Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-07-13
CONGRESSMAN
G. N. HAUCEN
HIS WORK AND HIS HONE
First of a Series of Articles in Regis.
ter and Leader Upon the Accom-
plishmentS and Home Life Of
Iowa ConsreSsmen.

The Des Mones Register and Leader
has commenced the publication Of a
series of articles upon the work and
home life of the Iowa congressman,
each written by special correspon-
dents from the homes of the congress-
men. The first article appeared in
Saturdays paper, and it is significant
congressman, Hon. G. N. Haugen of
Northwood The article will be of
such general local interest that we re-
print it in FULL
When, at the age of forty-five, a
man has reached an honored place in
the great parliamentary body of the
nation, and with his political honors
has accumulated a competency of per-
haps a couple hundred Thousand dol
lars, when this same man began life as
poor boy and with the handicap of
acquiring the English language, it
must stand to reason that he either
possesses an unusual amount of genius
or the goddess Of the horseshoe and
rabbit foot has been unusually partial
to him. Hon. G. N. Haugen, mem
Der of congress from the Fourth dis
trict, which has contributed in its
strange mutations Calamity Weller
and Pansy Blossom Butler to the
national congress, seems to have
broken the spell in this district and
for the fourth time is about to enter
upon a campaign for successful cleo
tion to the house of representatives.
Such men as Updegraff. Sweeney and
others could not hold their seat in con-
gress for more than three terms and
the recent denomination bv acclama
tion of Congressman Haugen for the
fourth time in this kaleidoscopic dis
trict has attracted more than usual at
tention TO him.
The men who have opposed the con-
gresham are accustomed tn declare
that he is the product of political op-
portunity. But when one considers
the proposition laid down in the first
paragraph of this article, and when
they study the man they will be COM
PEELED to grant more than mere good
fortune in his career. The necroman-
cy of fortune at bottom is the result
of shrewd foresight, keen insight and
grave consideration of the hindsight.
Gilbert n. Haugen has attained his
present position in congress and his
present competency, which will keep
the wolf from the back porch. by the
rules which are the formula of every
other successful man.
Forty-five years ago he was born in
Wisconsin Of Norwegian parentage
and the spirit of purpose to- succeed
and the opportunities of the American
republic are responsible for his sue
cess. He was born where the Ameri-
can language was scarcely spoken, but
it was not long before he discovered
that in the greatness of this country
man must become thoroughly Ameri-
can if he would have the largest sue
cess. He assisted his father on the
farm and took advantage of the public
school. such as it was. AT IA he was
attracted to Iowa and stopped at De-
corah, where there was Scandinavian
years, taking advantage of that insti-
tuition and earning an honest dollar
during his vacations. Then he went
to Worth county, where there was a
large Scandinavian settlement. and be-
gan work on the farm near Kensett.
Land was cheap tweDty-seven years
ago in this county. Good wild land
could be procured for from "a to IS
per acre, and young Haugen knew
what Mother Earth would do for any
one who was willing to work. He in
vested in 400 acres by paying 81 per
acre down. The crops every year took
care of the succeeding payments, and
today Congressman Haugen's farm Of
400 acres near Kensett is the best in
the county and one of his chief salts
factions. His success in agriculture
attracted the admiration Of his neigh
bors, and soon he was elected to the
Office Of county treasurer.
OF keen commercial instinct. the
treasurer's office gave him rare privi-
leges TO know where good investments
could be made in lands. and every dol
lar of his salary went into those in
vestments. Then the county began to
become fast populated, and his invest
ments doubled and trebled in value.
The business men of the county seat
soon recognized his business ability,
and he became the leading factor in
one of the banks and soon its presi-
dent. In '95 he decided to take an
other term in the school of experience
in the Iowa legislature. and when
his candidacy was announced it was a
foregone conclusion that he would
succeed. He soon became known as
the best posted man on the question
of loan and building associations and
the worst foe of the get rich quick as
sociations.
The congressional campaign came
on in 1898. Mr.. Haugen was quick to
see that the strenuous contest between
Congressman Updegraff and Hon. J.
Z. Blythe would result in the choice of
dark horse, and he was alert to get
his county and one other so as to
hold the balance of power. He simp-
ly smiled at the overtures of the op-
ponents and waited. The rivalry be-
came so intense that Updegrsff,
knowing that he was beaten. delivered
his whole vote to Haugen, and he
has been In congress ever since.
Senator Allison is Congressman
Haugsn's model and he has learned to
a n