The Washington herald., 1909-06-27

burg. in Illinois. the home OF Miss Stella
White, whom I sfteFward married.
reached Des Moines on time, travelling
west. but the eighteen other delegates
from Winneshiek County, going on a
north and south road. were wrecked or
sidetracked on the prairie. When they
got in motion again. the convention had
adjourned. Under the rules. I had nine
teen votes and I stood up and proudly
cast them for John H. Gear. candidate for
governor. My peculiar good fortune at
the convention gave me some prestige
al home.
Next, I took my fathers Durham bull
to the county fair. walked him up and
down the track. spoke OF MS fine points to
the farmers-all OF which was effective
personal advertising-and was awarded
first premium by the judges. That fall,
1915. I was elected 10 the legislature. At
the close OF the session / entered the iaw
school o; the Iowa State University.
when I went 10 the State convention
the following year as a delegate, some
friends started the report that ! would
not decline 20 be one OF IoWa's Presiden-
tiaI electors. And they were right about
IL I was a Norwegian in blood. and a
young Republican. and the interests OF
several party leaders would be helped
by my selection. So I was nominated. In
those days Presidential electors went on
the stump. They ought 10 do It now. ]
felt that I was unfit and that ] needed
preparation.
Speaks I'm Public Schools.
Coming 10 Washington. I heard Oliver
p. Morton. Roscoe Conkling. and John A
Logan speak in the Senate on appropria-
tiOns for the army. I gathered data and
documents, and then proceeded 10 Al
bany y. Y. where Samuel J. Tilden.
Democratic candidate for President. was
serving as governor / talked 10 his
political enemies for a week and returned
20 Iowa ] wrote my speech under the
trees al home and then committed Il 20
memory. Those were the days when my
head was fun OF Thermopylae and when
could quote whole pages from Horace
and Virgil / started in country school
houses and wound up in Dubuque. I did
pretty well. A person Of ffty-nine may
be INDUCED for looking back 20 his youth
with some feeling Of satisfaction.
Il was now deep IN politics for a young
man. Moreover. I am willing 10 admit
that I viewed my short career with a
good deal OF complacency. Then 7 went
70 the state senate and served four years
IN Des Moines saw gray-faced and red
faced lobbyists who had once been re-
spectacle legislators. J saw drUnkards.
threadbare paupers. who had been able
lawyers and conspicuous IN politics
had joined the Methodist Church Al the
age Of seventeen. 7 make no claim 20
saintship. but I'D 10 date I have never
been tried on charges and can get letter
any time feel inclined TO change
preachers.
'WeI. was conscientious and reflect
i've and the future worried me- POlitf-
cally. 7 had lived rather rapidly. ] had
married my sweetheart several days after
her graduation from the university. We
had children. but had saved very little
money. I decided 10 return 20 the land
and live Ike my father. In the years 20
come my family and myself would be
safe. anyway.
II arranged my slender affairs. and IN
little while I was on the firing lsne IN
the Territory Of Dakota. fighting for a
hQmestead. eating prairie chickens. and
sleeping on the ground under my one
horse wagon.
Copyright. ias. BY James p Mc-or)