The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-15
CLlMBING THE LADDER
HOW UNITED STATES SENATOR.
To-BE CURTIS REACHED
THE ToPMosT RuNe.

Washington Dispatch to the New
York Times.
Congressman charless Curtis. of
Kansas, named for Senator by the Re.
publican caucus. is sure.enough na.
tive son. His mother was a. full.
blooded Kaw Indian. and he will be
the first of his race to sit in the Uni.
ted States Senate. He is strictly n
self-made man. In two weeks he will
be forty.seven years old.
Curtis began life in Shawnee coun.
ty, Kans., where North Topeka now
stands, and earned his first money in
the days of the old Kansas City Inter
state Fair Association, when spider.
web tides, embroidered table covers.
and pumpkins divided interest with
I'the $4,000 in cash prizes in the speed
ring.
Floral Hall. Machinery Hall. ami
the Art Gallery were deserted one
afternoon for the white rail that mark.
ed the race course. One of the entries
was known to most of the crowd as "a
crazy horse, who bolted at certain
spot on the track. A new rider was
handling the bolter that afternoon :
Ia little fellow with coal-black.
straight hair, flashing eyes, and the
high cheekbones of an Indian. The
rider had been borrowed from another
stable.
on In a bunch they went at the
crack OF the pistol. When the dark.
skinned boy and his crazy mount
reached the dangerous point on the
course, the boiling place, there was a
short, sharp struggle. The horse was
conquered, and sped on with the 9TH
ers, under the lash. Half around and
then there was another struggle and
a spill. Boy and horse landed in a
laundering heap against. the high
board fence. When the dust cleared
away the little fellow was picked up
unconscious, covered with dust and
blood. A long cash lay across his
head. That boy was Charley Curtis.
To-day he bears the scar.
AS he grew up he ran peanut
stand for time, and then took to
hack. driving. Most Of the schooling
to got he gave himself, studying at
home at such odd moments as he
could find. 1t was while working as n
cab driver that he began the study OF
law. He read in the office of To-
peka lawyer, and was admitted to the
bar when he was only twenty-one. I'm.
mediately he was taken Into partner.
ship with Mr.. Case, the man in whose
office he had studied, and continued
the partnership for three years, until
he was elected county attorney.
After two terms in that Office Mr..
Curtis formed the Congressional habit
and has kept It up ever since. He was
elected to the Sixtieth House last fall,
that being his eight straight election.
In the House his most conspicuous
service has been on the committee on
Indian Affairs. He was recognized as
the House authority on Indian mat,
tiers, although not the chairman OF
the committee. His bill, known as
the Curtis act, for the allotment in
severalty of the lands and moneys Of
the Five Civilized Tribes. wound up
the communal affairs of $1,000 In,
dams. AS member of the Kaw tribe
he obtained allotment for himself and
children aggregating more than B..
900 acres in Oklahoma. He is a stur-
ry. well-built man, his Indian blood
showing in his straightness of figure
as well as in his black eyes and swar.
thy complexion. He has fine voice
and is ready speaker.
To-day III of his tribes live in In.
dian Territory, few miles below Ar.
kansas City. Every September, dur
ing the season of their tribal festlvi-
ties, Curtis goes to visit them. Much
/, ceremony, much rejoicing, greets him.
Feasting and dancing are INDUCED in.
He is always admitted to the council
chamber, and his voice is listened to
with great respect by the older mem
bers of the tribe. They are proud of
him. To-day their affection has al-
vanced many marks.
An invention has just been tested