The Washington herald., 1909-04-18
By JAMES b. MORROW.


monious. were desirous OF talking to or
looking at a Democratic Senator. Con-
gress being adjourned, he would need 10
travel a long way and TO spend no little
OF his time and currency.
Crossing New England. New York. a
corner Of Pennsylvania. the State OF
Ohio, and half of Indiana. he would
Tearily leave his train at South Bend,
where any native, dare say. would JOY
fully direct him 20 the law Office Of Ben
jamin F. Shiveley. II the Eastport citizen
were 10 journey straight West ne would
not find another Democratic Senator until
ne reached the city Of Denver.
Geographically. strategically. and po-
Etically. Benjamin T. Shiveley is a we'll
located and conspicuous man. New in
the Senate. coming 10 HE Office during
March just past. he was a seasoned ora
tor and cdmpaigner years ago in the
lower House OF Congress. He talked
freight rates and mOnopolies before any
regulatory laws were written into the na-
nonal statute books. His public career
reaches back TO vote on the bill which
Roger .. Mills wrote when he tried 10
reduce the tariff. In preparation. Inere-
fore, and in the technics Of leadership he
should be equal to party requirements
and 10 the uncommon personal opportuni-
ties which may open his friends think
the very door OF the Presidency
All Of Mr.. Shiveley's photographs were
taken when he was a youngster. They
make him appear 10 be immature, and,
perhaps. musical. l vas amazed, conse-
quent,y. 10 find a slender, large -boned.
and muscular six-footer. with the head
and the strong handsome face Of an
C1fH 1.afr eli . tFr~
crinkled and splashed with gray was
parted nearly in the center. while his
mustache. tawny in color. was suggestive
OF the cavalry or artillery. His eyes are
almost blue. his nose is big but classic.
and his mouth and chin are aggressive
and masculine. He wore dark clothing
the coat being short and double-breasted-
a green necl<tie and a high. straight col
lar In atmosphere he was self-poised
and impressively attractive. When he
talked he was candid and human. but he
edged his words with the sagaciOusness
that accompanies watchful and capable
craftsmanship in politics.
e
Before I ventured 10 ask him about
the prospective fight in 1912. and its prob
able issues. made some inquiries. con-
cerning himself and his family
My father he said. was born in
Ohio. near Canton. the home Of William
Mckinley. After he moved TO Indiana
he lived a few miles east OF South Bend.
on the banks OF the ST. Joseph River. He
was both a carpenter and a farmer.
Starting with little land, he bought
a tract OF forty acres now and then as
his three sons grew up. q performance
in shrewd lnanciering. Jet me add, which
always kept US in debt and my TWO broth
ers and myself hard at work.
II attended school regularly until was
nine years old. After that went four
months in the winter. leaving early for
the spring plOwing and not returning
until after the corn had been husked in
the late autumn. ! learned little car
pentry. but / did not master the trade
Although / might be able now 10 make
q living at rough work building fences
and so on, have never represented my
self TO be a proficient jOurneyman."
why did you begin 10 teach school
al the age Of seventeen
I heard that Bill Whiteside and other
cider boys Of my acquaintance were get
ting $40 and were boarding around. For
~ dollars month and board. I thought
was as far as any man need to go. /
think / was sixteen years Old when I
crossed the St. Joseph River TO see about
a school OF my own. One of the directors
a wealthy farmer. was husking corn in
q large field. I asked him not 10 stop his
work on my business. saying I would
husk along with him while we talked
We went back and forth across the wide
field several times, I keeping slightly
ahead OF the director for its moral effect.
When 7 left toward noon. he said he
would confer with the other directors
In a day or two he sent me word that
1 had been hired. So I closed my first
independent financial operation.
Il earned $50 that winter and had the
novel experience of boarding around
Every morning 1 congratulated myself
because wasn't compelled TO curry the
horses OF TO milk the COWS I bought
scme clothing and had a balance Of S1O0
in the spring. Giving s95 to my father,
I started for the town Of Adrian, over
the line in Michigan. A man whom I
knew was employed by a concern that
dealt in school furniture. He persuaded
me to become an agent-a travelling
agent, you understand. I was to ride on
the cars and live at hotels As the fu-
ture took form in my expectations I
saw the schooIhouses of Washington.
Baltimore, New York Boston. and Phil
adephia full Of beautiful new furniture,
sold for spot cash and a mighty good
commission by Benjamin F. Shiveley.
travelling representative.
7 spent most OF the s. I had remain
Ing during the short and happy journey
into Michigan. Adrian, 7 remember,
bought a dozen patent mops and a few
other educational ccessories-broems.
perhaps I also made one small sale in
the outlying regions. Meanwhile. I was
sending my orders and writing daily let
ters 20 the friend whose art and elo-
quence had drawn me into the business.
I didn't know it at the time. but he was
sick in bed with the measles. Ny letters
accordingly remained unanswered /
watched the freight trains, but the mops
never came.
AT the end Of a week my position as
q travelling representative was distress
ingly embarrassing The logical contact
between my employer and myself seemed
10 be mysteriously broken. The janitor
Of the Adrian school asked many unnec-
essary questions. ! owed for board. and
was ashamed TO face my landlady. Still.
I didn't intend TO confess my defeat by
writing home for money I had made
some remarks TO the family. previous TO
my departure, concerning the unprOfit-
abIeness CT agriculture. as compared with
manufacturing. and had spoken rather
positively Of my prospective conquest of
the East in the school furniture line
Wei. the travelling representative
walked into the country and plowed for
a farmer until he had earned enough
money to pay his debts In Adrian, and TO
buy a ticket back TO the village of
Osceola. IN the State of Indiana /
never again attempted 10 peddle or to sell
ANYTHING