Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-01
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS.
Many Members Of Congress Are Types
of the Self -made Man.

Many Members Of Congress Are Types
of the Self -made Man.
A strangely dominant note in the 400
Gently issued Congressional Directory,
written by as many men. is their appar-
ent glorification in the absence of early
educational advantages.
The Self-nlade man is in demand pO-
litcally. He a.rouses the enthusiasm of
a hard working constituency, whose own
sons must in so large a proportion of in
stances struggle for themselves ON the
road TO fame and fortune. Listen to the
confessions of small opportunity in early
life which our lawmakers now willingly
make.
John n. Elnkhead of Alabama. one of
the recognized Democratic leaders, re-
cords that he was self educated; is a
farmer; served four years in the confeder-
ate army. beirg wounded three times"
Senator Perkins of California asserts
that he attained the public school III his
Maine hCme town until his thirteenth
year, when he shipped on board i sailing
vessel for New Orleans, and thereafter
followed the sea until the autumn of 1875.
when at the age of 1G, he landed on Cali
fornia soil and embarked on what became
a business and political career.
LeOnidas +. Livingston of Georgia. the
ranking Democratic member on the appro-
priations committee, has several titles to
the Inheritance of tie meek. He says
that he was educated in the common
schools Of the country" which must have
been pretty bad Sixty-five years ago; and
that he is farmer by occupation and
has always lived on his farm c home
thrust upOn those pretended farmers who
study agriculture from luxurious city
homes. And finally, that he was pri-
vate soldier in the confederate army from
August Of lMil tC May OF 1860, Il service
in which most men, who were in their '31S
rose to distinguished commands, often to
brisadier SeneraIships.
Joseph g. Cannor. the speaker. makes
mention of his early education. skipping
in his biography from his birth on May Z,
1886, to his election as states attorney in
1861.
But Abraham Lincoln Brick of Indiana
relates that he WAS graduated from the
South Bend High School and later at
tended Cornell, Yale and Michigan uni
versitieS, giving him an astonishing va
riety OF academic experience.
William p. Hepburn, known as Uncle
Pete. tells that he was taken to the Ter
ritory of Iowa when he was years old;
that he twas educated in the schools of
the territory and in Il printing Office
William A. Reeder of Kansas tells how
at the age of II he began teaching in the
public schools, vocation which he fol-
lowed until he was 50 years old.
Victor Murdoch of Kansas began the
printers trade during vacations at the
age of 10 years. became Il newspaper re-
porter at Il ard at 20 moved to Chicago
year periods not included in Shake
speares seven ages of man. Murdock
seems to have been generally precocious;
he was married when 10. and at .; be-
came managing editor of the Wichita
Daily Eagle, and at 81 was elected to
Congress.
Russell Alger relates that at the age of
II his parents died end that the following
seven wears he laborcd on n farm. attend
ing Richfeld Academy winters and that
he subsequently taught in country
schools.
James A. Tawney, the new chairman of
the appropriations committee, entered his
fathers blacksmith shop as an apprentice
at the age of Il. and later learned the
trade of machinist. He was &c years
old when he began the study of law in the
office Of Bentley & Vance of Winona,
MINI.
General Charles H. Grosvenor of ths
speakers committee on rules, makes out
pretty good case for himself as q sell
made man. explaining that at the age of
his father carried him from Connecticut
to Ohio. but there was no schoOlIOuse
near where he settled until he was II
years old. wien he attended a few terms
County Ohio" With this education, how
ever, he taught school and studied law.
Arthur Pur German says that he at
tended the public school in his native
county for brief period" and that when
II years old he was made page in the
Senate. continuing ir the service of that
body for the next fourteen years.
Senator Berry of Arkansas relates that
he received a limited education at a pri-
vate school TT Berryville. Ark" and as
this was nearly sixty years ago, his es-
innate of the educational facilities there
is prabably correct
Senator McIaurin of Mississippi tells
that he was 'raised on a farm, and at
tended the neighborhood schools occa-
sionally until Is years old. when he Joined
the confederate army as n private"
John Sharp Williams. the Democratic
leader. evidently as a rcbuke to the self
made aspiration, says that he received a
fair education" and then relates that he
attended private schools at home the
Kentucky Military Institute. near Frank
fort; the University of the South, at
Sewance. Tenn: the University of Vir-
ginia at Charlottesville. and the Uni
versity of Heidelberg. in Baden, Ger
many.. and then gives n hardly less eX-
tended list of places where he studied
law.
Representative BrOwnlOw an East Ten
neSsee Republican, says he attended the
common schools three years and that on
the death of his father when he was 10
years old, he began to earn his own liv-
ing.
Thomas Reall Davis of West Virginia.
brother Of Henry Gassaway, the late vice
presidential candidate. is now near 7S
years old and beginning 4 career in tho
lower house. to which he was chosen on a
special election last summer. He relates
that he received such education as the
common schools at that time afforded"