The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-03-30

There was no insurance-the pol
Icy had lapsed-and the fire swept
away all OF my fathers means and put
a burdensome mortgage on his farm,
two and half miles in the country"
II there had been a navy OF a re-
spectacle size in 1881 John Wingate
Weeks would now be a captain In
stead Of a senator. Nor would he
ever have become a banker and thus
have set at naught all the traditions of
the Weeks family for self.respecting,
capable and wholesome poverty.
And yet psychological analysis OF
inherited traits might show that the
senator comes naturally by his talents
for public affairs and finance. Any
inquiry into his personality must in
clude the Wingates, the chief OF whom,
John, an Englishman, emigrated to
New Hampshire in 1860.
The Weekses and the Wingates in
termarried during the second Ameri-
can generation-the Weekses to con-
tinue as farmers, with an excursion
into potato starch. as has been re-
corded, but the Wingates to become
soldiers. preachers and statesmen.
Paine Wingate, for example, the great
grandson OF John, was a member of
the Continental congress and later q
senator from New Hampshire.
A Big Man Physically.
John Wingate Weeks of Massachu-
sets, in his name, therefore, goes back
to the middle of the seventeenth CEN
fury. Perhaps his gifts are equally as
ancient. Wherever they originated,
he has made good use OF them. He is
well-to-do-but has less money, per
haps. than is often represented-and
Republicans in Massachusetts have no
titled the country that he is their can.
didate for president. II he is nomi
mated at Chicago in June, the main
reason will have been that he is a
business man. His candidacy, then,
will be something entirely new in ma
tional politics.
In his measurements, Captain Weeks
is q large man. A reasonable guess
at his weight would be $50 pounds.
His stature. perhaps, is five feet and
eleven inches. His eyes are gray and
his manner is frank and hearty. While
at the naval academy he could slowly
raise a 1l2-pound dumbbell above his
head with his right hand. Then, kneel-
ing with one leg, he could slowly raise
an s7-pound dumbbell with his left
hand More than that he could lower
his hands to his shoulders and slowly
and simultaneously put both dumb
bells above his head the second time.
A muscular youth, he was recon
mended by his principal TO the 'pru.
Dental committee" that called at the
academy I'm Lancaster on a hunt OF q
teacher for their district school. The
school was then closed-a group OF
the large boys having carried the
teacher into the road. slammed him
down in the dirt and warned him
never TO return.
Lick 'em and lick 'em good" the
prudential committee said. Wen
back you up II you do"
The third day. Captain Weeks
told me. "a big, red-faoed boy took
his pen In hand and laborioualy be-
gan TO write a letter that Is, he was
seemingly engaged In writing 4 LET.
ter; as a matter OF fact, he was show.
ing on before the school aud expert
menting with the new teacher. When
ordered 10 put his pen and paper
away. he smiled around the room At
the pupils, who had stopped work
ing, and then resumed his writing.
Il took him by the collar, dragged
him out Of his seat and gave him =
thorough whipping. He turned out
10 be the son OF the chairman OF the
prudential committee. Tho old man
never spoke TO me again, not even
when ! met him In the road. he rid
ing In a buggy and ] walking 70 or
from my work.
Went 20 Sea for TIVE Year,,
on his graduation AZ the Annapolis
Naval Academy younG John Win