Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-13
THE DUDE AND DOWDY.
Illustrating Personalities in Poltti-
cal Campaigns.
From a Washiaoton Letter.

From a Washington Letter.
Here is a story that Secretary Lamar tells
on himself apropos of the Gordon Bacon hot
JOINT debate in Georgia: The Secretary was
running against Alcorn for the Democratic
nomination for Congress IN his district, ana
they met in joint debate at the little village OF
HdLlehurst. 1t was q beautiful day, and all
the farmers Of the surrounding country mad
come IN, bringing their wives ana daughters
TO hear the ''speakIn'." AlCorn was very
fashionable in his dress. and he looked when
he rose to speak as though he had Just
stepped out of bandbox." He made Just as
good a speech, however, as though he mad
not been eXqusitely dressed, and Lamar as ne
listened saw that the crowd was greatly IN
pressed. He felt that he must upset corn IN
some way, even if he could not upset his ar
guments, so when Alcorn sat down and he got
up, after briefly discussing the pending issues.
he said: Ladies and gentlemen, DO yon want
to nd such tinlcSy, fastldlous beau as mr.
Alcorn to Congress? Wouldn't he forget you
and all his far promises as soon as he got to
Washington? When he gets there (lf he ever
does he'll be 80 busy posing for the fashion
able ladies in the gallery that he won't have
time to attend to your business, or you either,
II you should happen to 20 to w ashinston.
Now, I'm plain man-one Of the people.
don't dress in the latest agony, with my
beard trimmed and my hair curled and
my boots polished. Why, fellow citizens, |
haven't cleaned my boots for six months"
Lamar is careless now of his persOnal appear
anCe, and then he r ther a1ected the sCnOar-
ly young mans Indifference to dress, so that
his hearers had only to look at him and then
at Alcorn to see his argument. 1t evidently
stirred the crowd to its depth. $50" he con-
tinued, 'if yon send me to Congress, fellow
citizens. 1t VIII be Just like sending one OF
yourselves, for l shall always have plenty OF
time for you and your lslness. shall al
ways be glad to see you, and you Will always
find me what | am now" Lamar thought he
had demolished Acorn. But the latter rose
as Lamar sat down and asked leave to make
but one word of reply. ut ls true, fellow
citizens" he said with smile, THAT took
some pains to dress neatly before coming
before you to-day. But did it out of resi- Get
to you. | knew that ladies were to be
present, aud that they always liked to see
man hecomingly attred. and l would not
affront them by an Indifferent and sloven-
is true that Lamar's hair has not been cut or
cOmbed for month; that his beard has not
been trimmed or his boots polished for six
months. and that he looks as dsreputabIe as
possible generally, but this is not out Of re-
spect to you. On the contrary, 1t is an insult.
If he were going to speak in Vcksburg
or Natchez or any of the cities in the
state he would brush his hair and shave
his face and polish his boots and put on his
best clothes and his best smile, and you
couldn't tell him from me. But he dresses in
this miserable way when he comes to speak to
you because he regards you as lot OF country
bug" "Well," said Lamar, ~ read my sen
tence in the indignant faces of the women.
When the convention met all the Hazlehurst
delegates were solid for Alcorn. They would
not have dared to go home If they had voted
for me-"