The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-07-16

old he did not see a railroad train.
The family moved back to Howard
county in 1864 In the Cos, while
still i'll Iowa, Mrs. Kern died. Two
children were left, John and II S
sister, who is now Mrs. Isaac Engel
of Darville, Va.
John was educated in the district
schools and he continued this edu-
cation by attending the Indiana
Normal School of Kokomo, Ind. =,
riding horseback 10 miles each day.
Later he taught school near Alto.
He earned money TO enter Ann
Arbor, graduating from the law de-
partment of Michigan University in
1869. He Immediately began prac-
ticing in Kokomo, Ind.
Mr.. Kern has been president Of
the Commercial Club and has al
ways been conspicuous in all State
and Civic movements. Mrs Kern,
who is his second wife, and whom
he married in 1895, is prominent in
all of the social and literary affairs
of the city. Miss Julia Kern, their
daughter, is we'll known socially.
There are two other children-John
w. Kern, Jr., aged 9, and William
H. Kern, who is now 5 years old.
The nominee is one of the best
known men in Indiana and though
he has made two losing races for
Governor as the nominee of his
party he led his ticket on both oc-
casions and has since then been re-
garded as the leader Of the party in
his State. When just 2I years of
age and only entering upon his pro-
fession as lawyer, he was draft
ed" to make TIE race for the I.egis-
lature in the Republican county of
Howard, but was defeated, after
which he was chosen city attorney
of Kokomo for SIX terms over Re-
publican aspirants.
In 1884 he was nominated for re-
porter of the Supreme Court on the
Democratic ticket. He was elected
and served four years. In 1890 he
was elected State Senator from
his county, and in 1900 and 1904
was nominated for Governor, but
was defeated.
Since 1884 he has resided in In
dianapolis, where he served as City
Attorney under the last two admin
istrations of Mayor Thomas Tag
gart, from October 1897 to October
1901.
Before the St. Louis Convention
of four years ago Mr.. Kern's name
had been prominently mentioned
among the Vice Presidential posi-
bilities.
In 1907 he was the caucus NOM
inee of the Legislative minority for
United States Senator, and received
the entire Democratic vote in both
Houses.
Mr.. Kern has not always agreed
with his party, but he has always
bowed to it when it announced it's
principles in convention. Prior to
the assembling of the State Conven-
tion in 1906 he was pronounced
golc advocate and made a number
OF speeches to deter the party from
declaring for free silver. He was
beaten in the convention, and when
the Chicago Convention nominated
Bryan on a free silver platform he
yielded his individual judgment and
went to work for the ticket. In
reply to the criticisms of some of
his gold Democratic friends and of
the opposition press, he declared
that the party law as enurciated in
the platform was higher than the
individual judgment and if man
were Democrat, as he was, it was
his duty to hold his judgment on
political questions subordinate to
that of the majority of the party.
1t was through Kern's fealty to
Bryan and the Chicago platform
that he won the regard of Bryan,
and in the years that have passed
this regard has ripened into gen.
uine friendship on the part of Bry-
an and into generous admiration on
the part of Kern.
| While not polished orator, John
w. Kern is a forcible and logical
speaker and campaigner of more
than ordinary tact and ability. He
tells story illustrative of his posi-
ton on any question well and has
the faculty Of getting a crowd In
sympathy with him wherever he
speaks.
He Is thoroughly acquainted II