Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-04-15

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 q United States
senator.
That year in Texas was a hard one. Gore
threw himself into politics with passionate en-
ergy. He was a delegate to the Populist conven'
ton at st. Louis which nominated Mr.. Bryan and
seconded the nomination. In December. 1896. he
and his brother opened a law Office. It was .
fierce struggle with the world. His father. moth
er and brother lived with him. Sometimes they
were without q single dollar.
In April, 1899, Cores fortunes had sunk so
low that he appeared in the street with frayed
clothing. broken shoes and a visage white with
deprivation. One day It seemed as 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 was nominated at Kansas
City in 1900 Gore found his way to the crowd that
surrounded the convention. He was now a Demo
crat.
It might help him on his way to the senate
II he could make speeches in the neighborhood
Of . national convention.
Hurrying on to South Dakota-he had only 81
left when he got therefore went to the state
convention and secured 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.
Cores 81 900. 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 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 new country.
As first step the elder Gore. now a white
haired man, went to Oklahoma and became .
poto in hone of earning fees from
the land.crazy crowds. In July. 1901, the blind
lawyer and his brother went to the new land.
driving Is miles In wagon to Fort Sill. Here
Gore lived In a tent with his father and brother
in the midst of an excited crowd. His father sat
inside a notary. while he. attired In an alpaca
coat colorcd 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 the ground.
Failing to draw a land claim. the Cores moved
out four miles to Lawton an encampnent on the
open prairie. Here $1,000 persons were living in
tents where the wild bue-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 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 hurry
burly OF mules wagons. women and children. Men
were killed. children born. robberies were
committed.
Three days after the lots sold and while
Lawton still a tented camp. there was
other political mass Getting this time in the big
tent of Dick Russell. a saloon keeper. Gore was
there and offered a resolution favoring the nd-
mission Of Oklahoma and Indian territory to the
Union n single state
A few days later and the men Of Lawton
ganized citizens committee to get a charter
and organize a city government or course Gore
was there and of course he the committee
Then a commercial club organized by the
tent dwelers and Gore the committee to
draft bylaws. He missed opportunity that
might lead to the senate
Presently he bought a small lot for $l55 and
started to build a cottage through the help Of
building and loan agency. When his wife reached