The Washington herald., 1913-11-28

could not learn political ways. His one
great delusion was that he ought to have
been a business man rather than a SOL
dier or statesman. That fancy clung to
him throughout his early career In the
army and In the days when he was strug-
Cling for existence near st. Louis before
the civil war.
Later, when President. he insisted that
his real mission in life was to be great
financier and that he would ultimately be
rich man by his own efforts. The
Grant-ward failure indicated that he
really had no financial ability, but before
the break he delighted to tell old friends
that at last he was happy that he could
write his name on a check for N,OOO,0OO
and it would be honored.
Dick Thompson Morgan. who. with
Bird MCGUIRE, holds up the Republican
end in Congress for Oklahoma, has re-
turned from a survey Of things out home
and as regards politics Is pleased that
the situation is no worse
Morgan is a hard-headed sort OF Re-
publican, reared in the Prairie Creek re-
gion Of Indiana, and under the teachings
OF Richard w. Thompson, dominating
figure in Indiana when Morgan was born
and for whom he was named. Only the
Morgan parents preferred the nickname
of the old leader to the more aristocratic
name OF Richard, and the son has fond
ly kept loyal to the parentive preference.
Before going to Oklahoma, Dick Nor
gan took few turns in Indiana politics,
including a term in the legislature. I'm
der Roosevelt he went to Oklahoma as
registrar in the Land ONCE and de-
cided to come as Congressman when
the new State was proclaimed. So he
has had three terms, with promise of
many more.
He brings back to Washington tie re-
port that Charles n. Haskell, the first
governor of the State, is planning To try
it again. The Oklahoma constitution does
not permit a governor to succeed himself,
but there is no law against reaching out
for a second term after a respectable
period of watching some one else admin
lister the affairs of state. 1t would agi-
tate some of the Democrats of Okla
homa to see Haskell once more in the
arena, but the Republicans would rather
welcome the Haskell way OF stirring up
strife within his own party and there
would be hope of winning a Congression-
al district or two II the Haskell TO-
mentation becomes serious. Congressman
Morgan, by the way. has recently had
a sad errand to his old Nigo County
home in Indiana. His mother, over
ninety years of age. passed away at the
old Morgan homestead where the son
was born, and he never went West or
came East without stopping for visit
Uncle Thomas Woodrow. for whom the
President was named. did not come in
from the banks OF the Scioto for the we'd
ding, and Chillicothe, ancient capital of
Ohio, laments not to have figured in so
famous a gathering.
They had trouble enough out Chillicothe
way last spring in getting Uncle Thomas
on a train for the inauguration, and his
rnodesty Is bit unusual for a Ross
County citizen who has prospered in
Confessional district long represented by
Grosvenor, later by Albert Douglas, and
now by the velvet-heeled, soft-spoken
Claypool. a sure enough Democrat. Old
Chillicothe town is now in new district
specially designed by the half dozen Dem
ocrats comprising the Cox board Of dispen-
sation at Columbus, and for once Altheus
is left out to give Claypool a surer thing
for third term. Instead Of Altheus,
with a reliable Republican majority, he
was given Pickaway. fully as reliable.
with a Democratic majority, while Vim
ton, rather close, Is also thrown In with
Altheus as part of the Switzer district
Even with Pickaway, Judge Claypool
will have much to think about with the
Republicans taking hold in the old way
and the administration at Washington do
ing little in the matter Of patronage.
When Grosvenor was Congressman the
district had more big Federal appoint
ments than any three districts OF the
State, and the Democrats are wondering
why it does not happen that way when
they are in power at Washington.