The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-23
Sterling Americanism Has Marked His
Career, Especially in Political Fights
in Pennsylvania and Montana

defender before the miners meetings
and handling miners meetings at that
time was a pretty rough job.
Hanson followed Theodore Roose-
welt (bolting the Republican party
himselO on the conservation issue In
1912. In 1914 he was an independent
candidate for the Senate. but was de-
feated by Wesley L. Jones.
The anomaly of his position IN the
present strike lies in the fact that his
support has always come from labor
and the radicals. He is more respon
sIble for city ownership of street cars
in Seattle than any other man. He
has preached public ownership Q,
public utilities for twenty years A
a member of the Washington Legs,
lature he was largely responsible for
the adoption of the initiative, referen-
dunn and recall. He also drove horse
racing from the State, He always
preached that the ballot should be the
only form of revolution"
He was born in Union Grove Rs-
cino county, Wis, in 1874, of NorWs-
gian immigrant parents. and was
graduated from the local common
school at the age OF 10. That Same
year he passed a teachers examina-
ton and began teaching school him
self. At night after a day OF dispens.
ing tho three RS he did his own study
ing in the higher branches
When he was II he was taken into
the Office OF a lawyer in Racine. Rv
10 he was fitted for the bar and passed
the examinations. But being 100
young for admission he took T. selling
drug sundries as a stopGap. Tasle1
to an interest in business tia. d.
verted his mind from career in O..
law. which he never practised.
Like most men who do things Han
son married very young. lie had h.
family with him on business trip IN
the road, and at MaXon. Tex, ;raS-
edy through the medium OF a trsn
wreck smote the young couple, Nho
lost their first born son. Hanson him
self was badly injured. His rery"
continued unstrung, and TO regain
health he set out for the Pacific coast
with Mrs. Hanson and the two sur
vtving children, travelling oNera'd
with a wagon and team. II was Dur
ing their stop off in Butte that Han
son became a champion OF Hcin5c.
Reached Seattle 16 Years Asa
They arrived in Seattle sixteen years
ago. The open air journey had ~
filled its restorative purpose, Hanson
was At as a fiddle again the day ~
struck the town Of which he Wa later
to he Mayor, and by niGhtfdl o. tie!
day he had rushed around and craooea
good job in a grocery hussss, re
same one that he presently bought o."
From IT, grocery business -
branched out into real estate aTa
within n few years became pres'd'''
OF one OF Seattle's biggest res';' fTn'
which has him largely 10 thank f'T ~
record Of never having had sT'uN
brought for or against Il, AZ '.' t''s
he arrived Seattle ~as OF the eve Ok
!! its phenomenal real esta'" n'''"
which largely explains his r7n7 9I'-
ness success.
The first Office he sought wa rne'''
bership in the lower house q
Washington State Legislature
race was three Cornered. IU0re "t'
1,742 votes polled in the disui'; hsO
son got all but ten and ran far a3's'
of his ticket AS IA legislator he .huo'
duced and fought through a" an.
racetrack gambling bill. lie folF"''o ~,
| local option. He carried t'G9@sH 10
eight hour day for women, he.3ed ca
ry through industrial Insurance
was a mighty man in the s..7'r' We
all labor and grange bills.
IN his race FOR Mayor 'HHN-'t
a business mems ticket Win hepI.
llcan Endorsement (he had l'a'5'. Wv
regular candidate for the RopH'.ioHn,
nomination. he again Won '...
oorncred event. "PTo=resS'y" h'Vs
! vcltian radical" Is the Some"h7' p'.
nastic phrase that his supporters -.
coined to hit off his politics nc"
veltian is a word often applied 10 '.',. a..
! especially by Fasteners who H''' my
| Cor iirvsd on F'0Ih rdos