Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 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 dele
gate to the territorial convention that was to
choose delegate to congress from Oklahoma and
his speech in response to the welcome
mayor of Enid struck the fancy of the delegates
that there was a movement to make him the choice
of the convention. He declined the honor in favor
of others. 1t shrewd and counter
balanced the fact that he newcomer in Okla
homa The result that he elected to the
territorial senate.
The fight for seat in the United States senate
was pressed systematically. Having intro
duced child labor bill in the legislature and de
clared his friendship for organized labor, Gore
spent the year 1903 in widening his acquaintance.
attending picnics barbecues and county fairs. lee
turing for anything from SIS to SIS, shaking hands
with the crowds and smiling his way into their
hearts.
Then the presidential campaign of 1904
and Gore got 81 or IS day from the Democrats
for speaking in Indiana Ohio and Illinois. lie had
desire to go 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 active in the agi-
tation. But he would not to the national capital
81 won't to Washington till go with the
right to speak and vote in the senate" he said.
The statehood bill passed by congress in
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 both
rich men, who spent their money freely. He
stayed in Guthrie, borrowing money to pay the
$3.50 week which it cost him to live. Being at
the capital he met men from all over the state
and was able to make shrewd combinations
1t was tragic thing to see blind man har
assed by poverty fighting against his rich rivals
banker and the other lawyer, but. however
he bled inwardly. Gore gave sign that he saw
anything pathetic in his situation His friends
wanted him to abandon his ambition for time
and for congress.
1T is the senate 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 able to buy advertising
space and of them hired brass bands. opera
houses and advance agents. In March. he had
mortgaged his house for 81 900, but the money
soon gone To get his name on the primary ballot,
under the rules of the Democratic state convention
he had to 1875 But on the last day allowed
for the payment he found himself with only So In
sheer desperation he made out his check for 1915
and paid it in. A Mr. Young saved him by raising
the money to meet the check
As the voting drew the blind candidate's
circumstances became more desperate than ever
He was spending about s24 a week for travelling
the fight would have been fatal He made from
speeches a 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 day to another on 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
elected to the United States senate by the
legislature, drawing the short term. The struggle
cost him S11OO, exclusive of the 1915 he paid to
get his the primary ballot One of his
opponents is said to have spent s75,000-
1t was grand day for Oklahoma when her
blind got into the United States senate
1908 he went home and reelected. When
he reached Lawton cheering crowd surrounded
the carriage and took him and his wife to theil
cottage AS after broke the air he
turned to his wife and whispered. They don't
seem know that it's only me-