The Neshoba Democrat., 1910-04-14

struggle in his native spot and to go back to
Texas. Before leaving Walthall he made a VOW
that he would never enter the village again until
he could return to his neighbors United States
senator
That year in Texas hard one. Gore
threw himself into politics with passionate en-
ergy. He was delegate to the Populist conven
tion at st. Louis which nominated Mr.. Bryan and
seconded the nomination. In December, 1885, he
and his brother opened law office. 1t was
fierce struggle with the world. His father, moth
er and brother lived with him. Sometimes they
were without single dollar
In April, 1892 Cores fortunes had sunk so
low that he appeared in the street with frayed
clothing broken shoes and vsage white with
deprivation. One day it seemed as though he had
come face to face with actual starvation, when all
old negro woman paid 50 which she owed him
and that saved the situation.
When Mr. Bryan was nominated at Kansas
City In 1900 Gore found his way to the crowd that
surrounded the convention. He was now Demo
crat.
1t might help him on his way to the senate
If he could make speeches in the neighborhood
OF national convention.
Hurrying on to South Dakota-he had only ST
left when he got therefore went to the state
convention and secured an engagement to speak
in the state during the presidential campaign. In
this way he picked up $1,000. Then he went back
to Texas and married beautiful girl. 1T was
love at first sight" he said. laughingly
After the presidential campaign was over
Cores $1,000, earned In the South Dakota tour
soon melted away, and little money came in to
take its place. In 1901 things went so badly with
him and his senatorial prospects seemed so dim
that when an advertisement of an auction of land
lots IN the newly opened Kiowa, Comanche and
Apache reservation In Oklahoma appeared in the
newspapers he decided to leave Texas and pur
sue his great ambition in the country.
AS first step the elder Gore, now a white
haired man, went to Oklahoma and became a
notary public in the hope of earning fees from
the land-crazy crowds. In July, 1901, the blind
lawyer and his brother went to the new land
driving 40 miles In wagon to Fort Sill Here
Gore lived In tent with his father and brother
IN the midst OF an excited crowd His father sat
inside as notary, while he, attired in an alpaca
coat, colored shirt and slouch hat, walked I'm and
down before the tent, waving his hand and shout
lhg' Here's where you get your papers QUIT
heres the right place to get your land papers,"
In the daytime he entreated the crowd: at night
he slept on the ground.
railing to draw a land claim, the Cores moved
out 1our miles to Lawton, an encampment on the
open prairie. Here $4,000 persons were living in
tents where the wild blue-stem grass was waist
hisn. IL was Babylon of gamblers, fakirs. farm.
"eSAAiNoo
Ing OF the land on August 6. There were grocery
ana hardware stores in tents; gambling tables
and shows in tents; churches and saloons in
tents. Even newspapers were printed in tents
Foor men, rich men, preachers, thieves were
mixed up In that picturesque, dramatic hurIv
ourly OF mules wagons, women and children. Men
were killed. children were born, robberies were
committed
Three days after the lots were sold and whi,e
LaWton was still tented camp there was an
other political mass meeting, this time In the big
tent OF Dick Russell. saloon keeper Gore waa
tnere and offered resolution favoring the ad
mission OF Oklahoma and Indian territory to the
Union as single state.
few days later and the men of Lawton or
ganlzed citizens committee to get charter
ana organize city government. OF course Cora
was there and of course he was on the committee
Ihen commercial club was organized nv the
tent dwellers and Gore was on the committee to
draft bylaws. He missed no opportunity that
might lead to the senate
Presently he bought small lot for s155 and
started to build cottage through the helm of a
building and loan agency. When his wife reached