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THE BLINDSENATOR
Marvelous Career of Thomas P.
Gore of Oklahoma.
How He Won Hia Fight Against Pov
erty and Adversity, and Achieved
His Early Ambitions in Spite
of Obstacles.
Oklahoma City, Ok!a. —No man in
public life today has had a more re
markable career than Senator Thomas
Pryor Gore of Oklahoma, whose
charges of attempted bribery in con
nection with the sale of Indian lands
stirred the country and brought about
investigation by a congressional com
mittee. Marvelous almost beyond be
lief were the struggles of this blind
man —blind from early youth—to
reach the great goal of his ambition —
a seat in the senate of the United
States.
Senator Gore was born on a farm in
Mississippi in 1870, later being taken
to the village of Walthall, when the
latter was created. At the age of eight
one of his eyes was jabbed out by a
playmate. But he still had one good
eye left and hi 3 grief w’as forgotten
when some friends told him one day
that he nad been appointed a page in
the Mississippi legislature. This career
was, however, ended three years after
the first accident by a fate so cruel
and unusual that it would have crushed
the spirit of ninety-nine boys out of
tiny hundred in the land. While ex
perimenting with a toy cross-bow, he
himself shot out his remaining eye.
He was now totally blind, and had
to give up his pageship. For the next
flvo years hi 3 chief diversion was to
hear his sister and mother read to
him. Then a normal school w'as opened
at his home town, and he entered, his
lessons being read to him at home and
by his schoolmates.
A debating society was organized in
this school and the blind boy joined
and displayed a wonderful aptitude
lor debate. One day a companion
found an old volume of the Congres
sional Record. Going to an old stable
the companion would read to him the
speeches of the at Wash
ington and then there entered Gore’s
Senator Thomas P. Gore.
breast the ambition to be a United
States senator —an ambition that never
left It, even in the darkest days that
followed.
In 1891 his fame as a speaker had
spread locally and he received many
Invitations to address farmers’ picnics.
The last day of 1895 he left Mississip
pi for Texas under a solemn vow J
never to return to it unless as a Uni
ted States senator.
That year in Texas was a hard one.
Gore threw himself into politics with
passionate energy. Again and again
tho family was reduced to the verge
of physical suffering. Yet year after
year they kept up the tight for exist
ence without complaint. Nor did the
blind lawyer once despair of reaching
the senate, writes James Creelman in
Pearson’s Magazine.
When Mr. Bryan was nominated at
Kansas City in 1900 Gore found his
way to the crowd that surrounded the
convention. He managed to live in
Kansas City for six days at a total
cost of $3.50. No one who heard his
voice ringing out over that scene of
national enthusiasm was permitted to
know, or even suspect, his poverty.
Then he obtained an engagement in
South Dakota to speak during the
state and presidential campaigns. In
this way he picked up SI,OOO and with
it went hack to Texas and married.
The Gore’s—including his father and
brother —decided upon going to Okla
homa. In April, 1902, Gore managed to
go as a delegate to the territorial con
vention that was to choose a delegate
to congress from Oklahoma, and was
given a seat in the territorial senate.
That summer the blind man had an
other terrible struggle to keep alive.
One day in June he had only eight
cents left. He held a war council
with his wife to consider what they
should do with the eight cents. It was
decided that the money should be
spent on postage in an effort to secure
•speaking engagements. The political
fight had to be kept up at any cost.
The fight for a seat in the United
States senate was row pressed sys
tematically. Gore spent the year 1903
In widening his acquaintance, attend
ing picnics, barbecues and county
fairs, lecturing for anything from $5 to
$25. shaking hands with the crowds
and smiling his way into their hearts.
His friends wanted him to abandon
his ambition for a time and run for
congress. “It is the senate or noth
ing,” he replied.
won his fight in the primary
and was elected to the United
senate by the legislature, draw
< short term. In 1908 he was re-
TEAR DOWN HILDA’S TOWER
Growth of Rome Necessitates the De
struction of Hawthorne’s
Heroine’s Home.
Rome. —Another landmark, dear to
the hearts of Americans, is to disap
pear from Rome, where it has been
necessary to destroy so much on ac
count of the tremendous growth of the
city.
Even those who do not know their
Hawthorne visit Hilda’s tower when in
Rome, and so much has it become an
American possession that foreigners of
all nationalities seek it out under ftiat
•#"«! g lijjP-’L
i ! Rp
k ~ Zj ||
Hilda’s Tower, Rome.
name. For here pretty Hilda lived and
fed her doves, and their descendants
can still be seen circling about the
Madonna and the tiny light in her
honor which never goes out.
The tower is being pulled down, as
a street must pass over the place, that
part of Home being uncomfortably
crowded, so that those who wish to
see Hilda’s home must be quick about
it. The history of the tower itself was
unknown, until one day, some hun
dreds of years ago, a monkey, escap
ing from its master, ran up the door
way and into a window where a young
mother was dandling her infant. The
monkey, probably in pure mischief,
seized the child, and before the desper
ate woman could give the alarm was
on the top of the tower with his pre
cious burden, making faces and chat
tering to the excited crowd beneath.
Tho poor mother sank on her knees,
and praying to the Virgin, promised
that if her baby were restored to her
she would put a figure of the Mother
of God in the very place where the
monkey sat, and that there should
burn for all time a light before it.
The monkey thereupon came quietly
down and laid the smiling and happy
child in its mother’s arms, who imme
diately set about building the prom
ised shrine. When the woman died
she left the tower to her heirs, on
condition that the-light should never
go out, *nd if neglected the tower
should pass to others less careless.
FANATICISM NEARLY FATAL
Woman, Insisting on a Seven-Times
Immersion, Is Almost Drowned
in Self-Administered Baptism.
Philadelphia, Pa.—lnsisting that she
must be baptized in her own -way, a
woman who gave the name of Mrs.
Sophie Plum, came near drowning in
the presence of at least 2,000 spec
tators on the Delaware river banks
an Gloucester. She was rescued in
the nick of time by a man in a launch
and afterwards revived in a nearby
building. The big crowd was thor
oughly thrilled by the exciting spec
tacle as the woman endeavored to
reach a rude cross planted in the river
about 20 yards from shore.
The Rev. William Pickersgill. head
of the Helping Hand church, Glouces
ter, had announced several days be
fore that there would be a baptism in
the river. But there was some hitch
in the program. Mrs. Plum was anx
ious for the ceremony, but she insist
ed that she must be immersed seven
times in accord with her conceived
notions of biblical injunction.
Pastor Pickersgill said he could
find no authority for such a ceremony,
and when he appeared before the
crowd on the shore he announced that
the ceremony would not take place.
He had helped plant .the cross in the
sand with rocks about its base, when
the tide was low, just as Mrs. Plum
desired, but there would be no cere
mcyiy.
“Yes, there will, brother,” exclaimed
Mrs. Plum, who suddenly appeared in
flowing white robes.
“We are not led to perform this
ceremony- and w-e shall have nothing
to do with it,” replied the pastor
Undaunted by the rebuff, Mrs. Plum
strode into the water and made
straight for the cross w-ell out in the
current. Before she could reach it
she was swept off her feet and was
quickly struggling for her life. Of
all the thousands who saw her, Gilbert
Porch saw that she was really drow-n
--ing, and jumping into a launch, man
aged to get her ashore, where she was
resuscitated.
AS IT APPEARED TO HER
Mrs. Oelrichs Evidently Didn’t Think
Much of Mr. Blank’s Earning
Capacity.
Mrs. Herman Oelrichs, the best
drebsed woman in Newport, criticized
very pertinently, at a recent dinner,
the new dinner gowns of Paquin and
Callot
These clinging and filmy gowns are
chiefly remarkable for the V-shaped
back that they possess. The V —it is
incredible, but it is true —opens all the
Divining Rod 2CO Years Old.
Winslow W. Fifield of Medford,
Mass., owns a metallic divining rod
brought from England more than two
hundred -years ago by one of his an
cestors. The rod, says Mr. Fifield, has
been used successfully all over New
England and in the western mining
districts. It is attached to whalebone
handles 12 Inches long and weighs two
ounces. The handles have inscriptions
on them which are almost obliterated
by age.
The person who brought the rod to
America was Isaac Greenleaf, who set
tled in Massachusetts. The rod became
famous as a finder of water. After
markmg the place of many springs the
rod was used in California, Colorado
and North Carolina for locating by men
lu quest of gold mines and other met
als. One pwson who used it with par-
Hoodwinßing
Clergymen v
When a small clique of men put up
a scheme to harness the ciergy of
America and induce the ministers to,
in turn “hitch up” the members of the
churches, we should all take notice.
They couldn't harness the preachers
in a bad cause except by deceiving
them.
Ministers of the gospel are essen
tially and fundamentally honest but,
like all men who work for the public
good, they are at times mislead by
false statements.
Trust them when they have exact
truth to speak from.
Now for the story which should in
terest every one for we are all either
receivers of wages or we pay to wage
earners and the freedom of each in
dividual is at issue.
In various papers the following
statement has been printed. Read it
carefully at least twice.
“Interest in Labor Sunday.
"Labor Sunday—the Sunday preced
ing Labor day—will be observed gen- |
erally this year and in future years
throughout the United States. This j
because of the American Federation
of Labor declaration for the observ
ance of that day. The numerous let
ters recently received at American
Federation of Labor headquarters
from ministers is an assurance that
Interest in the Idea of giving special
attention to the cause of labor from
the pulpit one day in the twelve
months is widespread. Our readers
are urged to try to bring about an un
derstanding in their respective dis
tricts with representatives of the
church so that ministers will make
addresses that may attract trade union
ists to the churches in large numbers
for the day. Ministers should say what j
they think on the occasion In order j
that their trade union hearers may j
put the right estimate as to where the |
church stands on the question of the j
organization of labor. The more the 1
subject is discussed the better will it
he for labor. Union ethics are sound.
—American Fcderationist.”
Observe that "Labor Union” men
"are urged” to induce ministers to !
make addresses that will attract trade j
unionists to the churches “for the j
dnv.” “Ministers should say,” etc.,
and winds'up with “Union ethics are
sound;” observe the hidden threat.
This is clipped from the American
Fcderationist the organ of Sam Gom
pers, et al.
This clipping has been sent to pa
pers throughout the country and the
Typographical Union men in the news
paper offices instructed to "urge” that
it be printed.
That is one of the ways of the “ma
chine.”
It looks harmless so the papers print
But! Let’s lift the cover and look
under.
The hidden motive Is as dangerous
to the peace and liberty of the citi
zens as a colled rattlesnake in the
grass.
Organization by workmen to peace
fully and successfully present their
side is necessary and most commend
able.
There are such organizations now
rapidly wanning their way to public
confidence without strikes, dynamite
or killing fellow workmen.
(Some facts on this matter a little
further along In this article.)
We see here a demand on the min
isters of God. that they endorse and
help 'build up the strike-producing,
boycotting and violent American Fed
eration of Labor.
Think of the man of God who
teaches brotherly love being covertly
ordered to praise and help get new
members for an organization with a
record for violence, crime and murder
done by its members the like of which
the world has never seen.
Think of the thousands of women
made widows and the increasing thou
sands of children left fatherless by
the pistol, club, dynamite and boot
heel of members of this Labor Trust.
Any one who recalls the countless
murders done in the multitude of
strikes in the past few' years will
agree this is no exaggeration.
Take just one as an illustration:
There were some thirty men mur
dered and over 5000 bruised and
maimed In the Chicago teamster’s
strike.
way down to the waist line. At a gala
performance in Paris given by the
Metropolitan Opera company of New
York —the most successful perform
ance Paris ever saw, and one whereat
$40,000 Was gained for the Pluviose
victims —many of the beautiful Ameri
cans in the S4O orchestra seats wore
these daring gowns, and now at New
port they are often to be seen.
Mrs. Oelrichs stared at one with as
tounded* eyes at a dinner, and her
neighbor said;
"Isn’t that new gown of Mrs. Blank’s
a dream? Old Mr. Blank i 3 so de
ticular success was a blind man. in
whose hands the red is said to have
done marvels.
A Strong Preacher.
The minister’s eight-year-old daugh
ter was returning with her parents
from church, where the district super
intendent had that morning occupied
the pulpit.
“Oh, father," asked the little girl,
her face aiive with enthusiasm, "don’t
you think Brother C. is a very strong
preacher? I do.”
Gratified by this evidence of un
usual intelligence on the part of his
offspring, the minister eagerly in
quired into her reasons for her state
ment.
“Oh,” replied the little miss, artless
ly, “didn’t you see how the dust rose
when he stamped his feet?” —Judge.
| There is seldom a day passes but
somewhere in our country from one to
a score of our fellow men are assault
ed or murdered by members of this
band.
Then remember the homes blown
up or burned. The families hounded,
J the rioting, burning of street cars,
wrecking of trains and attempted or
successful killing of passengers.
The general disturbance of industry
| and the thousands of dollars forced
| from tax payers to pay extra police,
j sheriffs and militia to protect, even in
; a feeble way, the citizens from the
; mobs of members of the American
i Federation of Labor.
Then you will realize why the great
; peace-loving majority of over 80 mil
[ lion Americans protest against the
growth of this crime-tainted organiza
tion comprising perhaps one and one
half million men, of which it is esti
mated at least seven-tenths are peace
loving citizens and are members by
coercion and are not in sympathy with
the three-tenths who have gained con
trol and force their methods.
We find that a few designing men
have seized control of the American
Federation of Labor, just as some
shrewd capitalists hqve secured con
trol of some railroads and other in
terests and are now twisting and turn
ing them into machines for personal
profit and fame.
These men cunningly plan to force
workmen to Join and pay 25 to 75
cents a month in fees.
Various methods are used to “in
duce” workmen to Join.
First, they talk of the "tyranny of
capital" making slaves of workmen.
Then they work up enthusiasm
about the "brotherhood of man” and
other talk which experience has
shown excites the emotions of work
men and they are induced to join and
pay fees to the leaders.
The 5000 workmen in Battle Creek
are, as a rule, free from the dictates
of the great Labor Trust and still get
the highest wages in Michigan. If
they had yielded to the smooth talk
of the agents of the trust and joined,
they would pay in fees from $1250.00
to $2000.00 a month to the big trust
and be subject to strike orders any
. timer.
Now they save that and put the
money into homes and family com
forts
But the managers of the American
Federation of Labor have worked
hard and long to harness them.
The trust has sent small bales of
money and last winter 18 “organizers”
to tie up Battle Creek. They hired
halls, gave picture shows, smokers,
etc., as an Investment, looking to rich
returns when they succeeded in hav
ing them tied hand and foot.
But they failed and the last of
these ’’organizers” left Battle Creek
on May Ist saying "it’s no use.”
The workmen knew the record of
this great trust and formed their own
association to protect their rights and
also to protect them from tho big
Labor Trust.
In Philadelphia some 4000 indepen
dent street car men, who mainly had
families, had their own union and re
fused to join the big trust, preferring
to be free to work or not as they
pleased.
But the trust planned to force them
into the fee-paying ranks, so a strike
was ordered to compel the traction
company to kick out these men and
hire only Labor Trust members.
It was not a question of wages cr
hours but to push the free men out of
their positions where they were earn
ing good money to support their fami
lies. The strike was ordered, not to
raise wages or reduce hours, remem
ber, but solely to throw out members
| of an independent union and make
places only for Labor Trust memhers,
and thus show the Independent men
they could not earn a living unless
they first paid fees to the trust man
agers.
Incidentally the people of Philadel
phia must submit to no car service,
rioting and bloodshed with millions
In losses while these fee-hunting, noto
riety seeking trust leaders were teach
ing the world that industry cannot be
carried on except by workmen who
first bend the knee, bow the head and
pay fees.
How these men as strike leaders
love to names In the papers
| voted. They say that everything he
1 makes goes on his wife’s back."
Mrs. Oelrichs, her eye fixed on the
gowr’s terrible V, said with a smile:
“Well, he must be making very lit
tle, then."
Practical Matching. 6
What the little girl with the 15 cents
in pennies wanted was some red rib
j bon of a particular shade for her moth
; er. She knew the shade, but she
couldn’t explain it and all she could
| say was, it wasn’t that, no, nor that;
| it was deeper than that, and not so
The Counterfeit Southerner.
Of course, there are many counter
! feits. A most amusing imitation is
! one that often passes for tho typical
southerner in New York. This satchel
mouthed braggart infests the cafes
and demands attention by his abusing
the waiter for offending his delicate
sense of honor. "I hate a nigger, suh,”
he loudly proclaims, which is a senti
ment that one never hears from those
Ito the manner born. He haunts the
theaters and parades the streets, since
: it is poor fun to practise his gentility
in private.
He wears a wide black hat, mounts
the table and yells whenever the band
plays a southern melody. Such a pre
tentious caricature would be harmless
enough, but for the ridicule he brings
upon the south. Unfortunately, popu
lar authors seem to accept him at face
each morning! It’s meat and bread
to their souls.
Then think of the lordly power, and
don’t forget the steady flow of money
squeezed from the workman's hard
earned pay enevelope.
But when these leaders “tie up” any
industry no man can hold a job who
refuses to pay fines even on trumped
up charges, and steadily pay fees
whatever they are.
Tho workman Is absolutely at the
mercy of this band of men who have
secured and hold control.
Many and many an honest workman
has raised his voice and appealed to
his fellows to rise and throw off the
yoke of Gompers, et al. But, as one
writes, "At every convention of the
American Federation of Labor, strong
opposition comes up but at the crit
ical moment the impassioned orator
appears and most dramatically puts
the spot light on the leader and covers
him with a mawkish film of ‘martyr
dom’ ani the emotional delegates yell
in delight, forgetting the instructions
of the peaceful workingmen at home
who desire to free themselves from
the odium of membership under the
great advocates of strike, boycott, vio
lence and hate.”
So we see (he unequalled insolence
with which these trust leaders pro
pose to “induce” ministers to pull
their chestnuts from the fire by
preaching modern aggressive and vio
lent labor trust methods.
There is a better way to secure jus
tice for workers, as will appear furth
er along.
Just a little diversion here.
I am charged with having first
brought to the attention of the public
some years ago, the name "Labor
Trust.”
A trust is a combination of men or
organizations for the purpose of sell
ing their product at a profit and re
stricting production to effect it.
\Ve will say a large Oil Company
gathers in smaller ones and thus con
trols production.
The Labor Trust “gathers in” local
trade organizations and thus has pow
er to say how much work each man
shall do.
The Oil Company then fixes prices.
The Labor Trust does likewise.
The Oil Company may “use meth
ods" to force an unwilling dealer to
join.
The Labor Trust men go further
and slug the independent man if he
tries to sell his labor without paying
fees and “obeying orders.” They are
both exactly alike in purpose, which,.
in both cases is entirely selfish to
gain power and money for the leaders.
Certain Labor Trust members do
not hesitate to use violence, dyna
miting of property, burning homes of
independent men and even murder to
force obedience.
The Oil Company doesn’t go so far.
Both are extremely dangerous to
the welfare of people and communi
ties, for power placed in the hands
of a few men either representing Cap
ital or Labor is almost always abused
ami the public suffers.
Remember, reader, that your safety
lies in strenuous opposition to all
trusts which try to ride over and dic
tate to the people.
Only by opposing their growth can
you retain your personal liberty.
Now to ministers.
The average congregation is made
up of about 90 per cent, of free citi
zens and much less than 10 per cent,
of members of the Labor Trust.
The free citizen wants to hear words
defending the rights and independence
of the common man, free from the ar
bitrary dictates of any self-seeking
organization either of Capital or La
bor.
The merchant, lawyer, school teach
er, doctor, clerk, farmer -and work
man rebels against any forcible stop
pfng of trains, boats, street cars,
or factories, for the prosperity of the
community is entirely dependent on
steady continuance of these things.
Men don’t like strikes, boycotts, in
jured workmen or burned cars and
factories.
A famous divine says: "These men
may hate capitalists but their hate for
j other laboring men burns like a flame,
; eats like nitric acid, is malignant be
| yond all description.”
Then we remember cases of acid
throwing, eyes gouged out. children
pursued, women stripped, homes de
deep as that, and so on. WMz
The mission was looking hopoHo
when suddenly she darted from Bpjj
shop and seized a passing
by the hand.
“Will you please come into this sh<SH
with me?” she asked innocently. ■
“Certainly, my chickabiddy," he refl
plied, “if I can be of any use. Whafl
is it?” ' 1
The little girl replied not, but led!
the wondering stranger to the counter. I
“There, miss!" she said, triumphant- ]
ly. “Mother wants some ribbon the*
color of this gentleman's nose.” ( I
value and exploit him in novels W
plays where a “southerner” ,is a necl
essary part of the stage machinery.— l
Everybody’s Magazine.
Wasted Sarcasm.
The Philadelphia milk dealers
recently raised the price of
product to nine cents a quart and thE|
lowered it again to eight appear ■
have been the subjects of a great deal]
of unjust censure. They announced]
at the time of the raise that milk*
could not be sold at eight cents with
out loss. Finding that the consumers
would not pay the new price, however,
they are continuing to sell at the old,
thereby qualifying as genuine philan-,
thropists. Every purchaser of milk,
at eight cents a quart will doubtleM
hereafter feel that he is an object S
charity. .
stroyed, men murdered and tho ion
long list of atrocities practised"l
i,abor Trust members on other hum!
beings who cannot agree with tl
trust methods.
Now for the better way. VO
Workingmen are now
the old fashioned trades
“guild” way, affiliated with
tional Trades and Workers
tion whose constitution
bitration of differences with
ment for no strikes, boycott,
ing or hateful coercion of any
Tills Trade Association has
from the experience of the
is the highest order of Trades 4B
ism at the present day.
Under its laws it is not possiblH
the Hod Carriers Union or the
Sweepers Union to order the
teachers or locomotive engineers
quit w r ork In a “sympathetic strikj
If any craft fljMjiiyiistlce.
11 e ent<e
i > |&|SHgߣ|^Bk^H|
presi utcdljl
prt ss Th,«g
greatest
felt and
ment is generally
There is no strike, no loss
no loss to the community
faithful workers get their jfH
ment.
There are many details
been worked out by men
labor matters.
It will recompense any
man to know these details
be secured by a postal
constitution and by-laws
the National Trades and
sociation. Kingman Block,
Creek, Mich.
Reader, look carefully
great question of the
ital and Labor and its ■
lution. The new plan
brings results for the
r bei-aun" :• ~favorably iin; f|j|
with the trustworthiness and
ability of the leaders of this
bor movement that I gave tfie
ation a 'sanitorium at
worth about $400,000 and
300 rooms, to be used as a
their old members and the
babies, sometimes made
the pistol, club or boot
member of the violent "i,alß|
Suppose yo . attend
Sunday and h, what yo.f
has to say in defense of
and rights of the common, fl
Let me ask you to read
tion of one of my public
ed a few years ago.
“The people of the world
en me money enough to
these talks through the papers
ing to make better and safer
tious for the common people,
the Postum business runs or
Scores of letters have come
from work-people and
from union men recounting
ferings from union
urging that their cases be laidH
the public.
It will not answer for us
sympathize with the poor,
pressed, those who haven't
enopgh to drive off tyrants
sent oppression, we must he j . #
tie the hands of the
icans must act
Some of my forebears in
land left comfortable
with chem the old flint locks, 1
the ground in rain and
footsore, and half clothed
pushed on w'here the
Human Liberty urged
wove for me and for you al
freedom, woven in a loonf»|s
shuttles were cannon
lets and where swords
pick out the tangles in
These old, sturdy
stood by that loom until the
was finished, then, stained
life blood it was handed down aB
Shall I refuse to bear it on my
ders because the wearing
a few dollars, and are you cog®
enough to hide yours because
foreign labor union anarchist <BB
you to strip it off?
I have faith that the blood
still coursing in your veins
and call until you waken. JflU
Americans will Act.” “There’s
son.” C. W. eH