Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-20
ONE TINE A NEWSBOY
Career of SenatOr-EIeCt Smith
of Michigan.
READS LIKE A STORY BOOK
Boyish Pact Between Charles A.
Towne and Himself.
BOTH AIMED AT CONGRESS
Elected and Sworn Into the House Of
Representatives on the
Same Day.

and one that can hardly be credited. And
yet such a rapid and almost impossible
stride has been made by William Alden
Smith of Grand Rapids, Mich. who. on
the 4th day of March next, will take his
seat in the United States Senate as one of
the two representatives in that body from
Michigan.
Senator Smiths whole life history reads
more like a fairy tale than like the his
tory of poor boy, who, by his own en-
ergy and pluck, has elevated himself from
the lowest rung of the ladder to the
highest political position within the gift
of his state. and one more sought after
than. perhaps any other political position
except the presidency.
For the past twelve years the House of
Representatives has been honord in it's
membership by one who, while ranking
among the few eloquent orators OF that
body, had won the exalted position of
membership there in the short space of
twenty years from the time he sold papers
and popcorn the streets of Grand
Rapids. and who reached that proud emil
hence at the early age of thirty-five years.
When, therefore. the 4th of March comes
Senator-elect Smith will resign his seat in
the House, to which he was last Novem-
Der reelected for his seventh continuous
term. and walk across the Capitol to the
Senate chamber. where he will enter upon
his siX-year term in the highest legislative
body in the world, a body that has num-
ablest men of their day and generation.
The Lessons He Learned.
Forty-seven years ago a boy was born
in Gowagiac, little Michigan village, and
his chances of winning wealth, social posi-
ton or high political honors were not more
promising than those of thousands of boys
who spend their lives in obscurity. In his
early boyhood his father, who was in COM
Portable circumstances. suffered financial re-
verses, and the lad was forced to seek some
employment whereby he could aid IN the
support of the family. His parents had
early taught him that no boy or man can
hope to succeed in life who does not possess
push. perseverance, honesty, manliness and
a rugged determination to make an honor
able place for himself in the world at what
ever cost. All those lessons the boy learned
very early in life. even if he was obliged to
give up his school-and he learned them
well.
AS soon, therefore, as the lad was old
enough to sell papers he began to hustle.
and he has been hustling ever since. His
parents having in the meantime moved to
Grand Rapids the second city in the state,
the boy soon built up good sale for daily
newspapers and popcorn, continuing in that
work for some time, and until something
better offered.
A Boyish Compact.
What are you going to be when you get
TO De d Dig eiShSd q pioJ iiiSANN VI
the newsboy one day.
I'm going to be a lawyer first. and then
I'm going to get elected to Congress"
promptly answered the lad. But I'm going
to be good lawyer, and a good congress
man" he added.
'That's just what I've planned for my
self" answered the first boy, land III tell
you what let's do; let's us both be elected
to Congress at the same time, so as TO
stand I'M together and be sworn in at the
same time.
IFS a bargain" they both said in con-
cert: and then they separated and started
out into the wide world to carry out their
visionary compact, which did not prove to
be so visionary after all.
The lad in question soon secured the
privilege of sweeping out a lawyers office
and doing odd jobs there, not so much be-
cause the lawyer needed his services, MS be-
cause of the boys persistency In seeking
the place A little later he was appointed
a page in the Michigan legislature, then ap-
pointed assistant postmaster of the iegls-
lature, and three years after he had walked
a part of the way from his home to the
ca pital in order to save the little money he
had. because he had no certainty of secur-
ing the coveted pageshp he sought, he was
promoted to assistant secretary of the
Michigan senate. He returned at the end
of each legislative session to his work and
studies in the law office, and IN 1888 ne was
admitted to the bar.
success as a Lawyer.
Two years later the young lawyer was
engaged by one of the great railroads of
the state to secure the right of way on
which the road could enter Grand Rapids
with it's lines, just being extended from
the state capital He did it SO well as to
gain the approval of the president of the
road who soon made the young man gen.
eral counsel of the Chicago and West
Michigan and the Detroit, Grand Rapids
and Western railroads, which position he
held from 1886 to 1901. when the general
offices were moved to Detroit and he pre-
ferred to resign rather than remove from
Grand Rapids and give up his seat In Con-
gress In 1887 Mr.. Smith was appointed
by Gov Luce to the newly created office
of game and fish warden of the state. which
he held for two years. In 1883 he had be-
come so influential in political matters as
to be elected q member of the republican
state central committee, a position he held
for six years.
AS the once friendless and unknown boy
grew in years his friends increased. he ac-
uuired fine law practice and began to
'fget ahead in the world" financially, al
though being obligated to aid in the care Of
his parents until soon he began to be men
toned as a good man to send to Congress.
Elected to Congress.
Having already become a good and sue
cessful lawyer in 1894 the other part of his
boyish dream was realized, and William
Alden Smith was nominated to Congress
and elected by nearly ten thousand plu-
rality.
Il can never forget" Mr.. Smith once said
to the writer. the day of my first nominal
ton to Congress. The convention was held
in one of the largest opera houses of the
city and 1t was packed full of my neigh
bors and friends. After the nomination l
was invited to the platform to make my
speech OF acceptance, and have no words
TO express TO you how small and unworthy
l felt as | looked over the audience and
saw therein many of the leading men of the
city to whom / had sold papers only few
years before.
The Other Boys Success.
The dreams of the two playmates had
now materiallzed. for the other boy, Charles
A. .Towne who had also become a success
full lawyer and had removed to Minnesota,
had also been elected to Congress on the
same day; and on the first Monday of De-
cember in the following year the two
friends completed their boyish compact by
standing up together and taking the oath
of Office as members of Congress.
| Mr.. Towne. having changed his politics
during his term of office. served only one
| term and was defeated for reelection, but
| has since been nominated for Vice Presi-
| dent served for short time United