State

PC.Q“ ТлО THE STATE April 11, 1936 They Made Good Elsewhere TRUST Polo Murphy lo comp across with historical or political information. Wo be¬ lieve you'll be glad to know the facts which ho reveals here. Ry WALTER MURPHY IN lust week's issue of Tiie State then- appeared rcfen*nce «о native- born North Carolina!»» who served a* governors of other states. The au¬ thor named six and expressed a desire to know whether there were any others. There most assuredly were. The list i» a rather lengthy one and indicates that Tar Heels can make good wher¬ ever they may go. This is particularly true when they try to make good in the field of politics, for I do not know of another state where a man gets a better political education than he gets in North Carolina. This i» due to a large extent to the fact that our people take their politics seriously and acquaint themselves thoroughly with the issues which may bo under discussion. The average hoy in our state is well versed in political lore by the time he is ready to cant his first vote. But, getting back to North Carolin- i и ns who served as governors of various i-ommonwealths, I can name the fol¬ lowing: Ratcliff Boon, of Franklin County, who became governor of Indiana. Newton Cannon, of Guilford Coun¬ ty. who was elected by the people of Tennessee to serve as their governor. John П. Eaton, born in Halifax County, territorial governor of Florida and also a member of the U. S. Senate from Tennessee. He served as Secre¬ tary of War in the cabinet of President J лек son and was also minister to Spain. William llall, native of Surry Coun¬ ty. moved to Tennessee and became gov¬ ernor of that state. Joseph R. Hawley, of Richmond futility, became governor of Connecti- ••ill am! also a member of the United Slat.- Senate. James P. Henderson, of Lincoln County, was the first governor of the grand old state of Texas, and later rep- ri'H-nted that commonwealth in the I ailed States Senate. W. I). Mosely, of Lenoir County, was the first governor of the state of Florida. Andrew Jackson, of Union County, wne elected territorial governor of Florida, served in the United States Senate and was later elected President of the United States. Andrew Johnson, of Wake County, moved to Tennessee, was elected gov¬ ernor of that state, was later made a United States Senator and then elected President of the United States. Joseph F. Johnson, of Lincoln Coun¬ ty, was elected Governor of Alabama and was later made a United States Senator. John J. McRae, of Robeson County, served as governor of Mississippi and also as a United States Senator. John Murphy, of Robeson County, was made governor of Alabama. Israel Pickens, of Cabarrus County, was elected by the people of Alabama ns chief executive and later honored with the position of United States Senator. Walter (“Pete”) Murphy, who can rattle off historical facts and figures until you get dizzy from the effects. James K. Polk, of Mecklenburg County, served as governor of Tennes¬ see, speaker of the National House of Representatives and President of the United States. Hoke Smith, of Catawba County, was governor of Georgia, United States Sen¬ ator and Secretary of the Interior. John Steele, of Rowan County, went to New Hampshire to live and was elected Governor of that state. Thomas H. Williams, of Surrv Coun¬ ty. was governor of Mississippi and a member of the United States Senate. Archibald Yell, of Union County, was governor of Arkansas. John Branch, of Halifax County, was governor of North Carolina, ter¬ ritorial governor of Florida and Sec¬ retary of the Navy. Jacob Thompson, of Caswell, in ad¬ dition to being governor of Mississippi was also Secretary of the Interior. .John L. Pennington, of Wake Coun¬ ty. was territorial governor of Dakota before the territory was divided into two states. Abram Kcnchur. "f Chatham Coun¬ ty, was territorial governor of New Mexico and also U. S. Minister to Por¬ tugal. William Allen, of Chowan County, was not only governor of Ohio, but rep¬ resented that state in the United States Senate. He was an uncle of Allen G. Thurman, who ran for vice-president on the ticket with Cleveland in 1888. Add to the above list the names which the author of the previous article men¬ tioned, and you have some idea of how Tar Heels have made good in the politi¬ cal life of other states. Her list included : General Joseph Lane, Buncombe County, became governor of Oregon. Joseph M. Dixon, of Alamance, was elected governor of Montana. Robert Williams, of Caswell County, governor of Mississippi and later was defeated for the position of governor of Alabama. The other names which she mentioned are included among those which I have listed above.