The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-04-16


liver with syrup made of sugar dissolved in water
for dessert.
All through this time his wife encouraged his
political ambitions.
In April. 1902, Gore managed to go as a dele
gate to the territorial convention that was to
choose delegate to congress from Oklahoma and
his speech In response to the welcome Of the
mayor of Enid struck the fancy of the delega
that there was movement to make him the choice
of the convention He declined the honor in favor
Of others. 1t was shrewd move and counter
balanced the fact that he newcomer in Okla.
homa. The result that he was elected to tho
territorial senate.
The fight for seat in the United States senate
was now pressed systematically Having intro
duced child labor bill in the legislature and de-
clared his friendship for organized labor, Gore
spent the year 1908 in widening his acquaintance,
attending picnios. barbecues and county fairs lee.
turing for anything from S. to s25. shaking hands
with the crowds and smiling his way into their
hearts
Then came the presidential campaign of 1904
and Gore got 81 or IS day from the Democrats
for speaking in Indiana. Ohio and Illinois He had
no desire to back to the territorial legislature
knowing that his great ambition could be better
served by the publicity of service in the national
campaign
Gore fought hard for Oklahoma's admission to
the Union. No man was more active in the agi-
tation But he would not go to the national capital
Il won't go to Washington till go with the
right to speak and vote in the senate" he said
1906. Then the political air of Oklahoma was
full Of razors" the struggle for the two new
senatorships began with the primary campaign to
elect legislature. Cores opponents were both
rich men. who spent their money freely. He
stayed in Guthrie. borrowing money to pay the
$3.50 a week which 1t cost him to live Being at
the capital, he met men from all over the state
and was able to make shrewd combinations
It tragic thing to see a blind man har-
assed by poverty fghting against his rich rivals
one banker and the other lawyer. but, however
he bed inwardly. Gore gave sign that he saw
anything pathetic in his situation, His friends
wanted him to abandon his ambition for a time
and run for congress.
ut is the senate or nothing" he replied.
In April 1907 he began to make speeches all
over the state.
He spoke on street corners from the tops of
boxes. from cart tails anywhere. everywhere, night
and day. The leading newspapers ignored him.
while his rivals were able to buy advertising
space and one of them hired brass bands, opera
mortgaged his house for 81 900. but the money was
soon gone. To get his name the primary ballot
under the rules of the Democratic state convention
he had to pay 1915. But on the last day allowed
for the payment he found himself with only ss In
sheer desperation he made out his check for 1915
and paid it in. Mr.. Young saved him by raising
the money to meet the check
AS the voting drew the blind candidates
circumstances became more desperate than
He spending about $24 week for travelling
expenses. To get out of money at that stage Of
the fight would have been fatal He made from
two to four speeches day, although he would
sit up all night in hotels to paying for bed
and ate only one meal a day. At times he would
go from one day to another cheese and crackers
carried In his gripsack So great the physical
ordeal that he lost 80 pounds weight
Gore his fight in the primary election and
was elected to the United States senate by the
legislature, drawing the short term The struggle
cost him s1,10o. exclusive of the 1915 he paid to
get his name on the primary ballot. One Of his
opponents is said to have spent $4,000
1t was grand day for Oklahoma when her
blind man got into the United States senate
In 1908 he went home and was reelected When
he reached Lawton cheering crowd surrounded
the carriage and took him and his wife to their
cottage AS roar after roar broke the air he
turned to his wife and whispered. They don't
seem to know that its only me-