The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-27

Indianapolis Is now the Pennsylvania street residence of John ". Kern. the vice presidential nominee of the Denver cont enton, and those remniseently in- cllned are searching among the archl4 es of memory for something heard years ago about the nominee, and which was then regarded as a sure prophecy of the greatness which he has now attained Of course the stories about him are nu- merous, and, as is generally the case under the glow of sudden enthusiasm. many of them apoeryphal. but there Is no question as 10 the genuineness of oth- CTS, and they are sufficient to illustrate the character of the man and account in great measure for the prominence that he has attained as a party leader, and the popularity with all classes that he has so long enjoyed.
 Naturally, there has been great rush to the Kern residence, and with the re- turn of the nominee the steps of many were accelerated in order that there might be no question of their loyalty Many of those who have called to give personal congratulations are friends of long standing whose fealty under any and all circumstances has been tried and abundantly proved. But the homogene- ous crowd that has rushed pell-mell to the Kern domicile is the class who al- ways know tho prominent; indeed always knew them. and are So well versed in family history that they can reel off by the yard, or by any other desired quan- titles, incidents of family history which, if not always authentic, are accepted by the stranger as gospel truth from the very earnestness which characterizes the telling.
 Of Best Indiana Type.
 John Worth Kern and his family are plain, unassumlng people of the best In- diana type, living modestly in a modest neighborhood and surrounded by friends who have come to love them for their real worth. The husband aid father has come to his present position of honor through some tribuations, and the expe rience is all the more pleasant to him because he has profited by the buffetings of adversity and has risen in spite of ob- stacles. If he ever gotanything for noth- ing, it was advice, and, being original himself, and q thinker from early boy ! nod, he was forced to reject much of this. Those who came to him as friends when he was unknown and as followers of his leadership in politics and clients in his profession have been impeled to do so because Of his ever-present good fellowship, to which there is no limit and his talents as a lawyer and his adroitness as politician, which could be used prof1tably.
 Mrs. Kern Is a woman of earnest na- ture and lovable personality, and takes a great deal of pride in her home, which is far from palatial, and in her children, who are intelligent and companionable. She has long taken an interest in the charities of the city, and many poor family has had cause to bless her com ing. But there has been no ostentation, no trumpet sounding her presence or tell ing of the deed after 1t was done. Her purse is not large, and her munificence has been limited by that circumstance, but there have been an attendant sympa- thy and words of cheer that edded im- measurably to her charity.
 Fought His Way Up.
 The story of MT. Kerns life is not a romance, unless the story of the lives of | thousands of poor boys who have risen to prominence in spite of obstacles can be | termed romance. de simply fought his way up, but In fighting for higher and still higher place for himself he was cateful not heedlessly to pull any one else down. There have been times in his ca reer where he was thought to have lost 1 opportunities because he gave way to others in things that he might himself have attained, but the deed proved the wisdom of the surrender, for he retained friendships and secured helpers for his later efforts Though earnest and deter mined, he has not been a road roller'' politician, but on more than one occasion when factional animosity had been aroused he has gone over from the ma Jority to the minority in order to stand between thefactions a sa conservative force and to prevent injustice
 If one could picture the life of a boy in the backwoode of Indiana 50 years ago. he would not find it differing materially from that of the vice presidential nomi- nee of the Denver convention. He went into the field to drop corn when years of age, and winter and summer he had certain duties to discharge about the house and farm. He went to school in the winter only, for it was only in those month sthat the public schools were open. The summer season was too busy time to devote to the education of chill dren. His home reading was limited to few doctor books that his father had for he was a physician, and to an occa- sional newspaper which found its way into the family. Before .4e was years of age he had read his fathers medical books. but with small understanding and many enforced skips of words because he was unable to pronounce them. But as he grew older he borrowed books from friends in the town of Kokomo and spent his leisure time, and especially his nights, reading them as he lay on his stomach in front of log fire.
 School Teacher at 16.
 e His mind was so retentive even at that age that he retained practically all that he read and studied, and each fall when he re-entered school he was far ahead of those who had been classed with him in the preceding term. So precocious did he prove that he was soon in advance of his teachers, and when hardly 16 years of age he became, himself teacher Though his early reading had been con- fined to medical books he determined to make lawyer of himself, and after two terms as a teacher had saved enough money to enable him to enter the law department, of the University of Michi- gan at Ann Arbor. He was graduated from this institution In 1S69 or when 20 years of age, and returned to Kokomo and boldly hung out his shingle as n lawyer
 Legal business was slow coming, but he entered into the life of the town, and soon began to make friends. He was a ready talker and swell versed in all pub lie questions and before he was 21 the democrats nominated him for representa- tive in the legislature. The party was in the minority and there was no danger of the youth being elected, but he entered fervently into the campaign and spoke in nearly every schoolhouse in the county.
 When the votes were counted he had