The Washington herald., 1910-07-10

whole movement was political, which was
charge I didn't take the time to an
swer. They complained, also. that they
were taxed higher than were other forms
OF property. I called in a large number
of assessors to show that the railroads
were mistaken. The case was tried in the
United States court and l got the de-
cesion. At the beginning Of the second
year we were enjoined from collecting the
taxes then due. and the same tactics OF
obstruction were employed the third year
When we got into the United States SUI
prene Court the railroads owed US 81, $50, :
600. I argued the case and won It, and
the railroads gave US money enough to
pay our State debt.
Rebuked by Roosevelt.
'Whereupon, answered, you were
elected to the Senate"
my election occurred previous to the
decision in the case. I had helped TO
prosecute several men for fencing public
lands. one OF whom was sentenced to a
days imprisonment by the United States
Judge The man was taken to luncheon.
treated with much consideration, and not
locked UP even for minute. President
Roosevelt removed the attorney and the
marshal from ONCE and sent scathing
rebuke to the Judge. The case gave me
some notoriety and friends said I ought
TO run for the Senate. SO many made the
suggestion that I became candidate
You were brought up in the country
said.
II was born in an Iowa village, south
OF Dubuque. When I was five years old
my father moved to Woodbury. County.
near the Nebraska line, where he took
up homestead OF 80 acres at a cost OF
sl4, He built a one-room house with his
own hands. Then ne donated a fourth
Of an acre OF land TO the township for a
sehoolhouse. Ny mother did all Of her
own work and taught the school. I re-
member that the State superintendent In
the course OF time. ordered every teacher
TO spend two weeks each year at a
coanty institute. The Browns held a
family council, and It was decided That
should accompany my mother, mas
much as I was her favorite pupil.
and had won prizes for penmanship
and mental arithmetic. So my mother
registered her name and my own and
became a member of the institute. I
also recollect that while at Sioux City,
where the institute was held, was licked
twice by group of town boys In the
alley next TO our clearinghouse.
Made Money on Farm.
Farming was not a profitable business
in those days, but my father was a
thrifty man, and soon had 100 head of
cattle. We cut wild hay on the prairie,
my father moving It down with a scythe,
pitching il, and Frank loading IL on
the wagon.
when I was twelve years old we sold
our land for $25 an acre and moved to
the center of the State. One OF my uncies
was both a preacher and a lawyer. ]
heard him argue cases. and under the
inspiration of his example and eIoauence
prepared for college. going TO Jeffer-
son, eight miles away. on horseback
and returning in the evening. During my
first year at the State University MIXED
a red cow and curried q white horse, and
the widow who owned them boarded me
for So week. which was half price.
Then my father became a rich man,
as he and his neighbors measured wealth
at the sine First. the government paid
him about $500 as e back pension. He
bought a quarter section Of land next 20
his own farm, broke it. planted it to
wheat. and got forty bushels to the acre.
Whereupon somebody kindly started q
corner in Chicago. and father sold his
crop for nearly $1,000. I MIXED no more
red cows and curried no more white
horses during my remaining three years
at the university While a senior I took
law iEregularly. I was graduated in June,
1888, at the age OF twenty. IN the fol-
loving October was admitted to the
bar, being, In my own opinion. a pretty
shle and solid man. ny father. skeptieal