, 1921-11-14
John w. Hay Of Rock Springs

John w. Hay of Rock springs"-
how many times I have heard his
name mentioned in this fashion since
1 came to wyoming I would not ven
ture to say. and always with a kind.
ling eye and a ring OF enthusiasm IN
the voice Of the speaker
For a Ions time I have s~pecuiated
/, mildly as { what quality or qualities
John W. Hay OF Rock Springs
might have which made him not only
universally admired and respected
but held In affectionats regard by all
who know him personally
His name. too. was always coupled
with that OF Rock Springs as II there
was some special distinction attached
to hRiling from this metropolis in
Sweetwater county.
within the last month n spontane-
Gus demand that John W. Hay per-
nit himself to be named as a candi-
date for governor a gone UP from
every city and cross-road and spread
like fire among dried sunflowcr stalks
{ a Kansas ravine, which is the fast
es, thing ! know OF.
The clamor has an insistent note
in 1t that does not mean TO take no
for an answer.
Anyway. last week I had an oppor-
tunity to meet John W. Hay OF Rock
Springs. and now 1 feel satisfied
Perhaps l may say without hurting
his vanity by my candor, that Mr.. Hay
is no matinee idol. A movie manager
would think twice before he gave
him n job except in a moi scene or
as the Innocent Bystander. There is
n6thing In his appearance to indicate
that What Well Dressed Men Are
wearing is his favorite column. and
/ doubt IL he ever received a single
mash note from a strange lady on
the strength Of his face or ''fisger."
But looks count for little, as / long
ago discovered after finding that a
man whom I took to be a Grand Duke
Of Russia was n c~hiropodist from Phil
adelphia- SO. while John w. Hay
might be mistaken for nearly any
body from the pastor of n Methodist
Episcopal Church South to a success
full burglar. one has only to listen TO
him for n few minutes to realize that
with his iikeable personality, common
sense and a shrewdness that is quite
above trickery. he could not well be
the than a strong man in whatever
community Fate happened to place
him.
Enthusiastic admirers call him the
strongest man in Wyoming today.
but as TO that 1 know nothing. I know
only that he is strong" with the
dame who helps edit tho Park coun-
ty Enterprise for the same
that make him strong elsewhere.
His name suits him admirably; John
Hay is plain. democratic. and has
none of the egotism which SO often
makes men who have hood their own
row to n successful finish such tire
some company.
Sc * rot s~elf-cente-ed and is far
more anxious to talk OF someone
else's affairs than his own. He 2
quick perceptions and an instan,
grasp of situations hat is direct and
accurate. No man could be better
fitted TO handle the perplexing prob
lens which confront n chief execu-
tive than Mr.. Hay. for the reason
hat he has been both wage Garner
and employer; he understands the
feelings and attitude OF the working
man as well as that of the capitalist.
Above all. he is inately honest.
Honesty with him is not a matter of
policy II have to be square with
myself whatever happens" is the way
he expressed his feelings. Also one
cannot doubt but that he has plenty
of moral Courage and he would as
quickly tell a corporation where to
mead in as an individual without in
fluence.
He is a believer In Organization
:'that's what gets results in any line
of ~endeavor," he said emphatically.
He would not talk politics but 1t is
plain he is not seeking the governor,
ship. and it is very clear that he pre-
fers to be a private citizen.
Mr.. Hay is president of the Wyo-
ming Bankers Association, president Of
the Rock Springs National bank and
one of the largest sheep raisers in
the state.
He came to Rock Springs in ga sc
he is of the old West. with the stand
ards OF the old West, its broadness
and ig-heartedness.
AS an example of the latter no bet
ter Illustration could be given thar
his action last week in voluntarily
paying the wages OF the men who hac
been employed at the Two Dot ranch
upon which ranch he was obliged te
foreclose a mortgage-the back wage.
amounting TO the tidy sum OF $500.
So this is the kind OF a man thai
the people are calling from the wilds