Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-10-31

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remember as a little lad of eight
or nine years, walking with my father
in one of the streets of Terre Haute.
A tall, slender, handsome young man
stopped to talk with my father. At
first I was fascinated by the way they
grasped hands and looked into each
others eyes. l was then impressed
by their animated conversation. But
they talked on and on until it seemed
to me hours in length; and finally ]
began to tug at my fathers coat tails,
urging him to come on. After
while they parted, and my father SAID
to me very seriously, "You should moi
| interrupt me, Robert, when I am talk
| ing. That young man is one of the
| greatest souls on. this earth, and you
should have listened to- what he said"
From time to time afterward j
heard of Gene, and many were the
stories told of him. Everyone spoke
of his friendship for the>> poor. He
could not keep money>1n bis pocket.
His wife says he always gives away
his clothes to tn ose who come to his
door; and he gives his best suits,
never his old ones.
| Once was told he had a gold watch
of considerable value which had been
given to him, and fireman who mad
J been out of work for some time, stop.
ped to say that he had a job offered
him on the railroad, but he would
have to have watch before he could
/ go> to work. Immediately Gene took
out mis- gold watch and gave it to the
man, telling him to return it when he
was able to buy one for himself.
These and countless, other stories
are told by his fellow citizens. Many
of them do not understand Gene. His
/ views and his work they cannot com
prehend, but every man, woman and
child nthat town loves him with a.
/ devotion quite extraordinary.
They say that a prophet is without
honor in his own country, zut in Terre
Haute you will find that however
much they misunderstood the work
that Gene is doing there is not one-
who does not honor and love him.
Ask anyone. Go to the poor, tba
vagrant, the hobo. Gosto the churches,
to the rich, to the banker, to Hae tfac-
ton magnate. You will find thai
every single one will say that Gene
has something which other men do
not possess. Some will say he is rash,
unwise and too radical. Others will
say that he is too good for this world,
and that his visions and dreams are
the fanciful outpourings of a generous
! but impractical soul. But ask them
about his character, his honesty, his.
sincerity, and unconsciously many Of
| them will remove their hats.
Some of these statements may seem
an exaggeration. But one cannot
| that in speaking of Gene. When one
who knows him makes any statement,
no matter how moderate, it will seem
to others who do not know him an
exaggeration.
Gene has followed Truth wherever
she has led. He does not ask what is
lpolitie, what is wise, what is sexpe
Idient; he only asks what is truth. He
loves Truth beyond all things. She is
his absolute mistress, and he has gone
with her from riches to poverty, from
| popularity to unpopularity. He has
gone with her out of great positions
| into small positions. He has stood UP
for her against all men. For her he
has seemed at times to sacrifice all
earthly gain and to accept without
one pang of regret misunderstanding,
misrepr and almost uni
Eersal condemnation. For her he has
been momentarily one Of the most
popular men in the country, and for
her he has been momentarily one OF
the most unpopular men in the coun=
try. He has been her companion
wenh everyone believed in her, and he
has been her companion when to. be-
lieve.Aa her meant to go into prison
strips, behind iron bars.
Sometimes I have differed with
Gene \ have said to him that what
he was doing was unWise; impoiitic,
dangerous. At such times under such
criticism, he is always kindly but un
deferred; and it is his conscience that
answers you back and asks, But is
it right? Is it trueT
Shortly after left college wen.
to live In one Of the most poverty
stricken districts Of Chicago. One
Sunday it was announced that Eugene
would come there to speak. Thou |
sands came to hear him, and over
flowing the hall multitude waited
outside to hear him speak from |
truck. After waiting for two hours |
perhaps, Gene came out and began
to speak. Most OF the audience were
foreigners who could hardly under
stand a word Of English, and as II
heard his beautiful words and saw
their wistful, earnest faces II felt |
that something more powerful, pene-
trating and articHlate. than mere words
was passing between the audience and |
the speaker. For moment it seemed |
to me that a soul was speaking from
HE frame and eyes of Gene, and
that, regardless of difference of Ian
guage and ali the traditional barriers
that separated him from the multitude /
about him. they understood and be- /
Ifevei an he said I remember how 1