The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-07
THORPE IS PROUD
! Of HIS SOUBR|QUET
Nebraska m. c. Was Known
In Early Life As boy
Tramp Orator"
EARLY IN POLITICAL FIELD
Stopped to Argue Issues When
PanhandIing for Square
Meal.
EARLY IN POLITICAL FIELD
..The BOY Tramp Orator. !"


!, This is the unique subriquet car
Sried by Representative R. H. Thorpe
Of Nebraska, through the major por-
ton of his life and one that he adj
nnits he likes. In fact. he said yes
terday that he will ask that 1t be en-
|graved on his tombstone.
Literally thrown into the political
aerna when but twenty-one years OF
age, Representative Thorpe says that
he has been talking" ever since.
And he claims the distinction of hav-
ing perservered to the, extent Of
landing job in the House" for the
short term Of Congress, by his ora
tory.
Recently he has been prominently
named as a possible candidate for
Senator Norris seat in the Senate
and also has been mentioned as the
probable next governor of Nebraska.
He personally does not care for these
honors, however, stating that he will
devote his efforts to being reelected
20 his present seat in the House.
It was back in 1896 that Repre-.
sentative Thorpe joined the ranks of
political speakers. The red-hot part
Of the free silver campaign was be-
ing waged in Nebraska. Thorpe,
then twenty-one years old, crawled
out of q coal car in the yards OF Falls
City and started on q panhandling
expedition for grub.
He was a slight lad then, with
pale face and long black hair. Ar
irving at the business section Of the
city, he encountered the usual crowd
Of street corner politicians wrangling
over the campaign. He Joined in
the debate with a fervor and knowl-
edge that startled his hearers. His
theme was Numerically opposed to-
free silver.
Representative Frank Reavis,
whom Thorpe succeeded in the House,
happened along at the time. He saw
: the dire want OF the hoy tramp"
and took him to his home. Good
food and new clothes followed this
lucky meeting and Thorpe had start
ed on his talking career.
From thence on he took the stump
In the various cities Of Nebraska,
and by his remarkable ability to
overcome his opponents arguments
soon became political drawing card
1t the campaign meetings.
At one time, so hard were his OPP
ponents pushed by his speeches,
Thorpe was kidnapped and held for
several days from important meet
ings.
Later. as he became better known.
he spoke on the political platform
with Judge William Hayward. Ed
ward RoseWafer, Judge A! L. SUIT.
tom Senator John NJ. Thurstcn, Mark
Hanna. John T. Rankin, Ex-Governor
Yates, Ex-Governor Bushnell. Sena-
tor James e. Watson and others.
Thorpe was born in log house
on farm near Greensburg, Ind, in
1874. He received his education in
the Greensburg High School and the
Indiana State Normal School He
left his home in the spring OF 1896
for the West. landing In Falls City,
Neb.
first and only speech in the House
last month.
He spoke on prohibition enforce
ment in connection with the Treas
ury Department appropriation tsIl.
He said: claim to have had con-
siderable experience upon the sub
Ject Of the liquor traffic in thee
thfrty-five years of contact with
humanity. And I hereby
declare from the floor that for this
education I have paid the price in
sorrows, disappointments and heart
aches ."
Representative Thorpe has devot-
ed much of his time in latter years
to the lecture platform. He will de-
liver series of lectures this sum-
mer on the West coast in connection
with the Standard chautauqua cir
cult
Through all the thirty-fife years
] have spent in politics and business"
Representative Thorpe said" "the
title bestowed upon me in Falls City
when was only twenty-one years
old, The Boy Tramp Orator. has
stuck with me. And am glad of It.
1t was the foundation of my career.
I am proud to own 1t and answer to
it."