The Topeka state journal., 1910-09-05
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
Senator Geo. Hodges as Seen by
a Newspaper Man.
st. Louis Paper Prints a Laud-
atory Notice.
CAMPBELL DESERTS.
Third District Congressman
Says He Isn't for Cannon.
j. N. D0lley and Henderson Mar
tin Again Rivals.

paper man. writing in the st. Louis
Republic, has the following about SEN
atcr George Hodges of Olathe, Demo-
cratic candidate for governor:
s'The life story of Senator Hodges
from childhood is fun of human in
terest One day in August. 1853. the
Hodges family, consisting of father
mother and two little boys. with all
their earthly possessions in covered
wagon that had joined a train of NOV
ers from Richland county, Wisconsin,
landed at the little village of Olathe,
which then seemed far out on the edge
of the world. The mother of the
Democratic candidate for governor
talked of that day and time and of
the dark and gloomy picture of the fu-
ture. SWarms of grasshoppers filled
the roadways and other millions were
gnaW1ng away at every vestlge OF
green. Then Just as the members of
the family were unloading their house
holds goods from the wagon a great
black pail swept over the world; lit was
total eclipse of the sun. so well re-
membered by the early pioneers.
" Two years later the sunshine of
life was obscured by clouds of sorrow
and disappointment when my husband
died. Mother Hodges said. But 1 felt
that this was a time when / must have
courage and be brave. I knew my lit
tie boys would be equal to the emerg-
ency, for even in their childhood they
thought only of how they could help
me and make my burdens easier. l
think there is no other comfort in the
world so sweet to a mother as to know
that her boys have been good to her
and that they have lived honorable
and useful lives. And every mother
who loves her boy will agree with me,
1 know
when George Hodges was gradu-
ated from the job of herding the town
he 10 rr1n hI1Ci i'm n 1of
ing. He probably nailed the laths on a
hundred homes of johnson county.
Then he became a travelling salesman
for big lumber company, covering
three states in his trips to the lumber
dealers. After managing a lumber
yard in Olathe, he decided to start into
business for himself. He had no
money, but a banker who had known
him from boyhood advanced him
$2,500 with which to buy a stock of
lumber. During the first three weeks
his total sales amounted to 25 cents;
a farmer came to his yard and pur-
chased a couple of scantling. But his
banker friend told him to stick to it
the two brothers hown nine lumber
yards in eastern Kansas. business
investment approximating $250,000.
Senator Hodges is a progressive
Democrat, and as state senator has
initiated several of the reform laws
which have been written into the stat
utes of Kansas. He supported other
laws offered by square deal Republic
cans, giving earnest support to the
progressive legislation enacted during
the three last sessions of the state leg
islature.
"At the age of 4S Senator Hodges is
in the prime of his manhood. and is
enjoying the strenuous campaign
which the Democratic committee has
mapped out for him. His family con-
sists of wife, daughter and infant son.
He was married to Miss Ora Murray of
Olathe nine years ago.
Mrs. Hodges is a native of that
town, and during her girlhood life was
housekeeper for her father, her moth
er having died when she was child.
She was educated at Butler college,
Indianapolis. I know what it is to
work. she said, for 1 returned home
with my diploma and took charge of
the housework for my father If Sena-
tor Hodges is called to the governors
chair, the people of Kansas may be
assured that his wife will preside at
the Executive mansion with that
charming grace and simplicity so
beautifully exemplified in her girlhood
and ideal home life as wife and
mother
1t has been announced that P. P.
Campbell congressman from the Third
district will not be for Uncle Joe Can
non for speaker of the next congress.
If this is true then 1t is hard to con-
ceive where Uncle Joe will find any
support at all for speaker, for Campbell
was the old speakers favorite. The
Kansan was called many times to the
chair during the last session and for
several terms he has stood as close to
Uncle Joe az any of the older members
so far as personal feelings and favors
are concerned. Then, too, Mr.. Camp
bell was renominated as a standpatter.
He seems to be no longer standing pat.
Henderson Martin and J. N. Dolley
conducted the state campaigns of two
years ago for their. respective parties
and will oppose each other this year.
Both are recognized as the best men
within their party ranks for the place
of chairman. Martin is also a candi-
date for congress and Dolley is also
bank commissioner, SO neither can use
the issue of holding more than one Of
flee against the other
GIFTS MANY GENERALIZATION