The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-22
By JAMES n. MORROw.


child OF the Storage. who never went to
school single day in his life. now a
tall. wide-shouldered man, with dark au-
burn hair. short blond mustache. and
friendly and candid blue eyes, has be-
come the acknowledged and autoc-atic
master OF the Republican party In the
State OF Illinois. Not long since he took
the oath of Office as a Senator OF the
United States.
I'VE have a famous Democratic alder
man in Chicago" William Lorimer said
to me. "who Is known far and wide a.
'Hlnky Dink, although his name is
Michael Kenna. About the second Sun
day after I began 20 make my living IN
the streets. several big boys robbed me
OF my newspapers. was ten years old.
the loss was very serious and raised
my voice in lamentation. Michael Ken
ma, older than myself, bootblacll and
newsboy. kindly bu; roughly asked about
my trouble. I told him.
Wait rite dere,' he called, as he ran
around the corner.
In FIVE minutes he brought my papers
Kenna, and ! have never fought him.
People have wondered why DO not op-
pose him when he runs for Office He
came to me not long ago. He is as much
of Turk as he was when he was a kid.
Billy, he said. with his old-timo
broguc, hear you may be a candidate
for United States Senator. When you
are, let me know. and the member OF the
legislature from my district will vote for
you.
Il sent no word 10 Michael Kenna. but
got the vote he promised"
Quiet md Unnssuming.
The customary positiveness and anus
ing vanity Of the self-made man are not
noticeable either In William Lorimer's
conversation or demeanor. His voice is
low. his smile honest. and his manner
natural II he is dognatic. he does not
show II. Obviously. his strength Is not
IN noise.
In word" asked. when we were
in the full swing OF the interview. how
can success be achieved IN polltics7'
IT may sound hackneyed to say that
one must be INDUSTRIOUS was the re-
ply. but ceaseless, tlreless. intelligent
and enthusiastic diligence IS absolutely
necessary. Then one must keep his word
Theoretically. truthfulness is a common
human quality; practically. II Is a rare
virtue-in politics. Men utter preach
ments concerning It ard practice some
thing else. In the excitement OF a cam
paign, with defeat not only possible but
probable managers and candidates.
grasping at every straw, are likely TO
enter into bargains which later may
cause great embarrassment or NAV re-
quire a serious sacrifice OF personal IN
terest
"A campaign promise. however. must
be as good as a check on bank The
man who makes pledge that he hopes
or expects 10 escape and the man who
gives a check when there Is no deposit
10 his credit are cheap and vulgar swim
dlers. So then. after each election. every
obligation must be met. no matter what
may be the cost. Again. when a man
does another n favor Il should be re-
turned at the earliest possible moment.
To walt until you are asked 20 uquidate
such a debt or honor really discounts
the payment about 80 per cent. a hair
trigger memory IS one OF the indispen-
sable assets OF politics"
When YOU were a street railroad con
ductor In Chicago" asked. what would
you have thought had Il been suggested
that some day YOU might be a member
OF the United States Senator"
Higher I'm Social Grade.
Harry Hndreth. an alderman. used TO
ride on my car" Senator Lorimer an
swcred u felt honored when he gave
me his fare. II a man with a pick or a
shovel took a seat by the door, ! would
point and say: See that gentleman In
plug hat? He's the alderman Of the
Seventh ward. Once he was a street car
conductor Ike myself"
Your father" 1 said. was a Presby-
terian Minister"
Yes; a preacher who nearly always
gave his services 10 those who could not
or did not pay him a cent OF salary. He
made a living by the work OF mis- hands.
Having the Scotch conviction that 1t was
his duty 10 preach. he went about and
held meetings both IN Manchester. Eng
land. where was born. and IN the
United States"
why did he emigrate to America"
He was a rugged advocate OF human
liberty Had he lived in this country
in the days OF William Lloyd Garrison
and Wendell Phillips he would have been
an abolitonist. Wanting to breathe free
air. he came 70 this country. bringing
his family with him in the Storage"
What is your earliest recollection Of
the United States?"
''On the way over I was terribly sea
sick. Passengers told me. in the way or
a joke. that my father and mother would
be admitted 20 the country because they
were not H. but that I would be sent
back to England. Altogether, I was very
miserable and unhappy Teasing chill
dren-I was five years old-may be fine
sport for men and women, but Il Is rather
hard on the victims So I landed at
Castle Garden with a great fear In my
heart. After was elected TO Congress
visited Castle Garden. and 4 was
exactly as I had always remembered Il.
We went directly 10 Michigan. after land
ing in New York. but I have no distinct
recollection Of the journey on the rail-
road.
First Taste of Peaches.
MY second most vivid memory OF
America concerns the peach orchard OF
my uncle. One peach remained OF the
harvested crop, and my cousin. showing
me the honors OF a relative and a foreign
er. climbed into the tree and got Il. I
broke II In two and gave half 10 my sis
ter. II was the only peach I had ever
tasted. I have been crazy for peaches
ever since. Castle Garden. With its crowd
of men and women and children loaded
with bundles and bags, and the red peach
in the Michigan orchard are my first
clear memories Of America"
Later your family moved to Ohio and
settled on a farm IN Holmes County,"
That is so. My father worked as a
farm laborer in Michigan and at anything
else that offered living. lie had a
large family OF small children and II was
hard. being a stranger IN new land.
for him to set along. We moved to
Ohio. where be took a hill farm IN a