The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-04-13

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 20 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 struck the fancy of the delegates
that there movement to make him the choice
Of the convention. He declined the honor in favor
of others. 1t was shrewd and counter
balanced the fact that he newcomer in Okla
homa The result was that he elected to the
territorial senate.
The fight for seat in the United States senate
was now pressed systematically Having intro
duced child labor bill in the legislature and de-
cared his friendship for organized labor Gore
spent the year 1908 in widening his acquaintance
attending picnics, barbecues and county fairs lee
turing for anything from SIS to s25, shaking hands
with the crowds and smiling his way into their
hearts.
Then came the presidential campaign of 1904
and Gore got 81 or SIS 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 better
served by the publicity of service in the national
campaign.
Gore fought hard for Oklahomas admission to
the Union. No man was more active in the agi-
tation. But he would not go to the national capital
II won't go to Washington till l 20 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" as the struggle for the two new
senatorships began with the primary campaign to
elect legislature. Cores opponents were both
rich men, who spent their money freely. He
stayed in Guthrie borrowing money to pay the
$3.50 week which it cost him to live. Being at
the capital, he met men from all the state
and vas able to make shrewd combinations.
1t was tragic thing to blind har'
nv fphf ting hic rch r{vo 1o
one banker and the other lawyer but however
he bled inwardly, Gore gave sign that he saw
anything pathetic in his situation. His friends
wanted him to abandon his ambition for time
and for congress.
1T is the senate nothing" he replied
In April, 1907. he began to make speeches all
over the state.
He spoke on street corners, from the tops of
boxes, from cart tails anywhere, everywhere. night
and day. The leading newspapers ignored him.
while his rivals able to buy advertising
space and of them hired brass bands, opera
houses and advance agents. In March he had
mortgaged his house for $1,000, but the money was
soon gone To get his name on the primary ballot
under the rules of the Democratic state convention
he had to pay 1915 But the last day allowed
for the payment he found himself with only $S In
sheer desperation he made out his check for 1915
and paid 1t 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 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 day. although he would
sit up all night in hotels to save paying for a bed
and ate only one meal day. At times he would
go from one day to another on cheese and crackers
carried in his gripsack So great was the physica!
ordeal that he lost 30 pounds weight
Gore won his fight in this primary election and
was elected to the United States senate by the
legislature drawing the short term. The struggle
cost him $1,10O, 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
1t was grand day for Oklahoma when her
blind man got into the United States senate
In 1908 he went home and was reelected When
he reached Lawton cheering crowd suvrounde ed
the carriage and took him and his wife 70 tLafy
cottage. As roar after roar broke ON the n w
turned to his wife and whispered ",T,a, i, a.,
seem to know that it's only sa,e'