The Washington herald., 1909-03-28
OREGONS NEW SENA TOR.
Democrat Sent to Represent a Republican State.

California. and Oregon, and the replies
received caused me TO set out for the
latter State"
Did you have plenty Of money for
your Journey"
For the Journey. yes; and enough 20
meet my modest board bills for month.
talked with man last year who went
to California in 1919.
When I got there he said, I had s.
and a suit Of clothes. and. BY jimminy.
have the clothes yet
'Of course. he exaggerated somewhat,
in order to make a joke, but he pretty
accurately described the state OF my
available funds when 7, an utter stranger,
left the boat at Albany and began to
look for a cheap place in which to eat
and sleep"
why didn't you stop at Portland?''
1T was too big for a person OF my
limited cash resources. Besides, had de
cided that wherever I settled I should
make the acquaintance of every man in
the neighborhOod. I looked over Port
land, and found that my policy OF getting
acquainted with everybody couldn't pos
sibly be applied IN that city. So dropped
down the Willamette River 10 Albany,
where the population was not so dense"
What happened after you found a
boarding-house2
Il began to look for work. telling per-
sons whom / met my name, my profess
sion. and the place OF my birth. But
there was no work for me in Albany.
However 1 was buoyant and fun OF hope.
walked eight miles into the country for
a school a teacher had been hired the
day before. and walked back. The next
morning I walked three miles in another
direction, and was hired right on 7
taught six months. and then got a clerk
ship IN the Office OF the county recorder.
In two years knew every man and most
OF the women and children in that part
OF Oregon. The money I had saved set
me up IN the law business Ny acuuaint-
ance with the people was so wide and
fsmilisr that had no trouble whatever
in making a living
And about that time you were mar
ried?''
Yes 1 returned to Natchez and was
welded to one Of my old sweethearts.
We are not rich, told Mrs Cham
berlain. but we shall dazzle the folks we
meet on our trip TO Oregon
I was broke when we reached San
Francisco. on my way TO Mississippi I
had boldly reserved the bridal stateroom
on the boat going to Vancouver I was
uIt against a serious situation. Further
more. 1 was without acquaintances or
credit in San Francisco.
I remember that I went 10 the dock
and walked back and forth along the side
Of the ship looking for an opportunity 10
negotiate a man whom knew was in
the steerage He had been to his old
home in France and was going back 10
Albany. ! called him to the dock, told
him Of my predicament, and ne loaned
me all the money / wanted. Out in the
Pacific I would. some times look down
from the upper deck and my French
creditor would look up from the steerage.
and when our eyes met we would smile.
That man. Mrs. Chamberlain said one
day. seems to be a friend Of yours He
IS, 7 replied. And he Is not only my
friend. but he is your friend and a uni
versal philanthropist. When I was gov
ernOr Of Oregon the Frenchman came 20
see me, but he was 100 polite 10 speak
of my wedding tour until after 1 had
called a party OF friends around US and
told them the story
At the end Of four years in Albany
you were elected 10 the legislature?'
Several young men came to nv Office
and said I had just been nominated al
the Democratic convention ! had not
been candidate and didn't want TO get
mixed Up with politics. AS a matter Of
fact, have at no time been a seeker af-
ter Office Nevertheless, ] didn't decline
the nomination. The campaign / made
was ike all the others I have managed
since then. ] saw men and talked with
them Personal contact is more effective
than stump speeches. Men like 10 vote
for candidates whom they know Smith.
the average voter will say, is a pretty
good fellow. / have seen him and talked
with him. Jones is running OF nv ticket
and may be all right, but I don't feel
sure about it