The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-11-27
Editorial Comment
"Lafe" Young
New York Times)

(NeW York llmeS)
In his way "Iafe" Young was a more interestin:
character than many greater and more solemn men
Born in pioneer Iowa, he was brought up in villag
newspaper offices. At Is he was learning to Sc
type in the shop Of The Abba Union, edited by
smplicities Of this then newspaper and forensic
world
used to sleep with him in the office in his
bed, where he had quart of whisky leaning
against the front bcdpost, in order to take
drink whenever he awokc. He went to Oska-
loosa at time to- defend man charged with
stealing horse. The man was acquitted, and
the lawyer rode the horse home as his fee.
In 1865 he hitched his wagon to The Eddyvl,
Star:
l boarded with the editor, as usual, and was
not oyerfed The editor postmaster, and l
slept in the back part of the little postoffice.
One Of my duties was to get up at midnight
afterward when the western stage came in and
throw the mail bag on the sidewalk, when the
driver shouted "Ma!"
Primitive days, at which one loves to lcok. Be
tween jobs the boy went to school, He also en-
joycd the larger liberal education Of journeymal
printer, still cnvicd by some sedentary and pros
porous men. He started his own village newspaper
Though born little Democrat, he had become ont
Of the most Republican of Republicans. In 1890 h.
established The Des Moines Capital He knew tn
whole business-news, mechanical editorial, adver
Using circulation. But the joy and main pursuit Of
his life politics. In this capacity he was dea
to all DEVILS advocates and all true believers in til.
sacred tariff. That could be put up with advantage
Put it down, and the wide arch of our ranged unol
would fall He never forgot the days when low.
was Iowa yet. Governor Geer and Senator Allisor
and "Dave" Henderson and Jonathan p. Dovcr, be
fore his conversion, were his gcds. He fought Sen
ator Cummins, and the Iowa Idea for years, vainl,
but with undminished courage and good humOr
The irony Of death made him Delivers successor
Cummins colleague. He served five or six week.
by appointment in 1910. There was homely di
rectness in his speech, pleasing to those who wear,
little of the perfection of the saints. Mr.. Young
who had had the honor Of nominating Mr.. Roosevelt
for vice president. scandalized the insurgents HI
couldn't away with the word progressive" He
called it IAN apology for being caught with thu
gang" you've got to come back to- your fathers
house." he told the insurgents. "Im the keeper Of
the ark of the covenant" The insurgents and Pro
gressives are unfortunately doing business at tht
old stand. The ark is far from well kept and in his
last days "Lafe" accepted not without reservations
the egregious Brookhart.
We have always wished that Mr.. Young coul.
have stayed in the senate. He called the august
ones, to their faces, "those boys" To the unsuc
cessfu users Of the prosperity prescription in this
years elections, and 10 all and sundry may be com
mended "Lafe's" formula:
1t would be good thing il congress should
adjourn for two years. Legislation is q menace
at times. Let US have q cessation Of hostilities.
This is the only way to insure new era sf
prosperity
With all his prejudices and defects this unregen.
crate old standpatter had more sense than the whole
collection Of len professional walters and wsepera
n0w u ex6ib ltioa. M i vi W