Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1910-04-22

bread beans hee
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 so struck the fancy of the delegates
that there was movement to make him the choice
OF the convention. He declined the honor in favor
or others. 1t was a shrewd move and counter
balanced the fact that he was newcomer in Okla.
homa. The result was that he was elected to the
territorial senate
The fight for seat in the United States senate
was now pressed systematically Having intro.
onced 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 IS to $25 shaking hands
with the crowds and smiling his way into their
hearts
Then came the presidential campaien ~ ,qoA
and Gore got 81 or S. day from the Democrats
for speaking in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois He had
no desire to go back to the territorial legislature
knowing that his great ambition could be bette,
served by the publicity OF service in the natfonai
campaign
Gore fought hard for Oklahomas admission, -
the Union No man was more active in the api,
tation But he would not go to the national capital
i won't go to Washington till I go with the
right TO speak and vote In the senate" he said
Inc statehood bill was passed by congress In
1906. Then the political air of Oklahoma was
full OF razors" as the struggle for the two new
senatorships began with the primary campaign r.
elect legislature. Cores opponents were bott
rich men, who spent their money freely n,
stayed in Guthrie, borrowing money to nav tn,
S4.oO week which it cost him to live Being a.
the capital. he met men from all over the stat.
and was able to make shrewd combinations.
IL tragic thing 10 see Hind 49,
assed by poverty fighting against his rich rivals
one banker and the other a lawyer but boweve,
ne ped inWardly, Gore gave sign that he saw
anything pathetic in his situation His friends
wanted him to abandon his ambition for timt
and run for congress-.
1T Is the senate nothing" he replied
In April. 1907. he began to make speeches al
the state "
He spoke on street corners, from the tops Of
boxes, from cart tails anywhere everywhere nipht
and day. The leading newspapers ignored him
While his rivals were able to buy adyertistns
space and one of them hired brass bands oners
houses and advance agents In March he HAD
mortgaged his house for 81 900 but the money was
soon gone 10 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 So n
sheer desperation he made out his check for s37
and paid it in. Mr.. Young saved him bv ratsne
the money to meet the check
AS the voting drew near the blind candidate,
circumstances became more desperate than ever
He was spending about s24 week for travelling
expenses To get out of money at that stage O
the fight would have been fatal He made from
two to four speeches a day although he woul6
sit up all night in hotels to save paying for bed
and ate only one meal day. At times he wonld
go from one day te another on cheese and cracker,
carried IN his gripsack So great was the physical
ordeal that he lost 30 pounds weight
Gore his fight in the primary election anf
was elected to the United States senate by the
legislature, drawing the short term The struggle
cost him Sl,10O exclusive of the s375 he paid tc
get his name on the primary ballot one of his
opponents is said to have spent SIS 900
It was a grand day for Oklahoma when he,
blind man got into the United States senate
In 1908 he went home and was reelected Wher
he reached Lawton cheering crowd surrounded
the carriage and took him and his wife tn tbei,
cottage. As roar after roar broke on the air n, |
turned to his wife and whispered, "They dom
seem to know that it's only me-"