The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-02-12
FASCINATING IS
THE STORY
Of Abe Lincoln's new Party
Of the Fifties.
How He Organized the Great Ma
tional Republican
Party.


of the young men Lincoln selected to
help him start the Repub hcan party
finty-sdx years ago. The Hawornhs
were pioneers in Illinois. One of them
founded the city of Danydl1e. Anoth-
er member of the family started
Georgetown. Ira Haworth grew up dn
Vermillion county where as boy he
came to know and reverence Lin-
coin.
The Haworths were Quakers. To
this day Ira Haworth has the placid
look which makes him the youngest
looking octogennrian in Kansas. The
Lincolns back several generations were
Quakers. Between Abraham Lincoln
and Ira Haworths father in the '40s
there was correspondence ON the in
quiry of slavery.
81 first met MIR. Lincoln at board
ing house of old Mrs. Carruthers In
Danville, where he was stopping while
attending court" Mr.. Haworth said
"Mr. Lincoln didn't show at first all
that was in him. He grew on you as
you came to know him we'll He was
very tall, 6 feet and 4 inches in his
bare feet. While he looked spare he
was muscular. He weighed $50 pounds
His hair was very dark brown and of
course growth. His eyes we've hazel
tending TO a grayish hue In color,
deep set, with serious expression,
which changed quickly 10 a twinkle
Joke or a story. Lncoln's nose was
of more than medium size and of a
Roman type. The mouth was large
and lips firm, Of medium thickness.
The features were rather large to at
tract admiration. Dincoln's demeanor
was that of extreme simplicity with
deliberate movements and a mixture
of cordially and dignity"
Mr.. Haworth says that Lincoln had
no desire to go back 10 Congress af-
ter one term to which he was elected
in 1916 by the Wings; that he found
the surroundings in Washington I'M
congenial. He believes from his as
sociation with Lincoln that the lat
ter began early the consideration of
plans for the formation of the Re-
publican party.
A HOT CAMPAIGN.
THE campaign of 1S4S was closely
contested" Mr.. Haworth said, as
he described this evolution of a new
party in Mr.. Uinco,n's thoughts. Lin
coin took as active part that year,
presenting the issues that were agi-
Eating the public mind. He achieved
reputation not only in Illinois, but in
neighboring States, through that cam
paign. The result of the campaign
was the election of the WING ticket,
but within four years the Wing par
ty had gone 30 pieces. Lincoln wrote
TO me to call a caucus in my coun-
ty to consider the ACCESSIBILITY of form
Ing a new panty. | sent out a cali
and six of US met to talk over the
proposition. We organized, eiected OF
ficers, talked over the plans and ad-
jounned with the understanding we
would get larger attendance for the
next meeting. The work of stratirg
the new party was arduous. The anti
slavery party discouraged the move
ment by urging those who were then
with out party to join their ranks,
The old Democratic party was in pos
session OF the government, so we'll
fortified that the leaders were defiant
and incorporating toward the sla-
very agitators. Those Wings who were
in favor of slavery extern
sion Joined the Democratic oligarchy,
which received them joyfully."
Mr.. Haworth describes graphically
the slow, discowaglng progress made
in the first few months with the or
Of the Republican party in
Illinois. Lincoln, as MIR. Haworth re-
calls those earliest efforts, was the
head Of the movement. To increase
the interest the few original Repub-
licans in each locality invited ladies
to their meetings and endeavOred to
interest them. This was a decided !
novelty in politics. Lincoln carried |
on correspondence with his young ac-
quaintances in the various counties
and pressed the organization by |
counties preparatory 10 a convention
10 form the State organization. Ha-
worth was so active that he was Civ
en- the title of father of the Repub-
Iican party" in his pant of the State.
LLNCOLN'S ACTIVITY.
The biographers of Lincoln say that
hs gave little attention to politics in
the early Sos. They seem to have
derived this impression from the con-
of Lincoln who were them
selves prominent in politics of those
Tears. Put Lincoln, by the testimony
II Haworth and otherss, who were
'oung and scarcely known outside Of
hedr school district In 1906, was