Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1910 — FAMILY ANO HOME DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS TENTH (IND) CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FAMILY ANO HOME DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS TENTH (IND) CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

JOHN B. PETERSON

A FTER an ttncster.taticus citizenship of more than a third of a century scent in the beautiful little cir, of Crown Point, the county seat cf Lake c.'inty, John B. Peterson has be- n summoned from his ordinary pursuits to accept the nomination for congressman from the Tenth Indiana congressional district and contest the election with Edgar D. Crumpacker. This honor came to him unsolicited and in the nature of an appreciation of esr’ teem. . . “*•, ■/. .. { This ten t a political story U is lust » little narrative concerning a country lawyer. John B Peterson, and hip family in whom the prupie of this •congressiona' district have an Interest at the present time. It isn’t -ti-ry <fl adventure, nor Intrigue. nor power., not wealth, nor pomp. no< place. By this process of e’iminatiott fruitful sources of the success of any of the "si* best sellers” te placed beyond the reach of the narrator, but perhaps the recital of some of the f- j cts concerning this plaiu i'’cosier citizen may be made sufficient Iv interesting to merit yout attention. Surrounded by the miasma of pinch Ing poverty ntid pioneer privations love rears its altars and ciiiidien are

I rn Amid .primitive suriouiidings where stiifdv men and iuui ageous woir.en were blazing the trail for a resplendent civilization which was marching slowly half a century in the rear. John B Peterson first saw the light ol day on a farm in the southern part of La' e County. Indiana His boyhood days were occupied in the performance of a goodly stint of work —that master mason of character building. He displayed the usual boyish interest in the thing.- that-make up the boy’s world--which is a thing apart from the world of gi<>«u people It is a land « hi<-h ou< e traversed can never be >eentered (liny memory may scale tile heights of the barrier that -bars the backward toad to boy land and bung away as trophy the song of a bud, the boisteious chase after a beady eyed chipmunk through woods fragrant with nature’s incense, the pleasure? ot the old swimmiu' hole or the delirious joy ot tiiat ru st moonlight’stroll «tth ‘her’

Young Peerson «as <>t n studious nature and • i the age ot eighteen had -qualified Ilin,self to teach iii the public schools, an avocation which he follow ed for several v ears, his spare time Ire ing demoted n. studying law In 18’0’ he located m t’rown Point w htfre tie was admitted to the mcmbeisfiip ol the Lake count v bar. where he has since achieved eminerce and a state-wide rerntaticn am'oug the members ot his

Early icaSizing that love and sym pithy and oui aginent of a final wo mail is the greatest' asset -i man may possess Mr. Peterson neglected his Blackstore and paid assiduous court to Mi.-s Calista Andrews, a resident cf Porter county and a su< ce.-sful teach ei in the public schools, with the re suit that in 1876 there was a quiet wedding, and the struggling young lawyer had ar added incentive to “make good.” In this effort he has been ably assisted by Mrs. Peterson, an ideal wife, whose first thought is of home and loved ones.

Their only daughter, Miss Belle Pe terser., is a handsome, self-reliant young lady of twenty-tour whose v,a ried accomplishments include the prep aration of appetizing meals or driving a touring car, as occasion may demand or fancy dictate. She has implicit faith that “daddy” is the best ever and is enthusiastic over his can-" didacy; the optimism of youth assuring her that everybody must know’ the facts and that no one could be misled by any story his political opponents might circulate. The home life of the Peterson fatally Is ideal and if it should be that Mr. Petersen is successful in the race which he is making the women of the Tenth congressional district will be represented in the social circles of Washington by women who possess those traits' of character'most to be admired, as the men would be represented in the halls of congress by a man of probity, ability and sympathy with their desires Since Mr Peterson first opened his law office in Crqwit Point there have taken place in l ake county the mqst wonderful ekanres ever wnni-ht in a‘ territory ci -like area To the-, smrh

an empire of marsh land once pimpled with rush thatched houses of timid muskrats, where shrewish blackbirds perched upon > waving reeds and complained and flocks of migratory ducks paused to rest and feed upon the wild rice, has been reclaimed and devoted to agriculture and fields of green and golden grain have supplanted the watery trails which hunters were wont to follow liver a desolate waste. To the north where yellow sand dunes creep down to receive the cooling caresses of l«ike Michigan, whose water dimples ir the sunlight or churns Itself into sisow-crested billows in uncontrollable fury comnieti-e has established ;• Kingdom th.it is already the marvel of the world Through all the Calumet <egion black smoke pours from a myiijoi of stacks by qay and when night hangs her jewels in the firtnaneiit th.* fiery tongues of countless blast r.iinaces dart upward like lurid flames from the vents of a subterranean iuterno and illuminate the heavens wlib the glare of a celestial, prairie fire, and untold treasure has been lavished to transform the back yard of hell into a hive of helpful industry. In mm h of this development and progress. Mr Peterson had a helping hand

His business interests are varied. A -»ell kept fa-in that has his persona] supervision L,kes a part of the time ne can spare from his law business, lie is in tom h with the financial interests of his own city and those of the manufacturing that centers about East Chicago, being president of the Commercial bank of Crown Point, an institution with resources of more than 000. and also president ot the First < alumel Trust and Sav Ings bank, a«. East t’tiicago institi* tlon With a capital Stuck of JbO.OOO

He possesses the confidence and esteem of those who know the man and his everyday life and the work he does As you stroll down the broad, shady streets of Crown Point you will get only one reply to questions regarding John B. Peterson. Personal limitations of language may cause one man to express his feelings differently than his neighbor but the essence of every reply is contained in the brief ejaculation, “You tret I know John Peterson. He's square as a die, straight as a yardstick and altogether all right." Mr. Petersen has never been an of fice seeker although he was twice elected prosecuting attorney in a strong Republican district and has declined the nomination for state senator and also a nomination for judge of the circuit court.

His nomination for congress followed the demand for a candidate to make tjiis race who might be trusted to represent impartially the people of this congressional district; a man- who was clean and able and honest and true; a man whose heart pulsated for humanity rather than burned with greedy lust for the golden baubles that are dangled by the predatory interests to lure men entrusted with power from the narrow path of rectitude and righteousness. Not alone in physique but in facial resemblance as well Mr. Peterson displays quite a striking likeness to Governor Thomas W. Marshall.

This is not an impulsive people, neither are they phlegmatic. When the alert pickets of public service fillet sounded the-alarm against the danger and further encroachments of already strongly intrenched special interests their cries of warning attracted but curious glances from the multitude There was nd impulsive rush to the defense A thin, straggling line of patriots, zealous in the cause and appreciating the ul tiniate danger,, threw themselves against the battlements manned by special privilege and were repulsed but not annihilated Again, and again they returned to the attack. Slowly public conscience awakened from the hypnotic influence that followed the pursuit of nianunnn. It was realized that something other than money was worth -striving for and volunteers ,en listed rapidlv in lhe cause of justice and humanity Their ranks have been, augmented until today a mighty pui'titude of citizens are demanding that justice be done equally between all men, the high and the low the rich and the poor. They me crowding the halls of congress and k nocking at the doors of

the senate and house They are scanning the records of met: in high places. They are voting according to the dictates of conscience and not according to the data « s of a political boss Evil is mivus' hut <annot prevail The piibli'- vunsc ienre is quickened. The baftl** flags ace unfurled from Portlard. Maine to Portland. Oregon, and from i.ainy river to the Rio Grande It was the effort to (mulsh the people of this district a leader from their own ranks that ie-ultefl in the nomina-tion-of lob" B Peterson He is making a clean manly appeal for support at the polls The odds are heartbreaking Party prejudice, intrenched special interests a wett-greased political machine in good running order, are a few of the obstacles to be over come It is simply a question for the people to settle for themselves and the hour when choice must be made is fast drawing near, _ We warned you that there would be nothing st a tiling about this story. It Is but a bru t skea.li hf the life of a modest, in assuming man who has been a credit to himself and his communityThe story of a man who laid a straight course from the doorway of the rude cabin of his pioneer parents to a place of distinction in his chosen profession and Incidentally won a warm spot i the hearts of his neighbors because be has kept his life clean and done his best. W H ROBERTSON