Evening journal., 1909-01-20
PENN PORTRAIT
OF F. M. SOPER
The Apple King of Delaware
Who Held up the House
Organization
DISCUSSES MATTERS
OF LEGISLATION

aware" Is a Wcll-huilt man, OF 8 feet
inches in height lie has iron gray har
a gray mustache and good complexion, as
the result OF a temperate life and out
door work. His face is pleasant and the
sharp, dark gray eyes. that set close to
his Roman nose. betoken man of
shrewdness and genialty. In the House
he wears a short sack coat, and were il
not for the notorety that he has obtained
he would not attract near so much at
tention as Doctor Cooper. or Mr. Aims
COW, says the Philadelphia Ledger. He
is quick, and always on the alert; a
prodgious worker, and tireless as most
men Of a temperament like Mr.. Soper's
are. When he addresses the House he does
SO in jerlly. hurried fashion, and keeps
his left hand in his pocket He is not
eloquent, and merely talks in a practical
way. When questioned as TO his political
bluff and how he came to tie up the House
because he could not have the cake and
penny too. Mr.. Soper seeks to brush the
event aside with the remark: "Oh, that
is all over now. We are ready for the
next move. / tell you this is farmers
Legislature. and we will have something
to say"
Halls From Canada.
Francis NJ Soper is Canadian born, and
educated in Friends schools, both at the
Bay of Quinty and in New Hampshire.
Surely, the aggressiveness and pugnacity
cious of the man were not developed un-
der the gentle training Of the Quakers,
but was a heritage His grandparents
kere born in the United States and went
to Canada during the Revolutionary War.
In November, 1854, the apple King was
born. 1t was not until the fall of 1876 that
he went to Delaware and began the ca
reer that has landed him in a conspicuous
place in the country. Mr.. Soper. while
new in the political world and to the peo-
pie at large, has wide reputation among
horticulturists, grangers and business
men in the East.
He is as shy about discussing himself
as a woman is about telling her age.
Many Dark Days Before Dawn.
Il have no history or career for the
newspapers to exploit" he said as he sat
in the Delaware House Of Representa-
tives His eyes twinkled and the smile
betokened good nature. Il can talk about
apples" he added "As to politics, /
know but little. / drifted here on the
advice Of my father-in-law, J. G. Brown
of Pennsylvania. lie had grown apples
in Delaware, and they were good ones
too lie was of the opinion that the busi-
ness could be made great success. Mat
ters were not successful in Canada with
my father, so we decided to come to the
States. We were much discouraged at
first, but after &c years hard work I am
thoroughly convinced that Delaware is a
great country FOR early apples. They at
tain good size and a flavor that cannot
be approached elsewhere. The late apples
can readily be stored until there is de-
mand for them.
but people laugh at an Apple King in
Delaware.
"Well, 1 can smile also. We have 4So
acres in apples and will increase that TO
1909 acres, so well convinced are we that
Delaware is the proper place for growing
apples and that you can make II pay. My
son IS in business with me"
The conversation stopped for minute,
and there WAS a quick, Mr.. Speaker -
from the man who had been talking. In
his quick. nervous manner Mr. Soper de-
manded that the resolution offered by Mr..
Hopkins to inquire into the advlsability
and power Of the State to lend its aid 10
the construction OF a trolley line TO run
the length Of the State should be sent to
the Committee on Private Corporations,
of which he is chairman. The scheme pro-
vides for a trolley line to carry passengers
and freight and touch tho important
towns.
NOW. that Is a matter which tl,e
grangers have discussed, and which Della
ware badly needs" said Mr.. soper, again
taking up - thread of his talk.
Question Of Freight Rates.
Are you burdened with high and un-
just freight rates. was asked OF the APP
pie King.
Il have no kick coming" was the quiet
answer. Il do not think It would be tho
part of wisdom for mo to discuss the
question Of railroad rates or discrlmina.
ton, because the matter will most likely
come before me in an official capacity
later as the chairman Of the Committee
on Private Corporations 1t was for that
reason that 1 desired tho trolley matter
TO be sent to our committee We need all
sorts Of transportation facilities. and We
must have them II the Pennsylvania
railroad will not give them to MS, then VIC
must seek other means. It has alway:
been an important topic in this section
and will continue to be to the end.
Then the farmers do not intend Il
make any fight on the railroady'
mot that know OF. In a short tim,
I will go before my grange and discus.
with the members a number of topics fol
legislation. Until that time there is no sci
| programme"
The prominence attained by Mr. Sopei
was apparent as he sat in the House. IL,
divided the attention Of visitors with tn,
Speaker. Time and again he was calies
at the side bar of tho House and intro
duced TO travelling statesmen. TO neigh
bors who had never paid particular atten
tion TO the man heretofore and TO th,
sightseers. lie had kind word for all
and was as modest asa schoolgirl to theil
words Of praise Members gathered abou
his desk TO advise on legislation. and i
was seldom that the man lad a spar,
minute. lie is popular because, as a fellow
member said, There are no friils OF
soper. He doesn't get his head turned"
Generous Terms Of Peace.
Il never had much 70 do with politics.
Mr.. soper said. when he resumed tn,
thread of his story. my first vote wa,
for Grover Cleveland for President. 1 wal
a delegate to the Denver convention. an,
was for Bryan, and am an admirer O
Mr.. Bryan. Coming to the Legislator,
was an after-thought. had enough vote
pledged to make me Speaker but tn