The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-11-24

men after their election when they
reached home, and for a time at least
We're immune from the shower of
handclasps Of admiring friends and
of1ce-seekers, was to offer a prayer
and ask divine assistance in the great
work which they will undertake on
Jan. 1.
James H. Higgins, 80 years old, and
Governor-elect Of the smallest but busi-
est state in the Union is. also the first
Catholic who has ever been elected
chief executive Of any commonwealth
in New England.
While at Brown University the stu
dent James H. Higgins earned a rep
utation for his application to his stud
les. He was president of the Phi Kap-
pa fraternity, the Catholic secret soci-
ETY. of the Baptist college, and was
prominent in the debating clubs. 1t
was here that he first demonstrated
his abality as a public speaker. He
was graduated from Brown University
in the class of 1898, but previous to
that time had won the Hicks prize for
debating. He was one Of the class day
orators and delivered an grafton in the
First Baptist Church, where the COM
nencement exercises of Brown are
held. He was tho second Catholic to
deliver all oration in that edifice.
In 1901 he made his political debut
as a. delegate to the Democratic state
convention. Mayor Fitzgerald was the
choice of one wing Of the Democracy,
and DIR. l.. G. +. Garvin Of the other,
as nominee for Governor Owing to
peculiar political conditions which ex-
listed at that time the Democratic NOM
ination was almost equivalent to AIN
election. On this account both candi-
dates selected the best speaker pro-
curable to make the nominating
speeches. -
Mayor Fitzgerald selected Mr.. Hig-
gins, and DR.. Garvin Edward NJ. sulli-
van of Cranston. The speeches of
both men, neither of whom was out Of
his twenties, were mastery efforts.
MI. Higgins address was characterized
by "a !; ;nolisi, and=s.icety ,gaf- Language
which, btougnts wave after wave Of au-
plause and stamped, him as one of the
most polished orators in the Demo-
cratic party. DIR. Garvin had the ad-
vantage of having more delegates on
his side, than Mayor Fitzgerald, and
he was, nominated and subsequently
elected.
The speech Of MI. Higgins left it's
impression OIL the voters of his homo
city, Pawtucket, and at the next city
convention he was nominated for the
Mayoralty chair and elected. He has
been elected four times since then,
and could be elected again, and as
often as lie pleased, so great is his
popularity. During his second term
as Mayor, his mother, who had been
his staunch friend, adviser and most
sincere admirer, died.
The same hard work which cl1arac-
terized the student James H.. Higgins
entered into the campaign made by the
Candidate Higgins. He delivered three
and four speeches in every section of
the State, sometimes making as many
as four addresses an evening. Every
where, he went he was greeted by
crowds, and his speeches were mega
phoned through the newspapers. He
had nothing to fear, and consequently
did not mince his words.
Protestant clergymen passed reso-
luton after resolution indorsing the
candidacy of the Catholic candidate
With such support and q Republican
up the year before, to overcome, the
young, candidate kept on his whirlwind d
Lcliipdl6h. .
| When the ballots were counted OH
election day it was found that the
people of the state had confidence in
Jimmy" Higgins and had elected him
Chief Executive with a comfortable
majority Of 1,50O over his Republican
opponent.
When James FL. Higgins takes his
oath of Office in the marble palace
which the visitor to Providence sect
as the Boston train rolls into the sta.
ton, he will have no master to serve
but his own conscience, no wires Z,
pull save those which he thinks vii
strengthen the forces for good and re.
yiye the fair name Of his native State
1t is pleasant for a Catholic journa
to state that when the inauguration
exercises are held Governor Higgin.
will have as chaplain either Risl,ol
Harkins or Rev. D. NJ. Lowney. paste,
of his parochial church. They will bt
| %t,n Rret (1ofhoIic c1orpvmen 1yLo l,o ".