Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-04-15
MRy ,ZP 3oRE

scanty portions Of bread beans and beef
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 a dele
gate to the territorial convention that to
choose n delegate to congress from Oklahoma and
his speech in response to the welcome Of tho
mayor of Enid struck the fancy OF the delegates
Of the convention. He declined the honor in favor
of others. II a shrewd move and counter.
balanced the fact that he was a newcomer in Okla
homa. The result was that he was elected to the
territorial senate.
The fight for a seat in the United States senate
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 picncs barbecues and county fairs. lee.
turing for anything from S. to $25. shaking hands
with the crowds and smiling his way into their
hearts.
and Gore got - or IS a day from the Democrats
for speaking in Indiana. Ohio and Illinois. He had
desire to 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 Okahoma's admission to
the Union. No man was more active in the agi-
tation But he would not go to the national capital
Il won't go to Washington till go with the
right to speak and vote In the senate" he said.
The statehood bill was 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 a legislature. Cores opponents were both
rich men. who spent their money freely. He
stayed in Guthrie. borrowing money to pay the
$3.50 a week which It cost him to live. Being at
the capital he met men from all the state
and was able to make shrewd combinations.
It a tragic thing to n blind man har-
assed by poverty fighting against his rich rivals.
one banker and the other a lawyer. but. however
anything pathetic in his situation. His friends
wanted him to abandon his ambition for a time
and for congress.
1T Is the senate or nothing" he replied.
In April. 1907. he began to make speeches all
the state.
He spoke street corners. from the tops OF
boxes from cart tails. anywhere. everywhere. night
and day. The leading newspapers ignored him.
while his rivals were able to buy advertising
space and one Of them hired brass bands. opera
houses and advance agents. In March he had
mortgaged his house for 81 900. but the money was
soon gone. To 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 IS. In
sheer desperation he made out his check for 1915
and paid II in Mr.. Young saved him by raising
the money to meet the check.
As the voting drew near the blind candidates
circumstances became more desperate than ever
He was spending about s24 a week for travelling
expenses. To get out of money at that stage OF
the fight would have been fatal. He made from
two to four speeches n day although he would
sit up all night in hotels to paying for bed
and ate only meal day. At times he would
go from day to another cheese and crackers
carried in his gripsack So great was the physical
ordeal that he lost 30 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 sl.lOO. exclusive OF the 1915 he paid to
get his name on the primary ballot. One Of his
opponents is said to have spent $4,000
for han heY
blind man got into the United States senate.
In 1908 he went home and was reelected. When
he reached Lawton a cheering crowd surrounded
the carriage and took him and his wife to their
cottage. As roar after broke on the air he
turned to his wife and whispered. They don't
seem to know that It's only me-"