The Appeal., 1910-04-16

struggle in his native spot and to go back to
Texas. Before leaving Walthall he made VOW
that he would never enter the village again until
he could return to his neighbors United States
senator.
That year in Texas was a hard one Gore
threw himself into politics with passionate en-
ergy He was delegate to the Populist conven-
tion at@aSt. Louis which nominated Mr.. Bryan and
seconded the nomination. In December, 1885, he
and his brother opened law office. It was
fierce struggle with the world His father, moth
er and brother lived with him. Sometimes they
were without single dollar.
In April, 1899, Cores fortunes had sunk so
low that he appeared in the street with frayed
clothing, broken shoes and visage white with
deprivation. One day it seemed though he had
come face to face with actual starvation when an
old negro woman paid 81 which she owed him
and that saved the situation
When Mr.. Bryan 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 a national convention.
Hurrying on to South Dakota-he had only 81
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
10 IeXaS ana married beautiful girl. 1T
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-
tn
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 45 miles in a 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 notary while he, attired in an alpaca
coat, colored shirt and slouch hat walked up and
down before the tent waving his hand and shout
ing, Here's where you get your papers out!
Here's the right place to get your land papers!"
In the daytime he entreated the crowd; at night
he slept on the ground. -
Failing to draw a land claim, the Cores moved
out four miles to Lawton, an encampment on the
open prairie Here 900 persons were living in
tents where the wild blue-stem grass was waist
high 1t was Babylon of gamblers. fakirs, farm
ers and business men, all waiting for the OPEN
Ing OF the land on August 6. There were grocery
and hardware stores in tents; gambling tables
and shows in tents; churches and saloons in
tents Even newspapers were printed in tents.
Poor men, rich men, preachers, thieves were
mixed up in that picturesque, dramatic hurly-
burly OF mules. wagons. women and children. Men
were killed, children were born, robberies were
committed.
Three days after the lots were sold and while
Lawton still tented camp, there was an
other political mass meeting, this time in the big
tent OF Dick Russell a saloon keeper. Gore was
there and offered resolution favoring the ad-
mission Of Oklahoma and InAian territory to the
Union as single state.
A few days later and the men OF LAwton OF.
gantzed Z citi1ens' committee to est charter
and organize city gove1nmsnt OF course Gore
was there and Of course he vas on the committee,
Then Q commercial club was Organized BY the
tent dwellers and Gors was on the COMMITTEES to
draft bylaws. He missed no opportunity that
might lead to the senate
Presently he bought small lot for $155 and
started I'd build cottage through the help Of a
building and loansagency. When his wife reached