and was engaged in general law practice. He entered political life in 1880 when he was elected to the Indiana State senate, in which body he served for four years. From October, 1901, to June, 1903, he was a member of the United States Civil Service Commission. While holding these positions he conducted several important investigations.
He is a popular speaker and since 1876 has taken an active part in every presidential campaign. He has been president of the Indiana Civil Service Reform Association, of the American Women's Suffrage Association, and of the American Proportional Representation League. In politics Mr. Foulke is a Republican but he did not see his way clear to support Mr. Blaine for the presidency and in 1892 he voted for Mr. Cleveland. His religious connection is with the Society of Friends of which he is a "birthright member."
Mr. Foulke received the degree of A.M. from Columbia college. He is a member of the National Civil Service Reform League; of the Cosmos club of Washington, District of Columbia; Jekyl Island club, Georgia; the Columbia club, and the University club of Indianapolis. His principal relaxations and diversions have been horseback riding, swimming, mountain climbing and canoeing. He has not adopted any special system of physical culture and has never attempted to become an athlete. In childhood and youth he was deeply interested in mechanical pursuits but the attractions of professional life proved stronger and led him to the bar and to the public service. As he was free from the necessity of performing manual labor he had considerable leisure. A large part of his spare time was given to history, poetry, and general literature, a taste for which he inherited from both his parents, his mother as well as his father being a person of excellent literary attainments. The books which Mr. Foulke thinks have been most useful to him in later life are the classics (ancient and modern), and the writings of Herbert Spencer.
In the choice of a profession Mr. Foulke was fortunate in being allowed to follow his own inclination. His success has been won by a thorough discipline of his mental powers and earnest and persistent effort. He was led to strive for the prizes of life by the aspirations which are common to intelligent and thoughtful young men. The influences of home were strong, and were favorable to the development of both intellect and character, but his early companionship with children and youth of his age was somewhat limited.
