St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-28
HIS ANCESTOR,S HAT.

A very startling story of political
craft on the part of the Minnesota dele
CATION comes from Washington, along
with the rest of the gossip about the
recent meeting of the Republican ma
BURN, already famous for his astute-
ness. seems to have been the author
and promoter of this Machiavellian
scheme. Under his instructions the
entire body of Minneapolis boomers
purchased silk hats in advance of their
arrival at the capital. and in them pre-
scented a conspicuous and noteworthy
appearance. No little attention was
stimulated iii this way, and there was
general inquiry on all sides as to what
might be the significance of this uni
formity OF attire. Finally it was noised
abroad that the silk hats were intended
as badge Of devotion to the presidents
interests, and this Interpretation was
reported to Mr.. HARRISON by his pri-
Yate secretary, Mr.. LIJE HALFORD, who
was ON the scene, missing nothing. The
great man at the White house was very
much gratiiied by the Minnesota mems
loyalty, and by their delicate and clan
destine manner of expressing it. Allu-
siOns of any sort to his grandfather's hat
are pleasing to our chief executives
soul, and this concerted manifestation
of respect and affection for his family
lar touched him deeply. He at once
telephoned his partiSans to vote for the
Flour City. and Minneapolis walked off
with the prize.
This is all very well as far as it goes,
but is nothing to what followed. No
sooner was the result made known than
our junior senator and his comrades adj
journed TO neighboring hotel. to re-
fresh themselves after their extraordi-
nary exertiOns. They had been there
only few minutes, engaged in quiet
conversation, when Mr.. WAsHBURN,
without a word, smashed the Hon.
GILBERT A. PIERCE's silk hat, the
reasonable market value of which
was IS, all into smithereens. The
Hon. GILBERT A. PIERCE, remember
ing that he. too, had once been a sena-
tor. and being entirely familiar with the
! rules of senatorial courtesy, thereupon
deftly removed Mr.. WAsHBURN'S silk
hat from the top of his head, and with
much emphasis and completeness
stepped on it. The example. thus set
was speedily followed by the rest of the
delegation. They lined up in football
order, and in the course of half an
hour, by a succession of punts and chop
kicks, every silkhat in the party was de-
strOyed beyond the hope OF recognition
or the possibility of repair. This news
! also spread with great rapidity, and
there was again general inquiry as to
| what might be the meaning of this new
/ demonstration. The explanation was
! forthcoming after awhile, and those
! skihful in the Interpretation of omens
J are now all agreed that it was nothing
: else than a delicate way of declaring
that the devotion to HARRISON which the
delegation had at first shown was all an
affectation and pretense. By the smash
ing of silk hats they announced their
revolt. and came out as one maR for
lingo JIM and reciprocity.
When this information was reported
by the faithful HALFORD to his en-
ployer at the White house, it was at first
hardly credited. But when the evidence
| appeared too strong to admit of any
other construction, Indiana's favorite
son is said to have wept great hot tears,
not at his own disappointment, but be-
cause his grandfather'S hat had been
blasphemed and made light of. The
whole thing is sad instance of the sor-
rows which sometimes accompany filial
piety, and the GLOBE commends it to
those of its readers who are interested
in stories of human pathos and political
! diplomacy.