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

and she had been graduated from high
school. / looked upon myself as boy
Notwithstanding my many experiences,
and upon her as a capable and educated
woman. Seeing that I was woefulIy ig-
norant. but was trying 10 learn. she
gave me books and assigned me 70 les
sons. I went 10 her home every Mon
day evening for two years, where she
heard my recitations. That was the
only systematic teaching ever had dur
/ ing my boyhood"
Senator LOrimer went no further into
the history OF his teacher. bat I hap
( pen 10 know that her husband, a news
paper man and lawyer. has Jared well
( I'm Chicago politics because OF the help
Of the once red-headed shoeblack and
I laundry solicitor.
Then you went into a packing house, %
said. What was the nature OF your
work p
Hours Are Too Long.
THE packing industry promised steady
and lucrative employment, and my moth
er advised me to learn the business. 7
found a place with Wilson & Co. can
ners OF meat. and famiilarized myself
with every department-cooling. Gaping,
processing. inspecting. and so on. In a
short time was making from SIS 70 S35
a week But Wilson's business began TO
drag. and I thought II prudent to 60
into the regular packing houses. I
worked everywhere except on the killing
floor. At the age OF twenty I broke
down under long hours and the damp and
| unhealthful conditions OF my employ
ment. 1 was canning meat for Armour.
Nearly every morning some one failed
| 70 appear because Of a spree the night
before and ] had 10 do two mems work.
| Fifteen hours a day caused me to col
lapse physically. The uncle OF the young
lady who taught my Sunday school class
was city alderman. Through his kind
Offices I was made a conductor on a
street railroad"
In 1854" I said. you got into politics
by organizing Republican club In your
mothers Kitchen"
/ During my service on the street rail-
road became infatuated with James G.
| Blaine, who, 7 was particular TO inform
everybody. was the greatest man in the
world. 7 talked Blaine TO every pas
| senger who would listen 10 what said
| Lumber merchants on the way TO din
ner would wait for my car just 70 hear
my fervid panegyrics. I could find no
/ Republican tickets when I went to the
polls on election day to vote the first
time fof President. procured two tickets
In the adjoining precinct, but gave them
away to men with dinner pals in their
hands. So I walked back and got a bal
lot for myself was on duty all night
hauling the election crowds back and
| forth. At y o'clock I knew Blaine had
been defeated I took the news as a
personal bereavement The figures may
not have been accurate. but we heard
that Cleveland had carried New York by
l,14e votes
/ Becomes an Organizer.
AT home, in bed thought that IN
derstood the cause OF Blaiaes defeat.
Doubtless, there were precincts In the
city OF New York, Ike my own IN Chi
cago. where the Republican vote had not
been cast. talked my theory 70 every
passenger who nourned with me over the
result. Half a dozen young men showed
partisan and patriotic interest The fol-
lowing year Chicago was 70 choose a
mayor. ] regarded It as my duty to see
that the Republicans m my precinct, al
least. were supplied with tickets. Moth
ing more was in my mind. 1 had never
attended a primary meeting. and was ut
terly ignorant concerning political man.
agement and methods. So We met in
my mothers kitchen and took amateur
measures in the matter OF ST. plying an
adequate number Of ballots.
II talked later with young men in other
| precincts. Then I got into the neighbor-
ing wards Little by little learned the
game OF politics and extended my ac-
] ouaintarce. Before long I was mem