The Detroit times., 1912-10-30
MAN WHO KNOWS AND
DOES Is HORATIO EARLE


tContinued from PAGE one)
One may mention his eyes: he isn't
sensitive. He has made them even
an asset, which is characteristic or
the man. He jokes about them; he
Ssays that he can do two different jobs
| AT once because OF his defect
F, HoratIo Some Fighter.
\ For q years he lived on the farm.
going TO a district schooi and taking
two terms In Black River academy, In
Ludlow. VI. In summer he farmed;
in winter. when he was not attending
/ school. be hauled wood. This gave
him a husky body: robust, though
small. He took great interest IN
athletics, particularly boxing. he be-
came a great fighter making up for
his lack OF size and reach by his
quickness and his powers OF endur-
ance Even now he has not lost his
cunning He is one or the few men
/ In Detroit who are familiar with the
: French savate. He can use his feet
like mule: he can kick three feet In
the air with both feet at once--a ter
rife strok. But he is man of peace.
The lighting spirit survives In the in
|
I He was a farmer, sawmill oper-
ator, a railroad worker. an iron mold
err He came To Detroit as molder
in 1881. on the representations OF a
man who SAID that new shop was
/ looking for men. He found that II
was an old shop, where l4o men had
I been locked out He worked two
days, sized up the situation, made up
his mind that the men were right,
and left his job TO go back east. He
became a foreman in a foundry In
Chicopee Falls. Mass; then a travel
ing salesman. In 1889. he came 10
! Detroit to live. He Is now sales man.
ager OF the North Wayne Tool Co.,
manager and treasurer Of the II. ~
Earle Manufacturing Co., makers OF
scythes, and manager and president
OF the Good Roads Supply Co.
That, I'm brief. in his business de
velopment All this time he was
growing in other ways-and that, too.
| by hard work His early education
was deficient, and he realized II; so
he devoted a great deal OF time 70
study, and the diary which he kept
every day, soon began to show his
progress.
Good roads became his hobby, as
well as his business. He had been
in business in Detroit IL years when
he promoted an International Good
Roads congress, which was held In
Port Huron, in 1900. bicycling inter
ested him, for that too required good
roads. In 1901 he was elected presl-
dent OF the League OF American
Wheelmen. Ii was an opportunity
for good roads propaganda. He trav-
eled $4,000 miles at his own expense.
talking good roads and when ne
turned the Office over TO his success
sor, he had wiped cut a debt OF
So, 1000.
Pounds Road Builders Assn.
He founder the American Road Build
lers' association. He was chosen It's
pre- sident. lie originated good roads
train. and coupled the first one to-
lgetner with his own hands in Port
Huron in 1900. The good roads hobby
and IL was always his business, too;
business of the hour always being
Horatio Earle's hobby-led him TO in
lterest himself in government. In 1861
he went TO the state senate from the
third district. There are some OF the
things he did:
Fought for and saved the teach
ters' pension.
Fought for the police pension.
Fought for large appropriation for
for the College OF Mines In Houghton,
which put that school in the fore
most rank as mining college.
Fought for a larger representation
for Wayne county In congress, and
got II.
A primary law was agitated, and II
placed Mr.. Earle In a peculiar posi-
ton. The convention which nomin-
ated him was against IT, After IL ad.
journed, some OF the delegates and
some OF the other men In the hall
held an informal meeting and passed
a resolution in favor Of the primary.
Mr.. Earle felt that he was bound by
the action OF the convention: he him
self favored the primary act. 1t was
defeated; but Mr.. Earle. 10 show his
sincerity. gave his district a primary
when he came up for reelection. His
district defeated him and James +.
Scripps took his place. Earle went
back to his good roads propaganda.
Meanwhile the good roads move
ment In Michigan had become IN.
volved While a state senator, Mr..
Earle had been president OF the state
highway commission, which then COLI
sisted or two senators. three repre-
sentatives and two members of the
board OF the Michigan Agricultural
college. His enthusiasm led him TO
take most OF the work of the shout
ders OF his colleagues. They also let
him pay-or the state let him pay
most OF the expenses. and he served
without salary. The report which he
finally drafted led the legislature OF
1903 to pass a good roads act, which
was promptly tested and declared UNI
constitutional.
This was a blow to Earle, but II
served merely 10 stir his lighting
blood. He announced that though the
highway commissioner was dead, he
would nevertheless serve as highway
commissioner. And he did, for two
years. working without a salary and
paying his own expenses. His endeav-
ors were recognized In 1906 he put
through the legislature good roads
amendment TO the constitution and
got II submitted 10 the people. They
voted N in by the largest majority
ever given an amendment, with the
single execution OF Gov. Pingrees ad
valorem tax amendment which
created the primary school fund.
The same Legislature, now enthu-