The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1916-06-02

was an unfailing source of news ma
terial, and l accompanied him on
several adventurous expeditions
which he led in his capacity as a dep
uty sheriff.
Ashurstis youthful years were filled
with such colorful incidents.
l marveled at this boys erudition,
even in those days at Flagstaff. Two
years at the little, old log school
house in the Skylight City had been
the extent of his 'book Parnin,' but
out in the lonely cow and sheep
camps he read the works of great men
and drank deep of the well of infor
nation, from the great heart of Ma
ture. There the future statesman
was wont to rehearse speeches to the
inoffensive sheep and cows. After
ward, the writer became the willing
goat for these oratorical exercises.
One day Ashurst showed me a copy
of the worn spelling book he had
used at the Flagstaff school. Upon
the flyleaf he had scrawled, Henry
F. Ashurst, United States Senator
from Arizona"
'NThat has been my ambition since
childhood" said he, "and I'm going
there some day." 1 believed him.
Two years passed. 1 had removed
to Williams where prankish cowboys
still "shot up the town" on occasion.
One blithe morning there stepped
off the eastbound train ministerial
looking young man attired in frock
coat, carefully creased trousers, a
headpiece of the latest style and a
| 10
hair was parted in the middle.
He was Henry Fountain Ashurst,
and he had come from the Stockton,
CAL, Business College, where he had
polished up his rudimentary educa-
ton bit.
Dry Goods Clerk and Justice Of the
Peace
Henry" said l, when a good op-
portunity presented itself, you can
never go to the United States Senate
with your hair dolled up that way. :"
He treated the remark indulgently.
I'm not made up for the United
States Senate now" he said. I'm
/ going to work for Max Salzman, sell
ing ribbons and lingerie.
Sure enough he did. He became a
Counter hopper" in eThe Big Stone
Store, Williams Leading Dry Goods
Emporium.
On came the first Bryan campaign.
The Williams News was avowedly a
strong Republican organ, but when
ever business called my employer out
of town its policy became distinctly
Democratic, with the aid and CONN.,
vance of Henry Ashurst.
1t was then that Ashurst made his
debut as an orator. His command OF
English and his fiery eloquence made
something of sensation.
He was nominated for the Terri
torial Legislature before he had
turned twenty-one. Then he quit selit
ing ribons and laces for Max Salz-
man. Pm his picturesque campaign
young Ashurst combed the cattle
RANGES, stormed the lumber camps
:; and penetrated to the most isolated
diggirgs of the lonely prospector;
and, though his Republican opponent
had the powerful support OF the Santa
Fe Railroad Company, he was elected
to the Nineteenth Legislative Assem-.
bly, by substantial majority.
Stark" he said one day,as the
time FOR the converting of that august
body approached, I'm going to get
you q job in the Legislature" M
Won Officer for Coconino County
Now, Maricopa county, in which
Phoenix, the capital, is located, had
always ''hogged" all the political
plums, but Ashurst and some OF the
other rural members-elect quietly got
together and split up the offices, sc
I that when it came to selections Mari
copa was left with only a preacher
and a maze Our rising young states
man not only obtained clerksh1p fol
the writer, but he placed another
constituent in the Legislature as ser
eeant-at-arms This notwithstand
ing that Coconino County had never
before been recognized in the distri
! button of offices.
During the session Ashurst, the
youngest man ever elected to AM
Legislature, frequently was called tt
: the speakers chair, where he dis
played astonishing parliamentar!
knowledge and executive skill.
When the session was over we re
turned to Williams, where Ashurst
: having been admitted to the bar
hung out a shingle and began tht
: practice of law.
His Rapid Rise to the Federal Sen
: ate
: Through all the intervening year.
kept close tab on the erstwh1le DO!
orators career. He was twice re
elected TO the House of Representa-
I tives of the Arizona Legislature
+ chosen speaker of the House OF tn
I Twenty-second Assembly; elected T.
t the Territorial Senate, and afterwar'
d became District Attorney of Cocon1n
County, which office he held wv
. terms. When he was elected Unlte'
I States Senator on March II, 1917,
wired congratulations, expressing Tn
hope that he had ceased to part nj
/ hair in the middle.
Recently appeared with Guy Bate
: Post in Omar, the Tentmaker, a
1 the Belasco Theatre, Washington. 1
j this play 7 impersonate the turnke
p &c n pn,.irinn iail When OUR OnPnin