The Hattiesburg news., 1916-09-18
a SOUTHERN BOY IN GOTHAM.

The nomination Of William F. McCombs by the New
York Democrats as their candidate United States
is of good augury from at least two points of view
not hree-that merit and fitness and that of avaa
bty the matter of destiny for great place still part Of
political equipment yet belonging to the spiritual rather
than the material resources essential to
McCombs has the gift-the genius-for doing things
and getting there If he elected says the New York
World in strong Endorsement his selection he Empire
State will be represented in the Senate by two college
men, both of them just out of their thrtes Jimmy Wads
worth is 40 and Yale 49, McCombs is 40 and Princeton
9S Young Wadsworth his seat partly to his fine
record speaker of the assembly, but mainly to the
power of his family the inner circles of the Republican
organization McCombs without backing of any kind.
national fame in 1912 by his preconvention work for
Woodrow Wilson, and later as chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Committee, position from which he has
only just resigned
In letter touching this resignation written by Mr..
Wilson to Mr. McCombs the President said: "You have
made and sacrifices already for the party and
| know that speaking the sentiments of all loyal
Democrats when my appreciation of the service
you have rendered. / that genuine regret will
be your retirement and that hosts of friends will
join in the hope that business venture will
bring you abundant and continued success"
Mr.. Wilson might have gone further alike in his
encomum and his regret after George Harvey who
discovered presidential quantity in university pro-
essor and for pursued what seemed phantom
It'll his protege well his to the White House
via the governorship of New Jersey, William F. McCombs
lis responsible for the strange migration of the whiom
scholar and manofeters from the shades of Princeton
Ito the chief magisracy of the States
stance the story reads like romance
Yet strange to relate Mccombs is Southern boy He
was born at Hamburg little village in Ashley county
Ark December 26, 1875 His father was Kentuckian,
his mother Of the wellknown Pugh family Of Alabama.
Like many another boy in the sparsey populated dis
tries OF the South, he got his first schooling home
Then he sent to the famous Webb School at BELL.
bucle in Tennessee to prepare for Princeton where he
graduated with the highest honors the popular
ber Of his notable student throughout his
university career. From Princeton he went with equal
distncton through the school of Harvard Then he
settled down New York City practice his profession
But he forgot his alma mater A few months
after he stuck out his shngle in the great metropolis
he was elected secretary the Princeton Club and later
elevated to the board of Of the university
starting the opportunity committee helping Princeton
find positions after leaving college, any time
when in need Of employment.
His success at the bar not long delayed and has
been conspicuous and uninterrupted Now he is Demo
cratic nominee for the Senate Of the United States Sure
y this is fine record for young fellow just turned 40
who is years ago began stranger strange land an
eager aspiring but unfriended lad the remorseless city
of knoeldown and dragout where few are called
and so many 20 10 the wall