The Washington herald., 1908-07-11

who defeated him. as we'll as OF the can
didates nominated by the same Iaction
for office.
Mr. Kern's political advancement began
when he was a mere youth in the city OF
kokomo where he was elected city at-
torney just after he was admitted 10 the
bar He had always been a hard student.
and entered upon his profession With a
larger stock of knowledge Of mer ard
governments than is possessed by the
average man just attaining his majority.
Began Career Early.
But before he was twenty-one he was a
speaker in local campaigns In his native
county. which was overwhelmingly Re
publican, and his fame spread 20 other
sections, and when nineteen years OF age
he was in demand In all political gather
ings In a dozen Indiana counties.
AS reporter of the Supreme Court. he
edited and published seventeen volumes
Of decisions. which now bear his name.
This office. at the time OF his incum-
bency was one OF the best paying State
Offices in Indiana. but Kern was not
! fnancler, and he came out OF II II poor
man.
! In 1900 he was nominated by the State
convention for governor. and made an
active campaign OF the State. but went
down to defeat with the State and ma
/ tional ticket In 1904. he was again nomi-
mated and was again defeated Both OF
/ these campaigns were noted for the
/ laborious work that the nominee for gov
ernor performed and for the creditaele
vote that he received over and above
/ that polled by others on the ticket
Twice Married.
Mr.. Kern has been twice married. His
/ first wife died while he was making the
campaign for reporter Of the Supreme
/ Court. leaving a daughter but two years
of age lie was remarked in December.
1885. and two children are the fruits Of
the second marriage. Though Mr.. Kern
had been busily engaged in politics and in
the practice OF his profession, he is
/ nevertheless a home man. and takes great
pleasure in its comforts and in entertain
ing his friends.
/ While Kern is popular with his party
and in the social life Of the city and
state, some Democrats have criticised
him very freely In the past three or four
years because OF the close alliance exist
. ing between him and National Chairman
Taggart The two men have been pollti-
cal friends FOR more than score OF years.
and Kern has been the legal adviser. as
well as the personal defender, OF Iaggart
I'M all the assaults that have been made
upon him by Democrats who resented
Taggurts domination OF the party and by
Republican state officers, who attacked
him in the courts because OF the resort
operated at the French Lick Springs.
Is IA Total AbstRiner.
The Temperance element in the party
however that has criticised Kern on ac-
count Of mis- affiliations with Taggart con-
cede that he is a clean man. a total alb
stainer. and actuated wholly by friend
ship in his continued allegiance. II IS
said OF Kern that he never turned upon
a friend no matter what others may
have salI against him, and he Is 50 cath
olic IN his feeling that this trait haI
become a pronounced attribute Of charac
ter and makes more friends that he loses
by his loyalty.
There is little doubt but the nomination
OF Kern for the Vice Presidency Will &c
far toward inspiring the party for the
campaign. and many Democrats believe
that Il Will do much 10 keep the busi-
ness element Of the party in line despite
their opposition 20 the anti-injunctior
plank OF the platform.
Kern went 10 Denver opposing an anti
Injunction plank that would attack the
integrity OF the courts. but he was IN
favor Of declaring for a trial in contempt
, cases by a Judge other than the ont
issuing restraining order or by jury.