The Washington herald., 1913-09-07
CONGRESSMAN COULD NOT READ AT THE AGE OF TWELVE

for spectacles and sensations. So we are
losing repose and balance and complain
ing about the high cost Of living.
But, thank God, the customs OF the
farmers don't need reforming. They are
tho Americans who now do the national
thinking. They are rational human be-
ings, and, coming together, as was the
case in Oklahoma. can write a constitu-
ton that safeguards the interests or all
classes. Nor are they afraid of trusts,
be the trust composed OF labor leaders
or capitalists. A man may work in har-
mony with a labor leader 354 days In a
year, and then, II he disagrees with the
labor leader on the 366th day, he is de-
clared to be an enemy OF the common
people, and wage-earners are ordered to
knife MIN at the polls.
-- Dehcd the Labor Lenders.
''The leaders Of labor sent me twenty
six questions when was a candidate
for the constitutional convention. was
to answer the questions their way, of
course. Well, I used my own Judgment
in writing out the replies. Then labor
tried to defeat me at the ballot box. I
was elected just the same. Further
more, 1 was made president OF the con-
vention. Right after that 1 was sent TO
the Legislature and was chosen Speaker.
Now I am in Congress and didn't have
to make a personal campaign to get
here either-the people at a Statewide
primary voted for me without solicita-
ton. We are farmers down in my coun-
try, and will do exact Justice to all
monopolists, whether they are capital
lists or laborists. Each class has its
rights But each class wants more than
its rights. The farmer must maintain
the balance.
"a legislator should have courage and
common-sense. The intelligent farmer has
both. He is a reflective man, and, be-
ing Industrious, digs out the facts for
himself instead of depending on some
one else. A lobby appeared at the ses-
ton Of our first Legislature. II was led
by coal miner, and demanded that every
railway locomotive be equipped with a
high-pOwer electric light. The legisla-
tors didn't know anything about rail-
reading. I didn't know anything on
that particular subject, and I had a
hunch that the coal digger was as ig-
norant as the rest of us.
Therefore, I went down to the tracks
and consulted with an Irishman who was
tagging trains at a crossing. Every
locomotive the bill read. 1t was an
absurd proposition the Irishman said.
Dead engines didn't need such lights,
engines running during day time didn't
need them, and switch engines illumi-
mated that way would blind the men
working in the yards. And so the bill
was amended and made a sensible
measure. The miner howled, but had
my way about the matter. We gave
labor just laws, but we didn't pass the
bills exactly as they were written by
the leaders. We were mostly farmers,
you see. and were not scared to death
by the thought of losing our political
jobs"
The Flight of Three Brothers.
NOW" said, tell me about your
adventures after you ran away from
home"
THE Murrays have always run away
from home" Mr.. Murray said, reaching
for a fresh cigar. It's a family habit.
l should have gone anyway, but a step
mother hastened my departure. John.
my brother. had made his excursion and
had returned with a horse that he had
DougnI with mis- own earnings. lie
worked around ana got another morse.
George, my second brother. who was fif-
teen, and 1. who was twelve, told John