Evening star., 1917-03-05
PERSONAL CHARM 4
OF VICE PRESIDENT
Has Risen to Fame, But Re-
mains Unassuming Despite
His Achievements.
NEVER AN OFFICE SEEKER

Thomas r. Marshall. Vice President
and Vice President-elect. came under
national notice for the first time In
1908. when as the democratic candidate
for Governor OF Indiana he was elected
by $4,000, although the Republicans car
ried the state for Taft by 10000. A
prediction then made that his party
would keep its eye on him was fulfilled
four years later, when the Baltimore
convention put him on the ticket with
Woodrow Wilson.
The Vice Presidents first climb 10
fame. as a candidate for governor. was
unexpected both to him and to the peo-
pie of his state. He had never before
sought public office. except once when
he wanted to be prosecuting attorney,
back in 1880, and was defeated. he
had gone ahead trying and winning law
cases in his rural community. giving
politics only a small part of his time
and attention. His opportunity TO stano
as his party's candidate for governor
came at time when the democrats IN
Indiana were apparently In hopeless
minority. Four years before Roosevsat
had carried the state by almost 100000
Nomination an Inspiration.
Marshalrs nomination. however. was
an inspiration. Just when 1t looked as
though the democratic state convention
was hopelessly divided, he was sprung
as a compromise candidate. On the
fifth ballot he was chosen almost BY ac-
clamation, and 1t was then that the
people Of the state began to inquire
about the man who a short time after
ward overcame the huge republican
majority OF four years before and was
lAa
he was born in North Manchester, lnd,
on March IA, 1854; that he went 70 sne
common schools, attended wabash Col.
lege, where he received the degree or
bachelor Of arts & In 1879; .; isW ana ana .ns was
admitted to the Whitley county par on
the day he became twenty-one years Oh
age. -ho
knew the democratic nominee pcs.
were the ones who spoke the most
highly of him and that friendship wa
priced by the nominee even ABOVE PEI
sonal preferment. More than TINS tns
state found that the democratic party
had named a man who In himself was
not ambitious but who was willing 10
sacrifice everything that the principies
Of the democratic party might SURVIVE
that the nominee did not seem to care
a straw whether or not he attained tho
office he was seeking, just SO the doc-
trine he was preaching was accepted
by the people as the truth This doc-
trine was purely democratic, as prg-
mulgated by Jefferson and jackson. II
was devoid of frills and preached In
simple language.
After four years az governor the pso-
pie of the nation comm menced to know
him as the people Of Inuiana knew MIN.
His simplicity, his candor. his fearless
ness and his insistence that no man be
done a wrong carried his fame into
many states with the result that the
national convention in 1872 selected
him as one of its standard bearers.
Life Free From the Spectacular.
The Vice Presidents life story is as
free from the spectacular as his life in
Washington; it is without any coloring
Of the artificial 1t is story Of . man
who has achieved things while moving
quietly among his fellow-citizens, in
tent on doing the tasks that lie before
him. Personally, he is the personidca-
ton Of pure democracy-plain. simple,
direct, sincere in manner and easily ap-
preached. He has never put on any OF
the artificiality of power. He 10 an un-
dersized man Of slight build and alop-
ing shoulders. For man OF sixty
three, he is active although not ath-
letic. and possesses no taste for out
door games except base ball. He gets
ms cfllcl SHJoy iHcht oue "a hSoe'he. ohu
his taste in books covers a wide Held.
The Vice President is scholarly In his
tendencies and has received the degree
OF LID. from Wabash College. Notre
Dame University. the University of
Pennsylvania, the University of North
Carolina and the University OF Maine.
His scholarly attainments were recog-
nized by the faculty and trustees Of
Wabash, who rendered him the chair
of Greek upon his graduation. He de-
cli.ed the offer as he had determined to
go into the law. He is a strong Pres
byterian, as were his parents before
him. In Masonic circles he 10 an
honored and esteemed member. having
received the thirty-third degree sew
eral years ago. He is Of Scotch-Irish
descent. His grandfather migrated fro4
Virginia to Indiana. His father. DAMS
NJ Marshall, was physician.