Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1908 — PEOPLE OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PEOPLE OF THE DAY

Cruise of the Pacific Fleet. Rear Admiral William Thomas Swinburne, who recently sailed for Samoa with a fleet of armored cruisers and n torpedo boat flotilla, has been in command of tbe Pacific squadron since 1900. Seven armored ml the same number of torpedo boats comprise the fleet, which Is making the cruise entirely for the benefit of the practice and experience that will be gained. The armored cruiser West Virginia Is the rear admiral’s flagship. The other cruisers are the Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, California, Tennessee

and South Dakota. The last four con stitute the second division, commanded by Rear Admiral Sebree. The fleet will return to the Pacific coast about the end of October. Rear Admiral Swinburne is a native of Rhode Island and a graduate of the United States Naval academy. He took an active part in tbe Spanish war in Cuba and later saw service in the Philippines. He reached his present rank July 22, 1900.

An Essential Point.

Frank Hitchcock, the Republican campaign manager. Is fond of taking long walks In tbe country. On the occasion of a recent visit to the south, says Harper’s Weekly, he started one day for a tramp out of Nashville to a town called Parker. When he had gone Borne miles he encountered a man who was weeding a patch of ground near the road. “Am I on the road to Parker?” asked Hitchcock. “You are.” answered the man, surveying Hitchcock with mild curiosity. “Well, am I halfway there?” inquired the traveler. “Why, as to that,” responded the man in the patch, lit would seem as if ’twould make a difference where you started from.”

A Kentucky Democrat. Urey Woodson, secretary of the Democratic national committee, has been a prominent figure in national politics for tbe past twelve years. Mr. Woodson is a native of Kentucky, a journalist by profession and Is fortynine years of age. Since 1881 he has been the editor and publisher of the Owensboro Messenger, a daily aud

weekly. In 1901 he secured control of the Paducah News-Democrat, also a daily and weekly newspaper. He is the principal owner of both papers and manages them jointly. From 1891 to 1893 Mr. Woodson was railroad commissioner of Kentucky He has represented his state on the Democratic national committee since 1890 and was secretary of the committee during Judge Parker’s campaign.

A.Noted Aeronaut, Count von Zeppelin, the aeronaut, was born In 1838 and devoted wbat are for most men the best years of life to military service. Retiring In 1880 with the rank of general, he turned with n boyish enthusiasm to pursuit of his hobby, aerial navigation. To the solu tlon of the problem which had baffled the Investigators of two centuries he sacrificed hls fortune, with little appar ent progress toward the goal. Poverty spurred him to greater exertion. In 1892 be made a successful balloon journey from Berne to Lucerne, but hls work was lightly esteemed until 1900. when the surprising success of the first dirigible caused a genuine sensation. Since that time bis progress has been easier.

WILLIAM T. SWINBURNE.

UREY WOODSON.