The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-25

long Republicans, and a ''speakin'" at
the Greenville Crossing without Seth as
chairman would have been as incomplete
as q camp-meeting without the presence
of the presidin elder.
The forma IIIy of Seth's election to the
''chair" was always dispensed with, as his
long and uninterrupted service in that ca
pacity had ripened into right that was
not to be allenated.
Seth approached the edge of the plat
form and, with that profound elaboration
and composure which comes with wide
experience in such matters, wisely and
calmly looked over the assembled crowd.
After a rather hattering demonstration
of approval on the part of some boys who
had taken front seats Seth opened the
meeting as follows: Ladies and gentle
men: thank you for this grand ovation.
seats l am not going to make a speech
tonight. Tremendous applause by the
people on all the seats We have with us
a gentleman who will entertain you much
better than 1 can; gentleman who has
made a deep study of the questions now
before the American people; gentleman
who is one of the most eloquent speakers
in California; a gentleman Jim Till
man, you are the tallest man in the room,
will you please turn down that middle
lamp, it's smokin'. Jim turns down the
lamp As [ was going to say, am not
going to make speech tonight. You
didn't come here to hear me, you came to
hear Say, Bill Grubs, for Gods sake,
blow out that torch; don't you see you
are film the room full of SCOT and smoke :?
1 thought it was the lamp making this
ticklin' II my throat; a person can't talk
With a ticklin' in his throat; should have
thought you'd knowed better Bill blows
out his torch. Now, as l was sayin', shan't
take up your time; it wouldn't be fair to
the speaker whom you have come to hear.
Some of you have come long way, too,
and it's kind O. chilly tonight down on
the bottom land. The speaker with US
tonight will talk to you on the issues of
the day. l might say, however, that
reckon am the Oldest Republican in the
Greenville Precinct. I cast my first ballot
for the old hero of 'Tippecanoe.' was
Wing then, and a protectionist Wing, too.
had read up old Henry Clay, the father
of protection, and l believe in it. l be-
heve in 1t. Why, tell you-My son, go
out and tell Thad to stop shootin' them
anviIs. Some of these darn fools don't
know no more bout firm anvils at
meetin' than a nog does of Latin-As 1
was sayin', l am protectionist; as soon
as was old enough to know anything l
became a protectionist. 1 was a free
trader before 1 was old enough to know
ANYTHING"
This put the boys to stamping and Re,
becca Kings baby began to cry. Seth
paused for minute or two and then SAID:
Better lake it out, Becky" So Becky
retired with her squealing baby and AS she
walked down the long hall every eye fol-
lowed the poor woman until she had
passed out of the door.
II suppose if ! ever reach my second
childhood 1 will be free trader again,
but otherwise will remain a projections
ist to the back one." Seth reached for
the water pitcher then, but it wasn't
there. Sammy, tell Ed to bring up
pitcher of water and goblet; no water
here for the speaker. 1 declare to good
ness one would think we never had a
meetin' here before. Now, the question
OF protection is one have thought a great
deal over. Now, if [ had time
and we didn't have a speaker here
would give you my ideas. 1t
wouldn't take long. Now, in the first
place-(that's right, Mel Hawkins, go |
outl You never could stand the truth;
can't expect much of man what won't |
stay and hear all sides. ! read both sides |
and always go and hear all SIDES, that's !
why l am posted)-what would we be to-
day if it weren's for protection ?-(shut |
down that south winder, Elmer; don't |
you see the lamps are Pickering ?)-where |
would we be to-day if it were not for pro-
tectionP I tell you. my friends, what the
heart beats are to the human life, so pro- !
lection is to"
Just in this moment of most beautiful |
flight one of the boards laid across two
coal-o1 boxes collapsed and four or FIVE |
people piled on top of big Leander Jones,
who had just taken his seat in the center
of the board. The confusion and laughter |
which followed were intense. Seth made |
no concealment of his disgust Fellow !
citizens, have presided over many meet |
ings here in Greenville, and every one of |
them has been disturbed by some big, fat |
idiot coming in and sittin' on the only |
board in the room that had knothoIe in |
the middle of it." "Who you calm a fat
idiotP' Leander yelled out. 'Hain't |
mentioned no Names" Seth replied, and
took swallow of water. Where would
we be today if it weren't fol- protection Pr
1t took Seth just hour and Is minutes to
answer this question, but he concluded by
saying:
"As said before, 7 m not going to make
a speech, and now take great pleasure in
to you the speaker of the
evening, Mr.--Mr.-what is the name.
pIease2 All, yes; Mr. Bill Summer, go
down and stop that cheerin' in the sa-
loon. How's man goin' to talk with a
lot Of cheerin' goin' on downstairs?"
Bill was glad to go and as he went
out that left just five people in the hall to
listen to the gentleman who was going to
make the speech OF the evening.