The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-02-04
iaA NELSON q
Senator frsa Mlanesels 70
Celebrate Birthday
Reached The Age Of 70
Years But Still Very Active

the most picturesque figures in the
United States senate and likewise one
Of the most influential OF the RepubIi
can members Of that body. will cele
brate his SEVENTEEN birthday tomor
row. Senator Nelson. whose presen,
term will expire next month, has Jus,
been reelected by the Minnesota leg
islature for another term of six years
In the next Congress he will ranA
among the veterans Of the senate in
point Of service as well as age. Oi
the entire membership of the sen.
ate as II viii be constituted after
March 4. only two members, Lodge
Of Massachusetts and Perkins OF Cali.
fornia. will have seen longer service
In the upper house than the senior
senator from Minnesota. Both sena-
tors Lodge and Perkins came to the
senate in 1893. two years before Sen.
ator Nelson made his appearance.
The career Of Senator Nelson is
Of much more than ordinary interest,
and In several respects unique. The
story Of his life has many OF the sal
lent features Of a romance. including
the picturesque and unusual. Born
on little farm near the city OF Ber-
gen, in the southwestern part of Nor.
way. he accompanied his widowed
mother to America when six years
old. The family was practically pen.
niless and the early youth of the fu.
ture senator was one Of hardships and
privations. Undoubtedly. It was the
remembrance Of these early days that
prompted Senator Nelson to come to
the aid Of Folke Brandt, the young
Scandinavian whose pardon he wac
instrumental in securing and whom
he has taken to Minnesota to begin .
life anew. 800,
Chicago was Senator Nelson's first
home in America. Here he aided In
the support u the family by- ssllins
papers on the streets. In 1850 the
mother and son went to Walw0rth
county. Wis.,, and located on an unpro-
ductive little sand farm. When he
was 16 young Knute heard that at
Albion Seminary, which was conduct
ed by Seventh.Day Baptists, boy
could get an education without money. :.
He at once set out on a tramp Of SIX
teen miles to see about IL. For two
years he remained at the seminary,
doing chores for people in the vicinity
to pay for his tuition and board.
When the war broke out Senator
Nelson, with twenty of his fellow stu.
dents, enlisted. He served three years,
was wounded, taken prisoner at Port
Hudson, and came out a corporal He
then finished his seminary course,
read law in Senator Villas Office in
Madison. was admitted to the bar, and
elected to the Wisconsin legislature
before he was "a years old.
In 1870 he removed from Wisconsin
to Minnesota. In his new home he
speedily took an active interest In
politics. serving four terms in the
Minnesota legislature. After three
terms in Congress he was elected gov
ernor Of Minnesota In 1892 and served
two terms. He was elected to the
United States senate in 1895. and has
been three times reelected.
Z While Senator Nelson has been gen.
orally classed as a regular Republican
and unusually votes with the majority
OF his party in the senate. he has
shown great independence at times.
especially on the tariff question. AS
a member of the lower house he voted
for the Mills Democratic tariff bill.
Two years ago he voted against the
Payne Aldrich bill, Republican meas.
ure. He voted for the La Toilette bill
at the special session last summer.
A week or so later he opposed the
conference report on that measure. IN
the same session he voted against tho
Democratic cotton revision bill.
During his long career In public life
Mr.. Nelson has devoted his attention
to a variety, Of questions and he has
made his mark ON the statute books.
He is the author Of the present bank
ruptcy law. He 10 the father OF the
Department Of Commerce and Labor.
It was at the instance Of Senator Mel.
son that the Republican national con.
vention In 1900 adopted plak com
hitting the party to the creation Of
such q department. He drew bill
under which the department wa
created.
While Senator Nelson is bit old
fashioned, he Is proud Of It. He takes
no part In Washington society, has
no fondness for what Is termed club
life. and probably has not seen the
inside OF theatre half a dozen times
In his life. He is . great student OF
hist0rv and hia favoritA recreation n