Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-10-07
Patient, Persevering Study Has Given
Him Remarkable knowledge of
Public Affairs.
BURNED MUCH MIDNIGHT OIL.
Studied Law While Teaching School Became Widely
known Able Lawyer and Orator-Won Re-
peated Victories in Strongly Republican
Distrcts-Of American Ancestry

The story of the life of Winfield
Scott Hammond, the Democratic nomi-
nee for governor of Minnesota, is a
story of hard work and perseverance,
of long hours of patient study, of care
full devotion to duty, of faithful serv-
ice to his state and nation. 1t is a
story of successive victories against
great odds.
The life story of Congressman Ham,
mond is the story of a man of reserved
and retiring disposition, who despite
his natural preference for private life
has been successfully honored and
called upon to devote his time to pub
lie affairs. This year he has again
been called upon, this time to become
the candidate of one of the great po-
litical parties for governor of Mime
sota
Personally Mr.. Hammond is a man
Of commanding stature, not quite six
feet tall, erect and dignified. His
natural reserve makes him hesitate to
seek acquaintances for merely politi-
cal purposes. Yet he is always ap-
proachable, and once you make his &C.
quaintance, he soon becomes a warm
personal friend. But what perhaps ap-
peals most to the voters of the state
at this time when the demand is for
efficiency in public office, is his knowl-
edge of public affairs, his ability to
handle any state problem i'm a broad
minded and statesmanlike way, and
his habit of staying on the job until
the job is done, whether it be a case
in court or a session of Congress.
Of Colonial Stock.
Congressman Hammond comes of
old New England stock. William
Hammond, who came to this country
and settled in Watertown, Mass, in
1882, was a direct ancestor, as was
Thomas Hammond, who went to Lex
ington and participated in the first bat.
tie of the Revolutionary war. Winfield
Scott Hammond was born in South
boro, Mass, November II, 1863, re.
ceived an ordinary common school
education and graduated from Peters
high school in Southboro in 1880.
Mr.. Hammond entered Dartmouth
college, taking the regular academic
course and graduating in June, 1884
He came directly to Minnesota, where
he became principal of the high school
at Mankato for one year, under Super
intendent R. E. Denfeld, now superin
tendent of the Duluth city schools
The five years following he was super
intendent of schools at Madelia, Minn
where he established the first high
school in Watonwan county.
Studied Law Nights.
But teaching the young idea to shoot
was not entirely to young Hammond's
liking, and he began the study of law
during spare time, often porting over
his law books during the late hours
of the evening. Having resigned from
his position as head of the Madelia
schools, MI. Hammond took an active
part in the campaign of 1890. In the
legislative session following he was
secretary Of legislative commission
appointed to investigate the State
Prison at Saltwater. In the spring Of
1891 he took the examination for ad
mission to the bar at Mankato, the
first examination held by the State
Board of Law Examiners. He was ad
mitted and began the practice of law
at Madelia with Mr.. D. G. Hopkins
| then lawyer there, now resident Of
| Minneapolis.
Mr.. Hammond did not stop his
studies when he was admitted to the
bar, but even to this day he is in the
habit of staying in his office until mid
| night, reading books on law or govern
mental problems. When he practiceG
in Madelia and st. James, he spen,
many hours burning the midnight oil
while preparing his cases for trial
Young lawyers seeking legal advice
and townspeople who wanted to dis
cuss public affairs often took advan
tage of this habit of his and dropped
in to visit during the evening.
Became Able LAWYER.
However, even though visitors may
have taken up some of Mr.. Hammond
| time, he found considerable time fo1
| study. He was a diligent worker anC
through his careful preparation of his
cases he soon acquired reputation az
an unusually able lawyer. Madelis
men today relate that for several years
Mr. Hammond's habit of winning cases
was so well known that whenever any
| trouble arose, it was simply question