The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-10-15

drafted he could not refuse to serve:
And so under the leadership of
Thomas Taggart, Indiana's astute
political general, there ccrtered
around his name one of the most dra-
matte dark horse" maneuvers
ever attempted in a ma
tional political convention, maneu
yer blocked at last by the prlnclpai
when apparently on the high road
TO success.
A lawyer by profession and farm
err by inclinati on. Mr.. Ralston never
really cared for political office. he
preferred the battles of the law. tenn
pered by the quiet and peace of the
rolling acres Of his Indiana farm.
He had an abiding interest IN poll
tics, however, and was a firm believer
in the bed rock principles of demo-
cracy.
Until he was swept into the gov
errors chair in 1912, Mr.. Ralston had
sought public office only twice. and
each time was defeated. After his
four years term as chief executive,
he retired to his farm near Indiana
polls. and confided to friends that he
was through with politics.
A Man Among Men
The record he had made as COVER
! nor and his campaigning ability
| however, drew the political leaders
again and again to his doorstep. In
1920 his party pleaded with him ia
| enter again the race for governor
! but ne refused. 1t was not for long,
! however. for he was persuaded. two
years later to become a candidate
! for the Senate against Albert }. Bev.
eridge, and was elected.
| Senator Ralston stood out as man
among men wherever he went. More
than six feet tall he was proper
toned to fit his height. His friends
| declared he looked, thought and act
ed like Grover Cleveland. He was d
sticker for the Constitution, and
strictly a party man.
Born on farm in Tuscarawas
county, Ohio, on December !, 1857
| Senator Ralston came from Il hard!
pioneer stock. His great-grandfathel
served in the Continental army anC
was wounded at the battle o. Brandy
wine He was of Scotch-lrisn ances.
terry. but in his own life the ~trair
! Of the Scotch lineage was uppermost:
consequently he was cautious anc
! deliberate.
Studied Law
When the senator was eight years
old, his father moved to Indiana anc
| Crioved the average amount of pros
pcrity Of farmer until the panic OF
| 1873 when the farm was lost. Young
Ralston became butcher boy. Goa
. miner. sheep hcrder. farm laborel
! and school teacher before he took
up the study Of law.
There being too many lawyers it
his own home place, he set out foi
less populated legal fields, settling
! finally at Lebanon, Indiana. He ear
! ly entered into political fights anc
! gained reputation as a forceful
vigorous speaker. After he had serv
ed as president Of the local schoo
board his friends put him forward
! as 4 candidate for secretary o.
state but he was defeated twice fol
that office.
Mr.. Ralston's ability to go GU
among the people and gain friends
through his sincerity was recognized
and in 1912 he was nominated foI
governor During his service in tina
office he wiped out the state deb
and got behind the formation o
the public utilities commission. al
inheritance tax law. Il blue SKY law
and workingmen's compensation
law.
Settled Street Car Strike
His first chance to prove his me
tai came during the street car strlk
}, in indianapolis in 1913, when h.
called out the state militia to cur
rioting. Angry strikers crowde
around the state house. Governo
Ralston decided to state the situation
to them and against the advice o
his friends faced the mob from tn
state house steps. So effectually di
he speak that he soon had the strik
ers cheering him, and the strike wa
settled short time afterward.
Just as he had applied himself as
sidiously 10 his duties as governor
so he labored faithfully as a Senator
| He was on the floor almost constant
ly, and listened with marked atten
ton to all debates on important is
sues, contributing several addresse
on tax and tariff questions.
Mr.. Ralston was Presbyteria
and Mason. He married twice, hi
first wife dying within year afte
marriage. His second wife was Mis-
: Jennie Craven, of Center Valley, 1nt
By this union, two sons and daugt