Evening journal., 1910-12-09
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Case Of the Hare and the
Tortoise in Politics
By "HOIland."


Samuel ]. Kirkwood, three times
governor of Iowa, twice United States
Senator from that state, and Secretary
Of the Interior in 1872, was of Mary
land birth, although in early life his
father removed the family to Ohio. In
the early ffties, when he was AZ years
Of age, Senator Kirkwood moved TO
Iowa, becoming, in fact, one of the
pioneers in the development of that
state. Entering the Republican party
at its formation, he was that same
year elected state senator, and three
years later he was first elected COVER
nor. His was aipersonality that was
racy Of the soil; his habits of life and
Of thought were original and unaf-
fected. and he was gifted with the
three qualities that have made Ameri-
ca great, namely, absolute sincerity,
great common sense, and a strong
sense of humor. His fellow Iowans,
noting all this, made Samuel J. Kirk
wood their public servant Tor upwards
Of a quarter OF a century.
When Senator Kirkwood was first
nominated for governor in 1859. the
Democracy of the state, recognizing
his great personal strength, deter
mined 10 summon the strongest mem
ber OF the party into the canvass by
nominating him for governor. TO this
end, Augustus Caesar Dodge, who had
been United States Senator for a term,
beginning in 1S4S, and then was sent
by President Pierce as Minister to
Spain, was chosen 10 lead the Iowa
Democracy in what was certain to be
the most desperate political battle the
state had ever known. Dodge was a
man Of much cultivation and good
deal of superficial polish, which had
been heightened by his residence at a
foreign court; but he was very popular
in Iowa, and the Democracy had plen-
ty of money, for the party possessed
national patronage
Now it so happened that on the same
day and at the same hour there were
10 be two great mass meetings at Des
Moines, the state capital. The Repub-
licans were to be addressed by their
candidate for governor, while the De-
mocracy was 70 listen to the campaign
oratory Of its gubernatorial candidate.
Also, It happened that the two men
took the same train TO Des Moines.
But the condolences stopped there.
On reaching Des Moines, Augustus
Caesar Dodge discovered that he was
TO be driven TO the Democratic meet
Ing in a handsome carriage drawn by
the finest pair Of horses in the town:
while the Republican candidate speed
lily discovered that his Des Moines
followers had forgotten to provide him
with any sort Of conveyance whatso-
ever.
But Samuel J. Kirkwood, shrewd
son OF the soil that he was. was not
to be outdone by a little slip of that
sort. There happened TO be an OK
cart standing at the station, and when
the state senator had noted the over
| sight of the Republican reception com
mittee he made a bargain with the
owner OF the OK cart. seated himself i'm
that primitive vehicle, and cOntented-
ly rode IN that rustic manner towards
the hall that tho Republican, had hired
for the occasion.
II turned out to be a case Of the
hare and the tortoise I'm politics. A
typical village brass band. whose in
struments We're not in key, furnished
such discordant music as IL marched
ahead OF the scarriage in which the
Democratic standard bearer was rid
ing In state from the station into the
town, that the gayly plumed horses
became frightened and ran away, up-
setting the carriage. Presently, into
the midst OF the confusion and excite
ment the patient oxen plodded and as
steadily plodded hallward therefrom.
while the plain farmer-like candidate
seated upon a board thrown across the
sides OF the cart, received an up-
roarious welcome, the democratic sim
plicity of his advent into the center
OF the town instantly catching the
fancy Of the crowd. So, even while
Dodge was waiting for his carriage to
be repaired that he might resume his
journey, Senator KirkwOod found him.
sell confronting a magnificent audi
ence and launched out into a great
speech, reaching and converting 10 his
way OF thinking, hundreds Of voters
who had planned to attend the Demo
cratic mass meeting, but were deferred
therefrom by the delayed arrival OF
the star speaker.
Speedily, the manner OF Candidate
kirkwood's arrival I'm Des Moines was
carried all through the state. and the
story had a great deal 10 do in winning
him the victory--a statement made on
the authority Of the late John A. Kas-
son, an early leader Of the Republican
party in Iowa, close personal friend
of Senator Kirkwood's, first assistant
Postmaster General under Lincoln.
minister both to Austria-Hungary and
Germany. and the tariff expert who
was commissioned to negotiate recip-
rocity treaties with foreign nations
under authority Of the Bingloy tariff
act
Copyright. 1910. by z. J. Edwards
All rights reserved) >,