The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-02-02
An Imperial Democrat.
6New York Times. )


 If the spirit of old Sam Houston presides at the Democratic Convention which is to be held in the Texas city that bears his name there will be union within the ranks of the Democratic Party. The o'd General first pioneer and second d efeat leader. In both those capacities be feeoga1sa the valre Of cooperation. In fact, he Was Cove of Texas when the State se- Ieeded from the Union. and rather than violate the wsfe of his people, though these were in contradiction to his sentiments in favor iof preserving the Unicn. he resigned as Governor and retired from politics.
 There has been few more picturesque figures in the history of the West than this fearless and dynamic frontier statesman. He belonged to the school of George Rogers Clark and Daniel Boone and the pioneers of the old Southwest who explored and opened up the country fought for it. and helped prepare it for civilization Andrew Jackson had early recognized the young mans qualities, and befriended him in many ways He was an associate of Davy Crockett. who in his time pioneer. hunter Congressman and prototype of our own Will Rogers As Governor of Tennessee in the first years of Jackson's Presidency he figure of national promin- ence
 The frontier atmosphere of Tennessee of that day curious mixture of freedom and prejudice. Governor Houston fell afoul of one of the canons of backwoods custom by leaving his newly married wife without explanation. The incident turned against him by his political enemies and like so many other pio- lneers he crossed the Mississippi into the rougber lregiun of Arkansas where fever questions were asked and where his frontiersman's of per sonal liberty could find freer rein After brief interval of wandering he crossed the Spanish frontier and at once plunged into the politics of the incipient Texan Republic His prestige as former Governor of Tennessee naturally made him prominent figure in the constitutional conventions and his experience in the War of 1912 led to his being named Commander Chief of the Texan forces.
 The death of many of his old friends like Crockett and Bowie at the Alamo in March 1886, drove him to vigorous efforts to defeat the Mexi- cans quarrel with the civil authorities of Texas led to his temporary withdrawal, but great his popularity that when an election for President of Texas held few months later he won overwhelmingly after campaign of only twtlve days From 1886 onward he was the leading figure in Texas, and true to his instinct for union. the chief proponent of achieved in 1S45, and the next Spring Houston served until 1859, when he became Governor of the State of which he had once been President.
 The old breed is rare in modern America, Even Texas and the Southwest, which after all are nearer to the days of the old frontier than the rest of the country today produce a more sophisticated type of leader. The backwoods school was harsh. But at it's best it bred men like Houston Jackson Benton and Brigham Young who had vision and who did not hesitate to undertake imperial tasks Theirs was the spirit best expressed in the word "gumption ' Democrats, they were yet autocrats Essentially men of the people, they yet born leaders. Self-made men, they helpd make empire. Of them all Houston of the greatest.