Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-27
MR.. KENNA AND THE CLOWN.
How the Young West Virginia Senator
Speechified i'm the Circus.

How the Young West Virginia Senator
Speechifed i'm the Circus.
ST. LOUIS, December %. "A Washington
special to the Globe Democrat says;
A friend of John Kenna, the West. Viz
GINA Senator, says that Zeb Vance is not
entitled to a patent on campaign speaking
at n circus. Last fall, so the story goes,
Vance and the circus struck a North Caro-
lima town at the same time. The Senator
persuaded the Snowman that the people
had turned out to hear him speak rather
than to see the elephant. ''You see" said
Vance to the Snowman, I'm something OF
a circus myself" The result was a division
of time by which Vance got of his politi-
cal remarks to the crowd in the tent and
the regular programme followed.
when the question of removing the
capitol from Wheeling to Charleston was
up" says Mr.. Kenna's friend, I'VE had a
red-hOt canvass. Kenna was for Charles
ton, and he took the stump with Colonel
Romeo Freer. They made their way
from place to place up the kanawha VAL
ley, but the people didn't respond rs they
hoped. One night after \ particularly
hard days work Kenna said: Colonel
Freer, unless we can get up something now
WI are done for
That's what l think said Freer
glOOmily.
'Kenna sat with his feet on the table
and a Wheeling stogie between his teeth
thinking. All at once he exclaimed:
Colonel, I've got it. l noticed to-day by
the paper that a circus is billed for Hunt
inguOn on Saturday and is going through
the State. Well 20 down there and make
an arrangement to travel along with the
show and deliver short speeches undo the
tent Just before the performance. The
circus will bring those old mountain foxes
out of their holes if anything will
"'Tm with YOU said Col. Freer.
THE two politicians had made a better
arrangement than they had at first con-
templated. The novelty OF the thing
struck the Snowman where he was at
home. He fixed up a programme like
this. After the grand entry and caval-
cade Freer was to be introduced and talk
some minutes. The wonderful performing
war elephant Pilot was to follow, and that
act was to be succeeded by the beautiful
yueen of the Haunting zone in her unpar-
alleled feat of riding an untamed mus
tang bareback through 4 hoop of fire.
Then Kenna was to make his speech,
being presented by the clown. This pro-
gramme was faithfully carried out. The
clowns introduction of Kenna was II OF
the telling points. He did it alter this
fashion:
d" Ladies and gentlemen, old and young,
without regard to race, color or previous
condition, | am about to introduce TO you
Nj. Kenna, the brag young orator and
coming statesman of your thriving State.
He is a Self-made man. As a plOw-boy,
he plowed corn on these rugged hills, bare
footed, b~areheaded, and, | say it proudly,
in his shirt tail, until he was sixteen years
of aye. His hands are rs horny Us leather.
He can strike fire from the flint rock with
his heel. His well-shaped and in
tellectual head defes the hot
test rays of a July sun His constitution
is as tough aS Wonder rhineOceros IN the
cage TO the left of the band wagon. His
voice is like the African lions. His eye Is
piercing rs the American eagles. In his
movements he is as quick as 4 mountain
fox, and his disposition is as mild as the
diving swans. Hear him, ladies aud gen
tlemen. and bear in mind that the perform
ance is not yet half over
Then Kenna would speak. Well
concluded the West ~Virginian, Wheeling
hadn't any show against such a campaign
as that. aud Charleston got the capital