The Cairo bulletin., 1914-10-26
ROGER, BOY TO MAN,
IS A FINE PRODUCT
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE TELLS
HELEN HERALD OF DAYS AS
BOONE COUNTY YOUTH.
WHEN HE GOT SIS A MONTH
His Career From the Time In the
Year 1879, When He Found Work
in a Chicago Railroad Shop.
BY HELEN HERALD, In Chicago
Herald.

TCEatu.
Roger Sullivan, Democratic candi.
date for the United States senate.
entered one Of the smaller rooms OF
his office with an almost invisible re-
luctance. His courtesy was the cour-
tesy of the man who is not sure lust
how far he is required to show him
self as he wants to show himself and
the first look he gave me- for all his
kindly smile. was one of keen and
searching scrutiny.
His eyes, blue. but not so deep in
color that they might not have been
called gray, have curious CLINT to
them at times, the CLINT that an enemy
might hesitate to call up, that friend
would love. For it expresses humor,
keenness of mind an uncommon quail
ity OF fellowship, something that is
different from the expressions one sees
In the faces all around.
We'll" he said, what do you want
me TO talk about?"
1t is difficult to tell man who is
running for senator that you want
him to talk of anything rather than
his political campaign, but did not
want to hear politicA and said So
Cant you tell me something about
when you were little boy, Mr.. Sui
livan?"
Roger SuIllvan's 6oyhood
The real laugh, not the merely hui
morous twinkle came out then. Roger
Sullivan turned to me with chuckling
That Is what every one knows
about he said, Il have told that at so
many places. l never have made a
secret OF the fact that | was a poor
boy He looked me straight in the
eye. Il am proud that | was poor
boy, that | worked hard all my life"
Watching him, my mind few off to
the Roger Sullivan home out on the
West side, the home that he made
for himself within a stones throw of
the place where he came to work at
the age of eighteen when he first came
to Chicago, and | answered as my
mind dictated
You do well to be proud of 1t, Mr.
Sullivan"
But the history Of Roger Sullivan
does not begin at the age Of eight
cen.
Can you see the boy of seven years
Of age leaving his poor little home,
where he was the second son In a
large family, to begin working for him
self and for the mother at home? 1t
seems incredible that such a mite
should have to do this, but little Rog-
er did not think of it as any hardship,
he was too glad to have the work to
do. He had felt himself one too many
ct home despite the love lavshed on
him, and with the resolve that has
only grown in him with the years he
made up his mind to be independent.
He went to work.
Earns SIS Month.
What do you think he did? There
was clergyman in Belyidere who
owned four horses, who had a house
where stoves were used in winter for
necessary warmth. where the lighting
all came from kerosene lamps and
where, in consequence of all these
things, the work OF a sturdy lad of
seven, willing to work and anxious to
earn the S. a month he was given in
payment besides his board, was very
useful.
From the age of seven to the age of
eighteen-not, of course, all the time
at the rate of payment mentioned
young Roger Sullivan worked for this
clergyman in this home.
Early in the morning of winters
day he rose and attended to the
horses blowing on his chill fingers
as he ran from the house to the barn,
coming glowing with the heat of ex-
ercise back to the house to see
whether the fires he had lighted be-
fore starting out had burnt up as it
was required. Then he got in coal,
chopped wood, fetched the new can
of kerosene, if one were needed, and
during the day between chores" went
to school At night the same routine,
different in that it was more lengthy,
and the weary boy went to bed
But all the While ambition was
growing III ine UON utdll. ne udu
very little money, but he had many
thoughts. One that was fixed strong
ly in his mind was this, that the
mother at home needed all the help
he could give her and that there were
opportunities in Chicago for a young
fellow to make money and get on in
the world
Comes to Chicago
In 1879 he came to Chicago and
found work in a railroad shop. He
earned $L25 a day and from this
princely sum sent money home
From that time, almost, Mr.. Sulli-
van was seized by the political life
of the shop, He began to speak. be-
gan to attend conventions After
awhile he went out to South Dakota
to take up claim there
1t was lonely on his homestead but
the young fellow. rigid in his desire
to get on. proved up on his claim and
returned to Chicago.
You can imagine how proud they
were Of Roger" in the old home at