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III' Ktor tn Washington
v. I'n look. down fiom tho
gallery upon the sleepy,
green-carpeted suMinto Is
t tit c to he Itupi sscd and
pTi..ioil. if not actually
thrilled, by tho presneo
of a Mind man in that
dinning citadel of feder
alism; n senator without
power to soo, the youngest member of
tin' "American house of lorda." rcpre
sc ntlng tho youngest statu in tho
I uion.
If the story of Senator Gore of
Oklahoma could servo no other pur
pose than to UhiHtrato how a binvo
heart and persistent amhitlon ran
ovtieomo even the greatest dlfllcul
t'cs in life It would bo woith tolling.
Loyally to a set purpose, maintained
resolutely through 25 yearn of bitter
struggle, raised this poor blind Ameri
can boy to n seat in the most distin
guished law-making body in tho world,
although he potnetiines lived on tho
verge of starvation. Nothing could
shako his detorminaliqu to bo a sen
ator. Ho had no oyes. but ho had a
tongue. Ho had no money, but ho had
courage. He was obscure, but ho had
a high ambition. Ho could not soo tho
woi Id about him, but ho had a smile
to win it, a perseverance to compel
its admiration nnd support.
A few months after Mississippi was
readmitted to tho Union in 1570 Thom
as Pryor Goro was born on an S0-acro
farm 30 miles from tho nearest : all-way
Hero tho boy grow up among the
creeks and pines, a stocky, gray-eyed Ilttlo fel
low, who could outrun any of his companions.
When he was six years old the village of Walthall
was established In the woods nearby and the
Goro family went there to lho. Young Tom at
tended a omall school sot among tho trees out
side of tho village.
At the ago of eight years tho boy's left eyo
was blinded by an accidental blow from a stick.
Thrco years Inter ho was employed as a pago In
tho Mississippi senate and boarded at tho house
of Senator .1. 7.. George in Jackson. Ono day.
while playing with u crossbow, an arrow entered
his right eyo and destroyed his sight.
In spite of his affliction young Goro managed
to stand at tho head of his class in school and at
tho ago of 17 years entered n normal school
which was opened. Hero ho gradually became
totally blind, yet ho mastered tho high school
course.
While Goro was attending tho high school his
closest companion was a classmate, Charles II
Plttman. This youth used to read to him. Ono
day they found an old volumo of tho Congres
sional Record. Going out to tho stable, tho blind
student would stand for hours while Pittman read
to him the speeches of tho lawmakers at Wash
ington. During that winter Goro nnd his slater taught
school for a few months. All tho whllo his moth
er, a bedridden invalid, read to him history, biog
raphy and other subjects connected with his po
litical plans, and ho would sit by tho bed, a
strange smllo on his blind countenance, dreaming
and brooding and waiting for tho day when ho
might take part in tho great battlo of politics llko
other men.
His great chanco came in tho spring of 1SDI.
Tho Populist movement was spreading rapidly
and ho joined It. In tho stato campaign for a
ieglslaturo to elect a United States senator ho
took up tho causo of harksdnlo against George,
although ns a boy ho had lived In George's house '
Tho blind orator shrank from no conflict. IIo
oven debated with Senator Money, whoso tonguo
nil Mississippi dreaded and who smiled majes
tically when told that bis opponent wan "a poor,
blind schoolboy." Senator Monv declared that,
but for his antagonlit'fl blindness, ho would hold
him personally responsible for his words a
deadly thing to Bay in Mississippi. Gore prompt
ly replied, "Let him then blindfold himself and 1
will meet him."
In September of that year ho wont to the law
school at Cumberland university, Tennessee, and
studicQ law for ten months. Ho was one of tho
leading six students in a class of 42. This expe
rience cost him $Xl and ho returned to his Mis
sissippi villago with only 25 cents In his pocket,
In n cult of clothes ho had worn for 14 months.
Ho had almost been compelled to leave tho law
school months boforo for tho lack of suitable
clothing.
Yet his unquenchablo ambltisa to reach tho
United States senato grow more Intense as tho
diillculties of bis situation increased.
Gore's father had taken up tho practice of
law in Walthall and, on returning from tho law
school in 1892 tho youth was welcomed ns an
assistant in tho ofllco. That year, too, ho was a
presidential elector on tho Populist ticket, at
tacked GroVer Cleveland on tho stump nnd carried
ills county.
Tho practice of law was not an inspiring occu
pation In Walthall. Thero wero nctually 45 law
j era In that small, poor villago. Tho blind advo
cate tried a fow enses.
After a two years' effort to earn a living as
a lawyer In tho placo of his blith Goro decided
to go to Texas.
Having saved 540, ho started In April, 1894,
for Toxarkana, 'arriving thero an absoluto stran
ger with only ?21 In his pocket. Ho secured a
boarding house and promptly offered himsolf to
tho Populist leaders for service In tho approach
ing stato and county oloctlons. His political
speeches brought in money enough to pay his ox
penscs, but ho found no chanco to practice law.
In tho winter ho went back to Walthall nnd for a
year mudo another desporato effort to win success
ns a lawyor. Ho was nominated for congress by
tho Popullata, but was defeated. Yot his speeches
iu tho campaign attracted much attention.
On tho last day of tho year 1895 tho sightless
and unsuccessful lawyer decided to abandon tho
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struggle in his native spot and to go back to
Texas. Hoforo leaving Walthall lie made a vow
that ho would never enter the villago again until
ho could icturn to his neighbors a United States
senator.
That year in Texas was a hard one Goro
threw himself into politics with passionate en
ergy. Ho was a delegate to tho Populist conven
tion at St. Louis which nominated Mr. llryan and
seconded the nomination. In December, ISOii, he
and his brother opened a law allien. It was a
fierce struggle with the world. His father, moth
er and brother lived with lilm. Sometimes they
were without a single dollar.
In April. 1899. Gore's fortunes had sunk so
low that he appeared In tho street with frayed
clothing, broken bbocs and a visage whlto with
deprivation. One dny it seemed as though ho had
come faco to faco with actual starvation, when an
old negro woman paid $2 which sho owed him
and that saved the situation.
When Mr. Hrynn was nominated at Kansas
City In 1900 Gore found his way to tho crowd that
surrounded the convention. Ho was now a Demo
crat. It might help him on his way to tho senato
If ho could make speeches in tho neighborhood
of a national convention.
Hurrying on to South Dakota- ho had only' $7
left when ho got there Goro went to tho stato
convention and secured an engagement to speak
In tho stnte during tho presidential campaign. In'
this way he picked up J1.000. Then lie went back
to Toxas and married a beautiful girl. "It was
love at llrst sight." he said, laughingly.
After tho presidential campaign was over
Gore's $1,000, earned In tho South Dakota tour,
soon melted awny, and littlo money came In to
take Its place In 1901 things went bo badly with
him and his senatorial prospects seemed so dim,
that when an advertisement of nn auction of land
lots in tho nowly opened Kiowa, Comanche and
Apache reservation In Oklahoma appeared in tho
newspapers ho decided to leavo Texas and pur
sue his great ambition In the new country.
As a first step tho elder Gore, now a white
haired man, went to Oklahoma and becamo a
notaiy public in tho hopo of earning fees from
the land-crazy ciowds. In July, 1901, tho blind
lawyer and his brother went to ho now land,
driving 45 miles In n wagon to Fort Sill. Hero
Gore lived in n tent with his father and brother
In the midst of an excited crowd. Ills father sat
InBido as a notary, whllo he, attired In an alpaca
coat, colored shirt and slouch hat, walked up and
down before the tent, waving his hand nnd shout
ing, "Here's where yon get your pnpors out!
Here's tho right plnco to get your land papers!"
In tho daytime ho entreated tho crowd; at night
ho Blept on tho ground.
Falling to diaw a land claim, the Gores moved
out four miles to Lawton, nn encampmont on the
open prairie. Hero 15,000 persons were living in
tents where tho wild blue-stem grass was waist
high. It was a Dabylon of gamblers, fakirs, farm
ers and busincBs men, all waiting for tho open
ing of tho land on August G. Thero wero grocery
and hardware stores in tents; 'gambling tables
nnd shows in tents; churchos and snloous in
tents. Kvpii newBpnpcrs wero printed in tents.
Poor men, rich men, preachers, thieves wero
mixed up In Hint picturesque, dramntlc hurly
burly of mules, wngons, women nnd children. Men
wero killed, children wero born, robberies wero
committed.
Throe days after tho lots were sold and whllo
Lawton was still a tented camp, thero was an
other political mass meeting, this llmo in the big
tent of Dick Huasoll, a saloon keoper. Goro was
thero and offered a resolution favoring tho ad
mission of Oklahoma and Indian territory to the
Union ns a single state
A fow dnya later and tho men of Lawton or
ganized a citlzons' committeo to get a chnrter
and orgnulzo n city government. Of courso Goro
was thero and of courso ho was on tho commlttoo.
Then a commercial club was organized by tho
tent dwellers and Goro wna on tho committeo to
draft by-lawB. Ho missed no opportunity that
might lead to tho senate
Presontly ho bought n small lot for $155 and
started to build a cottago through tho help of a
building and loan agency, When bis wifo reached
Lawton In 0 tober Gnm was MiM In his
tout. His wife 11 slik and Un four months
ho was her only nuisc, nnw when their
baby came In January. When they moved
into their own cottage and furnished It with
a stove and a fow ai tides of furniture they
had only SI left. They hail to lent out
three of their live rooms.
The baby wns born in desperately cold
weather in a loom heated only by a tiny
cook stove It lived only 17 days and was
burled on the pinirle
That winter tried the mnn In him. For
mouths ho and his fair, young wife llcd on
scanty portions of bread, beans and beef
liver, with syrup made of sugar dissolved iu water
for dessert.
All through this time his wife encouraged ills
political ambitious.
Iu April, 1902, Gore managed to go ns a dele
gate to tho territorial convention that was to
chooso n delegate to congress fiom Oklahoma and
his speecli Iu rosponso to the welcome of the
mayor of Knld so struck tho fancy of the delegates
that there was a movement to make him the choice
of the convention. He declined tho honor In favor
of others. It was a shrewd move and counter
balanced tho fact that lie was a newcomor in Okla
homa. The result was that he was elected to tho
territorial Bcnate.
Tho light for a seat in the United Slates honnto
was now pressed systematically. Having intio
duced a child labor bill In tho ieglslaturo and de
clared his friendship for organized labor, Goro
spent the year 1903 in widening ills acquaintance,
attending picnics, bnrbecues nnd county fnirs, lec
turing for anything from $5 to $25, shaking hands
witli tho crowds nnd smiling his way into their
honrtB.
Then enme tho presidential campaign of 1901
and Gore got $4 or $5 a day from tho Democrats
for speaking in Indlann, Ohio and Illinois. Ho had
no dcslro to go back to tho territorial legislature,
knowing that his grcnt ambition could bo better
served by tho publicity of service iu tho national
campaign.
Gore fought linrd for Oklahoma's admission to
tho Union. No man was more nctlvo In tho agi
tation. But he would not go to the national capital.
"I won't go to Washington till I go with tho
right to spnnk and vote in tho sennte," ho said.
Tho statehood bill was passed by congress In
1900. Then the political air of Oklahoma was
"full of razorH" as tho struggle for lho two now
senatorshlps began with tho primary campaign to
elect a legislature Gore's opponents wero both
rich men, who spent their money freely. Ho
stayed in Guthrie, borrowing money to pay tho
$1.50 a week which It cost him to live. Doing at
the capital, ho met men from nil over tho stato
and wns able to mako shrewd combinations.
It was a tragic thing to sec a blind man har
assed by poverty lighting against his rich rivals,
ouo a banker nnd tho other a lawyer, but, however
ho bled Inwardly. Goro gnvo no sign that ho aaw
anything pathetic In his situation. His friends
wanted him to abandon his ambition for a tlmo
and run for congress.
"It Is tho Bonato or nothing," ho replied.
In April, 1907, he began to mako speeches all
ovor tho state
Ho spoko on street corners, from tho tops of
boxos, from cart tails, anywhere, everywhere, night
and day. Tho leading newspapers Ignored him,
whilo his rlvnls wero ablo to buy advertising
spaco and ono of them hired brass bnuds, opera
houses and advance ngonta. In March ho had
mortgaged his house for $1,000, but tho money wns
soon gone. To get his name on the prlmnry ballot,
under tho rules of tho Democratic stato convention,
ho had to pay $375. But on tho Inst day allowed
for tho payment ho found himself with only $8. In
sheer desperation ho mado out his check for $375
and paid It in. A Mr. Young saved him by raising
tho money to meet tho check.
As tho voting drew nenr lho blind candidate's
circumstances beenmo moro desporato than over.
Ho was spending about $21 a week for traveling
'expenses. To get out of monoy at that stngo of
4ho light would have been fatal. Ho mado from
two to four speeches a day, although ho would
sit up all night In hotels to savo paying for n bed,
and nto only ouo meal a day. At times ho would
go from ono day to another on chceso nnd crackers
carriod in his gripsack. So great wns tho physical
ordeal that ho lost 30 pounds weight.
Gbro won his fight In tho prlmnry election and
was elected to tho United States sennto by tho
Ieglslaturo, drawing tho Abort term. Tho strugglo
cost him $1,100, cxclusivo of tho $375 ho paid to
got his nnmo on tho prlmnry ballot, Ono of his
opponouts Is said to havo spout $75,000.
It was a grand day for Oklahoma whon her
blind man got into tho United States Rcunto.
In 1908 ho went homo nnd wbb re-elected. When
ho ronched Lawton a cheering crowd surrounded
tho carrlago nnd took him nnd his wlfo to their
cottago. As roar after roar broke on tho nir ho
turned to his wifo nnd whispered, "They don't
scorn to know that It's only mo."
NEWS NOTES OF INTEREST PROM
, VARIOUS SECTIONS.
ALL SUBJECTS TOUCHED UPON
Relinlous, Social, AHrljultur.il. Pollt-
lc.il .incl Other Matters Given
Due Consideration.
The Midwest Life
Why not Join the agency ion e of
The Midwest Life? it is Juxt cIomIhk
is fourth year and hun 52,1 Su.nOO r
InMinniee In loree with milUUed
policyholders It treats Its intents nnd
linllcyhohtri'N on the square nnd has
never bad a law suit of any kind or
ileKcrlpllnn. Claims are paid prompt
ly an Hiinn an proofs oi death are sub
milted. The policies of The Midwest
Life are fair ami liberal and premium
lutes arc low There Is an Ineieaslng
determination on the part of . Nebraska
people to patronle safe and conserva
tively malinger Nebraska companies.
I'hey aie leallzlng more and inoie
that money paid company like The
.Midwest Life leiniilns iu Nebraska;
that It is loaned heie; slays here In
panics and liiiaucial depressions, and
Is not sent away when muni needed
Theie are good openings for tluee or
four more General Agents nnd nny
number of local or part time men.
Write N Z Sue, President, at Liu-culn.
HHlH dfoi 4P mfK &&
H MI HbM iRtaF w-y vv
m trot vjt"' Ntpr Hiiyia c
Sarsapa&illa
i'y .virtue of its unequalcd
bloQcl-purif inpc, nc rvc-strcng-ihoning,
stoivuu h-tfining.appc-tito-restorintf
properties, i.-; the
ono Circut Spring M-dicinc.
Oct II loilm In lliin.l fnr'ii or rliiicol.ilctl
Ulilili i.illcit S iroitiilx. I'W ilj-.i't tl.
had""a private "menagerie
The electric light plant at Alnsley
was destiojed by Hie.
W. L. .lolinson, who has Just moved
to lloldredge from lilalr, will assume
the directorship of the newly organ
ized lloldredge band.
Miss Hmimi Christine Tngge, aged
20. was round dead in the shed at, tho
larm home ten miles from Grand
island. She had been iu poor health.
The York Commercial club has Hied
with the State Hallway commission
a petition asking that the Adams
Kxprvss company's local oHlee ho
moved near the center of thu busi
ness of the city.
Henry Meyer lias been given a ver
dict In district court for $2,'.)70
against Gelhert TJnden. Meyer sued
for $5,000 damages for Inlurles re
ceived in a light with TJadeu during
which ills leg was fractured.
A deal was closed by which C. II.
Sheldon & Son became tho owners of
tho old ltay Stato feeding station.
located near the lovvn of North Hem!.
Tills ranch comprises 775 acres, and
brought $70,000 or neaily $100 per
acre
Taken sick on the day that her
husband, with whom she had lived
almost ilfty years, was hurled, Mrs.
Pauline Lund, residing near Sacra
mento, Phelps county, died not from
my physical aliment, hut because she
vvaH broken-hearted.
Miss Louise Ormsby, the Central
City singer, who has attained a wldo
reputation ns a vocalist, arrived last
week from New York city for a few
weeks' rest at tho homo of her par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. 10. L. Ormsby, at
that place.
The Stato hank or St. I.lbory of St.
Llliory, eleven miles north of Grnnd
Inland, was organized with C. C. Han
sen of the Grand Island rational bank
as president, and 13. M. Hrass, J. II.
Hurnhain, Gus Slcvers and Mr.
Leuthauser as directors.
At a special election held In Alli
ance for tho purpose of issuing bonds
to tho extent or $75,000 for tho pur
pose of enlarging tho water sys
tem and purchasing the electric light
light plant! tho bonds can led by a
majority of 201.
Following is the Gage county mort
gage record for tho month of March:
Kami mortgages Hied, fi9; amount
$28G,01S. Farm mortgages released,
183; amount, $205,183. City mort
gages, Hied, 10; amount $2S.4G0. Re
leased, 33; amount, $l,r8G.
The residence and property of K. C.
Strlmplo of Nnponce, wns completely
destroyed by lire. In just nineteen
minutes from tho tlmo the flro made
Up nppearanco tho entire property,
house, bam, sheds and household ef
fects were a mass of ashes. Ono horso
that was in tho yard at tho tlmo tho
ilro broke out, ran Into the stable and
wns consumed.
Tho Y. M. C. A. or Fremont Is go
ing to conduct n cnnvnss to clear up
an lmiobtetiness oi wmi,
for ilfteen yarn.
The latest developments Iu tho
barn burning south of Cndumls re
cently show that thero was ono moro
gelding than Mr. Solbert had,
burned in tho barn, also that tho car
cass of an old plug of a horso laid
where his best young mare stood and
other ovldcnces prove that some ono
had taken his beat young team valued
at $500, replaced thorn with old and
decrepit horses and Hrcd tho barn to
cover their theft.
Tho members or tho Tecumseh
military band liavo secured 1'rof.
Joseph Chiarii.i of Clay Center, Kas.,
us bandmaster.
Tho board of managers of tho West
Point Speed association, recently or
ganized to plnco West Point on tho
racing circuit, nro having much suc
cess in raising the necessary funds
for the, commencement of active
work. Tho soliciting committeo have
been well received by tho citizens
and no doubt Is entertained of suc
cessful floating tho proposed enterprise
No Other Explanation for Colonel's
Extraordinary Outbreak Seems
Possible.
"lilt's it wonder to ni" an Id tho
aid lainily servant, "il.it de ol' Wunnel
don't go Into de cln us buniin-ss, out an
out lie m'o no many anlmlleii 'long
'bout de Chrls'iniiH time, an' dey does
sleh funny nicks' Least ways, dat
what lie tay. Only ylstlddy tie preach
er come tor see him. ildln' of Ills ol
blip' boss 1 mean de boas what bllii'
Iu one eye an' Wen de Ituunel spied
him he holler out: 'Git oiT dent two
elephants, an' tu'n dat tiger aloose,
lor' lie bite de life onten you! An
shoo dein two monkeys off yo shoul
der, an' don't let dat giraffe poko his
long neck In my winder" Well, sub,
tie preacher wu. d'ar keiilununuxed.
he wuz, seeln' ez dar warn't nuttln
't all dar but him an' his ol' him' boss;
but w'en he seen tie kunuel grab bin
ol' war musket nn holler dat he'd
shoot dom monkeys off his nhoiiUlor,
tie preacher say: 'Lawtl he'p him!
an' do time dat ol' hlln' boss mado git
tin' back tor whar ho come lum wiu
too quick tor be hot down Iu de raclti'
rlckoids!" Atlanta Constitution.
A Small Loaf.
A half-raniishcd follow In the south
ern states tells of a baker (whoso
loaves had been growing "small by
by degrees and beautifully less") who,
when going his rounds to servo bin
customers, slopped ut the door of ono
and knocked, when the lady within ox
claimed: "Who's there V" and was
answered: "Tho baker." "What do
you want? i'o leavo your bread."
"Well, you needn't make such n rusii
nbrnit it; put It through the keyhole."
Stern Justice in Russia.
In 11 vo years ii,2S3 death .sentences
havo boon pronounced by Russian
Judges and 2.S55 of these wero car
ried Into execution. This Is an aver
age of 101 death sentences and IS ex
ecutions for every month. Hut thero
were some months in which the num
ber ran up to 220. January, 1908, wan
tho richest In executions, there having
been as ninny us 19 in ono day.
Getting in Deep.
"Father," said littlo Hollo, "what Ii
tho fourth dimension?"
"Why or my son, that Is hard to
explain to tho inexpert intelligence
It Is something that may exist, only
you can't locate it."
"I know. It's llko the piece or plo
I'm to get when thero ia company to
dinner."
Critics and Managers Clash.
Hotwoen tho wholo proas of Copen
hagen and all tho theatrical manngora
a curious contest has sturted because
the managers want to compel tho
critics to write only favorable notices.
Tho contest began when tho board of
theatrical managers forbade tho ad.
mission of one critic representing u
special theatrical paper.
Melody Is the golden thread run
ning through tho maze or tones by
which tho ear Is guided uud tho heart
reached. Christian!.
A man's idea or ti generous act Is
having a chance to take all another
fellow's money and leaving him somo
looso change.
Blessed Are They That Want Little.
TIiobo who want fewest things aro
nearest to tho gods. Diogenes.
Many a
Clever
Housewife
.Has
serve
learned that to
Post
Toasties
Saves worry and labor,
and pleases each mem
ber of the family as few
other foods do.
The crisp, dainty, fluffy
bits are fully cooked
ready to serve from the
package with cream or
good milk. i
Give the home-folks a
treat.
V.
"The Memory Lingers'
Pkgs ioc. and 15c.
Postum Cereal Company, Ltd.,
Battle Creek, Mich.
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