The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-03-07
CLIMBING THE LADDER.
How an Indian Rose from Jockey to
United States Senator.
NAV Ynrk Times.l

i tNEN IGTk DlCc.y
Congressman Charles Curtis of KAN
sas, named for senator by the Repub-
lican caucus, is a sure-enough native
son. His mother was a full-blOoded
Kaw Indian. and he will be the first OF
his race to sit in the United States SEN
ate. He is strictly a self-made man.
In two weeks he Will be AZ years old.
Curtis began life In Shawnee county.
Kansas, where North Topeka now
stanis, and earned his first money In
the days of the old Kansas City Inter-
state Fair association. when spiGer-web
tides, embroidered table covers and
pumpkins divided interest with the
| $4,000 in cash prizes in the speed ring.
Floral hall. machinery hall and the
are gallery were deserted one after
noon for the white rail that marked
the race course. One of the entries was
! known to most of the crowd as a crazy
| horse, who bolted at a certain spot on
| the track. A new rider was handling
the bolter that afternoon little fellow
with coal-black straight hair, flashing
eyes and the high cheekpones of an In
dian. The rider had been borrowed
| from another stable.
| OF in bunch they went at the crack
/ of the pistol. When the dark-skinned
boy and his crazy mount reached the
dangerous point of the course the bolt
d l.
struggle. The horse was conquered and
sped on with the others under the lash.
Half round and then there was an
other struggle and a spill. Boy and
horse landed in 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 Char
ley Curtis. Today he bears the scar.
As he grew UP he ran a peanut
stand for a time. and then took to
hack driving. Most of the schooling
he got he gave himself. studying al
home at such odd moments as he could
| find. 1t was while working as a cab
| driver that he began the study of law.
| He read in the office of a Topeka law
yer and was admitted to the bar when
he was only Il years old. Immediately
he was taken into partnership 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 ii up ever since. He was
elected to the Sixtieth house last fall.
that being his eighth straight election.
In the house his most conspicuous ser
Nlto IidS beefl OH Sne committee on IN
| dian affairs He was recognized as the
house authority on Indian matters. al
| though not the chairman of the COM
| mittee. His bill known as the Curtis
act. for the allotment in severalty of
the lands and moneys of the Five Civ
| iliZed Tribes. wound I'D the communal
affairs of $1,000 Indians. AS member
of the Kaw tribe he obtained allotments
for himself and children aggregating
more than 5000 acres in Oklahom He
is a sturdy, well-built man. his Indian
blood showing in his straightness of fig
ure as well as in his black ewes and
| swarthy complexion. He has a fine
voice and is a ready speaker.
Today III of his tribe live in Indian
/ territory. few miles below Arkansas
City. Every September. during the sea
son Of their tribal festivities, Curtis
goes to visit them. Much ceremony,
much rejoicing, greets him. Feasting
and dancing are INDUCED in. He is al
ways admitted to the council chamber.
and his voice is listened to with great
respect by the older members of the
tribe. They are proud of him. Today
their affection has advanced many
/ marks