The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-07-26
Mother Said PoIitics'd Ruin
Me; She Was Right
Declares Voorhis.
SLABS Jazz PARENTS
Centenarian Advises Youths
Not to Be Journalists,
Doctors, Lawyers.
BY HARRY r. LANDER
United Press staff Correspondent

NEW YORK, July 26.-Fifty-six
years ago, when John R. Voorhis,
then A years old, told his mother
that he had received political
appointment, the aged lady begged
him not to accept it, warning that
politics would be the ruination of
him.
John r. VoorhiS celebrates his
one hundredth birthday anniversary
Saturday. He is the president of the
New York City board of elections
and has been for eleven years. He
is the grand sachem of the Tam
many society and has been for
eighteen years.
But today. looking back on the
flfty-siX years of public life and
public office and 100 years of
variety Of experiences, Voorhis said:
Mother was right"
Raps Mothers of Today
Like the old-fashioned man one
would expect a centenarian to be,
Voorhis paused on the threshold of
his second century to pay tribute
to mother-inf1uence, to his own
mother in particular, and to fling
a scornful word at jazz-mad, cigaret
smoking, gin-drinking mothers OF
today.
Whatever of my life is of any
credit to myself and benefit to
Others" Voorhis said. paraphrasing
Abraham Lincoln's quotation that
was coined when Voorhis was ma
ture. Il attribute mostly to the tu-
ition and counsel received from mys
good mother.
That should be the experience
of every child. I don't think, how
ever, that smoking cigarets and go
ing to midnight frolics qualify a
mother for that"
Any man who has lived for Ten
decades may be expected to reach
into the rich Storehouse of expert
ence for advice to young men, Voor-
his ShunS the role of prophet and
of patriarchal advice giyer, because
he Is a busy man, working each day
in hi, Office in the municipal build
ing.
Advises Mechanical Pursuits
Pressed for word to all young
men, the sort OF word that he may
have given his 22-year- old married
great-grandson. the veteran yielded.
Il would advise the young man of
today to turn his mind in the direc-
ton Of mechanical and engineering
pursuits. he said.
A cleaning smile lighted up the
aged, but nevertheless sparkling
bright blue eyes, as he added:
II would not advise him to be a
journalist. Neither would I suggest
that he be physician. It is seri-
Gus profession, requiring particular
fitness, which many do not seem,
from my observation, to have
Neither would advise that he be
a lawyer. That pursuit seems to in
duce-I won't say require-the
taking of either side of divided
question where retaining fee calls |
for it.
He's Against Politics.
Nor would 1 advise any young
man to follow my example and 60
into so-called public life. When
first was appointed to Office, my
mother begged me not to accept it
and said it would be the ruination
of me. She gave instance of some
Of our acquaintance in public Of
flee ewho seemed to be going from
little to nothing.
mo, 1 would not advise politics
as a career for young man.
Mother was right"
This man Voorhis bellies all popu-
lar conceptions of centenarians.
The body is indeed old. The figure
is bent. But the step is brisk. The
face is lined, but not deeply. and
the voice that issues from it is en-
tirely wanting in the quavering,
cracked tones of extreme age 1t
has the sonorousness suggestive of
half his years and his sentences
are we'll rounded with a quantity
oratorical phrasing.
Until a year ago he read even
the finest print without the aid Of
glasses. Now his secretary reads to
him. His hearing is almost perfect. |
VoorhiS gave up smoking only a
year or so ago because he thought |
that Smoking-which he had en-
joyed all his mature years-might |
have something to do with his eyes
failing bit.
Drinking of alcoholic beverages.
which VoorhiS always had enjoyed |
in moderation. he gave up recently, |
because of his disgust at the quality I
OF the supply hereabouts.