The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-04-09

M. ]. BOWLING.
became special educational commits
sioner to the PHILIPPINE Islands; Chief
Clerk in the House of Representa-
tives; in 1900 became member of
that body and was twice honored by
being elected its speaker; is now
member Of the Great Lakes & st.
Louis Tide Water Commission. These
are some of the many public trusts
he has held Mr. Bowling was good
roads booster before it became popu-
lar and was President of the Yellow
stone Trail Association.
For the past two years, he has done
almost constant speaking for the Red
Cross and Loyalty programs, the latter
part of which he has been Uncle Sans
cheer up" evangelist. He has talked
in all our large hospitals for crippled
soldiers, giving cheer and comfort and
some mighty good advice.
England recognized his work as
something they needed and invited
him to come and tour their country
He has now returned from a very
successful tour, we mean successful
only from the standpoint of results.
Mr. Bowling says that the day is fast
approaching when all cripples will be
self-supporting and taxpayers, an as
set to the state instead of liability
When asked why he was willing to
spend his time and money addressing
crippled soldiers, replies; What these
boys need is cheer, not pity. These
boys must understand that they must
go out in life and get their rightful
heritage"
From my point of view, the only
reason for going out is that perhaps
it might help other men and women
to realize that an honest fight against
any kind of handicap is well worth
making.
II you have handicap, try to act
as il you hadn't. Try to forget it
yourself And, above all things, don't
let other people keep it In their minds.
II you stick to that program, you will
be surprised to find how we'll it will
work cut
"My friends laugh because l say
l feel sorry for cripple, and that I
thank God that 1 am not cripple.
But am not bluffing, or posing, when
say that, l believe l have proved
that being "a cripple is more state
of mind than body.
There is only one really insur-
mountable handicap, so far as l can
determine. That is, the loss of the in
ner power which we call the mind
Nothing else is uncomfortable. Our
bodies-what do they count? A good
deal, of course; and yet, as l havs>
said before, man may be worth
hundred thousand a year from his
neck up and not q dollar from his
neck down. l haven't a whole body,
but what there is of it is sound and
healthy. I am well and strong, and
am happy.
"Why shouldn't 1 be? Life is just
as rich for me, in the things which
really count, as for any man. Far
more so than for some men! | have
wife, family, business, and dozen in
,terests besides. Handicap? Why,
handicap is just a chance for good
honest fight"
Mr.. Bowling says: "The fight for
representative government must al
ways continue until such time as gov.
eminent becomes real science.
"The worker and his work must be
studied in its smallest detail In fact
the laws of production, transportation
and distribution must be made q
science, so that every one may have q
fairer and more equitable share of the
profits of their toil-the servant must
worthy of his hire the hire be
worthy of the servant These laws
must be made a science we must not,
in the future, depend on luck we must
all work to that end
"Out of our blunders-nut Of ours
mistakes comes wisdom. We must
profit by and make use of those dearly
bought treasures.
"The man who harks back to- the
good old times his father land his
mother land has ceased to grow. The
ly that which is to come is living. Let
us work and live for the future, for
the land of our children. The happy
road of life lies between the two ex-
tremes."
Dear reader. This is the story of
NJ j. Bowling. The'idea Of this little
story is not to capitalize his handicaps
as a means of attracting popular IA
vor, but rather to add the personal
note and to show the character of this
man.
A great many people are urging him
to file for governor. From County
charge at Is to the governor of the
State at "a is indeed big leap. But
such is possible In the Land Of the
Frse-America God bless her.