Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-02-09
Nations SeIf.made Men.

400 biographical sketches found in the
recently issued Congressional Direct
ory written by as many men, is their
apparent glOrificatiOn in the absence
of early educational advantages.
The self-made man is in demand
politically. He arOuses the enthusi-
assn of hard-wOrking constituency,
whose own sons must in so large
proportion of instances 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 ~ Bankhead, of Alabama, one
OF the recognized Democratic leaders,
records that he was "self-educated;
is farmer; served four years in the
confederate army, being wounded
three times
Senator Perkins. of California, as
serts that he attended the public
school in his Maine home town until
his thirteenth year, when he shipped
on board a sailing vessel for New
Orleans, and thereafter followed the
sea until the autumn Of 1855, when,
at the age of Is, he landed on CalifOr-
MIA soil and embarked on what be-
came business and political career.
Leonidas F. Livingston, of Georgia,
the ranking Democratic member on
the appropriations committee, has sew
eral titles to the inheritance Of the
meek. He says that 'he was edu-
Gated in the common school of the
county" which must have been pref
ty bad IS years ago: and that he is
a farmer by occupation and has always
lived on his farm" a home thrust on
those pretended farmers who study
agriculture from luxurious city names.
And finally that he was private
sofiier in the confederate army from
August, of 1861, to May, of 1865"
service in which most men who were
in their 30's rose to distinguished
commands. often to brigadier general
ships.
makes no mention of his early educa-
his birth on May Z, 1886, to his cleo
ton as states attorney in 1861.
But Abraham Lincoln Brick of In
diana. relates that he was graduated
from the South Bend High School
and later attended Cornell, Yale and
Michigan universities, giving him an
astonishing variety of academic ex-
perience.
William P. Hepburn known as "Un-
Gle Pete" tells that he was taken to
the territory of Iowa when he was
eight years old; that he was educat-
ed in the schools of the territory and
in printing office"
William A. Reeder, of Kansas, tells
how at the age of IA he began teach
ing in the public schools, vocation
which he followed until he was 80
years old.
Victor Murdoch, of Kansas, began
the printers trade during vacations at
the age of 10 years." became news.
paper reporter at Is and at 20 moved
: to Chicago-three stages of life sep.
) arated by five-year periods not in
cluded in Shakespeare's seven ages of
man. Murdoch seems to have been
generally precocious: he was mar
ried when 10, and at % became man
/ aging editor of the Wichita Daily
, Eagle. and at 80 was elected to con
gress.
, Russell Alger relates that at the
age of II his parents died and that
the following seven years he labor
ed on a farm, attending Richfield
: Academy winters, and that he subse
!. quently taught in country schools.
James A. Tawney, the new chair
: man of the appropriations committee
entered his fathers blacksmith shop
as an apprentice at the age of Is. and
later learned the trade of a machinist
He was 26 years old when he began
the study of law in the office of Bent.
ley & Vance. of Winona. Mimi
General Charles H. Grosvenor, OF
the speakers committee on rules,
makes out a pretty good case for him.
self as self-made man, explaining
that at the age of five his father car
ried him from Connecticut to Ohio
but there was no school house near
where he settled until he was IA
years old, when he attended few
terms in country log school house
in Athens county, Ohio" With this
education, however, he taught school
and studied law.
Arthur Pue German says that he
attended the public school in his ma.
tive county for brief PERIOD and
that when 13 years old ne was made
a page in the senate, continuing in
the service of that body for the next
IA years.
Senator Berry. of Arkansas, relat
es that he received a limited edu
cation at a private school at Berry
} Vile, Ark" and as this was nearly
60 years ago. his estimate of the edu
cational facilities there is probably
correct.
Senator McLaurin of Mississippi
} tells that he was raised on a farm
and attended the neighborhood
schools occasionally. until 16 year.
: old when he joined the confederate
: army as a private
I John Sharp Williams, the Demo
cratic leader, evidently as a rebunk,
to the self-made aspiration, says tina
5 he received fair education" ant
then relates that he attended private
e schools at home, the Kentucky Mill
3 tary Institute. near Frankfort; tn,
University of the South, at Sewanee
e Tenn; the University of Charlottes
. vile, and the University of Heidel
: berg, in Baden, Germany, and thel
gives hardly less extensive list o
places where he studied law.
Representative Brownlow, an EaS
Tennessee Republican. says he at
I tended the common schools thre,
years, and that in the death of hi
father. when he was 10 years old, hi
e began to earn his own living.
!, Thomas Beall Davis, of West Wiz
+ ginia, brother Of Henry Gassaway
: the late vice presidential candidate