The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-06-07
| 0WDENTURNED
FR0NLAN TO
FARMING
Organized Many Big Trusts
Now Owns 100, 900 Acres
Of Farm Lands
By o. NJ KILE.

(CopyrIght, 1924.l

Ox14N<ANgOb u1AO lily ACNAs<A0
close to Calvin Coolidge have been
o. Lowden for the past two months
in an effort to persuade him to
accept tho Vice Presidential nonlina-
ton, says the governors close
friends and advisers here.
These same intimate friends,
knowing the grounds for Mr.. Low
den's objections, still insist that
they would be much surprised should
he finally agree to accept. These
objections are largely personal,
though the existing political situa-
ton, particularly the strong diver.
sion Of views as between the East
and the West, has much to do with
this refusal to date.
But the fact remains that Mr..
Lowden seems today the most likely
choice. He is given credit for the
| pulling power to tring in, the farm
vote, even to carry the Dakotas and
Nebraska. 1t Is therefore in order
to inquire what manner Of farmer
leader Is this former governor Of
Illinois and the mar who last Oc-
tober turned down appointment to
the arnbassadorship at the Court OF
| st. James.
E8ther q BI0CiISmlth.
Lowden's start In life was IN
general accordance with the &C.
copied origin of our Presidential
timber. He was born in a village
| in Minnesota 90 small that 1t il
not marked on the maps. But his
father instead of being a farmer,
as called for in the usual formula.
was blacksmith. At an early age,
however, his family moved to Hardin
county, Iowa. where the Lowdsns
lived on a farm and later In Q
country village.
After passing through the local
schools, term or two at the col
lege at Ames, and finally the old
Northwestern University at Chi
his single as a lawyer in the lat
ter city. Then began a period of
activity Of which Mr.. Lowden il
often reminded whenever his nanAb
Is mentioned in connection with
public office, particularly where the
farm vote is solicited. Within ten
years Mr.. Lowden became the
leading corporation lawyer in Chi.
cago. He organized some Of the
first large trusts to come into ex-
istence. He organized the consoli.
dalton known as the National Bis
cult Company in 1896 and the
American Radiator, in 1897. He
was for many years chairman Of
the board of directors Of the Pull
man Car Company. He married ths
daughter Of George M. Pullman, the
Inventor Of the Pullman car. This
brings us down to about the year
1909, or little later. Nothing so
L fot NNfN 81 S,N~, r.
any special hold upon the farm
vote.
Owns 100000 Acres in Farms.
In 1902 Mr.. Lowden gave up most
OF his legal connections and became
farmer. He moved out to his
newly purchased 5,0O0.acre farm in
west Central Illinois, since known
as Sinnissippi. He and his wife
later acquired other lands, includ.
Ing SO,000-acre cotton and alfalfa
iarm In Arkansas, a cattle ranch
IN the IexaS Panhandle ana orchard
properties In Michigan. His land
holdings now approximate 100 .O00
acres. Like most farmers. he has
Deen heavy loser during the past
few years.
! Along with his farming opertions.
Mr.. Lowden served in Congress-
from 1906 to 1911. His activities
mere were not conspicuous. II was
In 1917 that his election to the
governorship Of lnlnois first brought
the name OF Lowden prominently
70 public attention. His first act as
governor was to abolish Ill State
commissions and combine them into
| nine departments. When he went
IN as governor the State had SIT
IN Its treasury and when he left
In 1921 1t had $21 900, 900 on hand.
despite the fact, too, that he had
reduced the tax rate Al per cent.
He introduced the State BUDGET
system. Here again Governor Low.
den took a personal interest in
agriculture.
His second message to the State
Legislature was devoted to a study
OF the farm tenancy problem. He
early became interested in the CO.
operative marketing movement and
has spoken far and wide On this
and other agricultural subjects. He
at present is chairman OF the
National Wheat Growers Advisory
Committee. The only other official
position he holds Is the presidency
OF the H0lstein.Friesian Association
Of America.
There you have the high points
in Mr.. Lowden's career. l leave 1t
to you to decide whether he IL a
farmer or farmer-mInded. But there
Is no question about his reputation
Of being popular with the Mid
Western farmers. Therefore the
pressure being directed upon him
to accept the place Of honor beside
Mr.. Coolidge on the Republican