Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-31
Hurjju
Continued From First Page.)

method of basing forecasts on
the experience of selected COM
munitieS across the United States
put him in the right column with
the early Roosevelt elections and
in the victory of President Eisen-
hover last November, but on the
wrong side in some of the inter-
vening elections.
Born January %. 1892. he at
tended high school at Crystal
Falls and business college at
Yakima, Wash, before entering
the University of Washington at
Seattle. There he got a bache-
lor of arts degree.
His early life was a succession
Of struggle against hardship.
once he decided to venture west
from Michigan. He is reputed
to have arrived in Yakima with
a battered valise and one penny
in his pocket. Somehow he made
a go of it there and in Alaska.
He took jobs as a printers ap-
prentice and a post Office clerk
before he went into the news
paper business in Texas. Later
he edited a newspaper in Alaska
and in 1917 came to Washing
ton as secretary to the former
delegate from Alaska. Charles A.
Sulzer.
He returned to Texas as edi-
tor of the paper in Breckenridge
from 1925 and was a financial
and mining analyst in New York
for the next four years.
After correctly forecasting the
election of Mr.. Roosevelt in 1882,
he was brought to Washington
by James A. Farley, the Demo-
cratic National Chairman and
Postmaster General. Mr.. Hurja
was appointed executive director
of the party's National commit
tee.
Ran For House in 1916.
From 1887 until 1889 he was a
financial analyst. He then
bought Pathfinder, which he
published and edited for six
years. He was the unsuccessful
Republican candidate for Con-
gress from Michigan's 18th dis
trict in 1916. Thereafter, he de-
voted most Of his time to analy-
tical and statistical working, in
Guiding his frequent election
forecasts.
Mr.. Hurja was an authority
on Andrew Jackson and owned
one of the finest collections of
Jackson era documents and
papers.
His excellent collection of
Texas history and lore was
turned over to that State for
keeping at the San Jacinto
monument.
During World War I he served
in the Army Air Corps, rising to
the rank Of captain. He belonged
to many clubs and societies and
was honored frequently by vari-
Gus groups.
Among the honors were two
decorations from the Finnish
Order of White Rose and the
Norwegian Order of st. Olav.
Wrote Several Books.
He belonged to the National
Press Club. Burning Tree Coun-
try Club. the Society of Ameri-
can Historians, the American
Political Science Association, the
American Economic Associa-
ton and the American Mining
and Metallurgical Engineers. He
also held membership in the
Mining. Players and Explorers
Club. New York.
Mr.. Hurja joined Kappa Sigma
social fraternity in college and
belonged to Sigma Delta Chi
Journalism fraternity. He was
a member of the Masonic order.
He was the author of several
books, including History of
Presidential 1naugurations" and
Westward Ho, Fare Paid"
Mr.. Hurja was married in 1929
to Miss Gudrun Cecilia Anderson,
is prominent in the social and
cultural activities of Washington.
Their home Is at 1908 Forty
fourth street NV.
In addition to his widow, Mr..
Hurja is survived by these broth
erS and sisters: Col. Arthur o.
Hurja Of Oak Park, H.; Neal