Should I Stay in Politics? - Page 2

Personal recollection of Hays' campaign defeats of 1928, 1930 and 1933 and career in government administration positions-2- audience convulsed with laughter and I thought I had said the wrong thing until I glanced around a saw a large rooster on the table by my drinking out of my water glass. I sought out-of-the-way places. In one remote community I heard a resident say, “Well, he’s the first candidate for governor what ever spoke in our place.” But his neighbor said, “Nope, they wuz a fellow through here in 1898.” The introductions were interesting. I preferred “the cheerful crusader” to “young paragon of democracy.” At one town, a morning appointment, while waiting for the meeting to open I engaged the chairman in conversation. He was about 80 years of age and friendly. I warmed to him. I thought, “I’ll get a grand introduction here. The old main is mellow, he’s interested in young men and he’ll talk about the aspirations of youth.” I was basking in the contemplation of it when the old man arose and said, “Fellow citizens, we got a candidate for governor here this morning. I ain’t for him, I think he’s too young for the office, but I hope you give the boy a good hearing.” I was defeated that year but the defeat was only an incident in my political program and did not mean retirement. While it was my first race, I had actually been in politics since I was old enough to vote. I had graduated from law school in June, 1922, and then in the same year was elected secretary of the State Democratic Convention. When I learned that I was to be an officer of the Convention I bought a broad brimmed hat, put on the airs of a politico, and prepared for a career. That fall I became a member of my father’s law firm at Russellville