Daily Arizona silver belt., 1907-12-11
WOULD REMOVE INDIAN LAND
 SALE BARRIERS
BLIND SENATOR WILL RIVAL CA TO IN URGING REPEAL OF
 THE LAND ACT.
Admits the Fitness For Presidency, But Is Handicapped By Geographical Location, He says--He is Anxious to Serve This State.

WASHINGTON, December 9.-En- dowed with an individuality so force ful that the affiction of total blindness has served only to argument his am bition, Thomas F. Gore, Senatorelect from the new State of Oklahoma, will be easily one of the most striking per sonalities in the senate. Among these men of achievement, the Oklahoman, although still young and handicapped by his inability to see, will take asprom- inent part. He comes to the nation s chief forum with the reputation of be- ing one of the finest orators in the west and statesman of great acumen.
 "As every man who comes to rep resent his state in Washington brings with him some pet political project, I don t mind avowing mine,' said Sen ator Gore to a Post reporter yesterday. "I shall plead on every possible oc- casion for the removal of the restric- tions on the sale of lands in the h. dian Territory. They act as great handicap to our people and should be abolished. This is my political hobby and may become as much addicted to talking of it as was Cato with his Carthage must be destroyed. When once my state is no longer held down by this land restriction, I shall turn my attention to running the nation, !" said Senator Gore with his quiet smile.
 His Features Classic.
 It seems incredible to those who meet the Oklahoma senator that the clear gray eyes, with their pleasant, thought. full expression are indeed sightless. It is only the peculiarity of his glance that betrays the fact that he does not see. Senator Cores features have a classic regularity, which gives his mas. sive head a resemblance to the busts made by the sculptors of ancient Rome.
 As far as my personal ambitions are concerned,' he continued, "I am at present anxious only to serve the people of my state, so newly entered into the great sisterhood, to the very best of my ability. It is often said that every man who comes to the senate has secretly the wish to be president, but the latitude of my birth and the longitude of my residence make that out of the question for me, although, of course" he added with a laugh, "I admit my fitness for the office. was born in Mississippi, and that is almost as bad for a wouldbe president as being born in a foreign land. And we are still a little too far west in Okla homa to make presidents out there. I am of southern stock and my father fought in the Confederate army for two years standing and two years running, as he used to say
 Bryan the Only Candidate.
 "With such a birthplace it is natural that l should be democrat of the dem- ocrats, as most of us are in Oklahoma. MT. Bryan is, the only candidate we are considering for the presidency out there. We followed him twice to de- feat, it is true, but this time we think it will be our privilege to follow him to victory. I think that the prospects at present look bright for democratic success.
 "The dinner pails that I've been tap ping aren't as full as they might be, and the people will be sure to see that the present stringency is the result of a combination of protective tariff, a gold standard, and a republican ad. ministration. They will see the fallacy of protective tariff. We also believe in the initiative and referendum in Ok lahoma.o
 The remarkable skill with which the blind statesman finds his way about has been the subject of much admiring com ment by those who have met him. His movements are, in fact, so unhampered that it would hardly be surprising to see him doing almost anything, joining in almost any pleasure enjoyed by his friends. Yet Senator Gore admits that his favorite recreation, Eff you can call it recreation, is readipg.' But the authors of the "six best sellers' need not bother to send copies of their works to the Oklahoma senator, for he con fesses that he has read very few novels in his life. 1T want the warrior s equipment he said "I have not time for the tinsel. I read mostly history and economies. used also to be very fond of poetry. Of course, suppose must say that Shakespeare is my favorite poet. Byron comes next in my regard. y
 Senator Cores wife, whom he de. scribes as his "eyes," was unable to accompany him to Washington because of ill health, but he hopes to have her
 
 with him before the close of the ses- sion. He is at present the guest of his friend, Dr. William A. Croffut, at 40 B street northeast.
 Blind Statesman Goes Sightseeing.
 Senator Gore has already spent some time in sightseeing. Having familiarized himself thoroughly with the Capitol and its history, he went carefully over the senate chamber, feel ing with his cane the location of each senator's seat. He feel confident that in few days time he will be able to get about the chamber without assist ance. He was "shown' the dome, the house chamber, the supreme court room, and other points of interest, and lis tened with an expression of delight to the descriptions of friends who accom- panied him. Senator Gore keen ear is especially quick to identify voices, and he will soon be able to recognize his colleagues as soon as they speak to him.
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