A Politician's Vulnerable Moment
A future governor breaks down while addressing boys at the state reform school, revealing a hidden side of his history.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
An incident occurred at the state reform school some days since which threw a side light upon the character of Hon. John H. McGraw, revealing a quality in the next governor of Washington perhaps never suspected by those who have known him in merely business or social intercourse. In company with several others, Mr. McGraw visited the school. Each of the gentlemen was introduced to the boys by the superintendent and asked to say a few words. Mr. McGraw, in his turn, arose nervously, stammered a few words, and then broke down completely. For a full minute he was unable to proceed, but at last turned to the audience and said: 'Boys, boys, you must pardon me, but I never see little fellows like you cast friendless on the world without thinking of some of my own experiences years ago.' Before resuming his seat, he had completely captured his youthful hearers.
“I never see little fellows like you cast friendless on the world without thinking of some of my own experiences years ago.”
Public figures often lean on personal narratives of 'rags-to-riches' or early hardship to cultivate empathy and legitimacy. McGraw's emotional breakdown illustrates how political storytelling was used to humanize leaders in the late 19th century.
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