Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-09-04
\ GOOD one On DOC RILEY.
Or is the Laugh on Farmer Todd.
The Reader Must Decide.

ger part OF the little drama.
The doctors long, flowing white
beard,i Is not unlike the hirsute append
age OF Farmer Todd, nor is his stature
any less nor his figure more graceful,
and it was these physical peculiarities
doubtless which suggested the joke.
1t was while Farmer Todd was hying
himself to Ellensburg, with very
laudable ambition to sit in the State
executive chair, that "Doc" Riley,
went to Seattle-proiessediy to see the
Whdit.
Soon as he stepped upon the wharf
OF the proverbially hospitable Queen
City he was espied by that ubiquitous
individual who knows everybody and
is always ready to take the lead in en-
tertainment of strangers, who appar-
emily struck by the striking personal
resemblance of the two gentlemen de.
| termlned to turn it to account.
How do you do, Mr.. Todd ?" ex-
claimed the Il. i. enthusiastically, ex-
tending his hand, How are crops ?
On your way to the State Convention,
| 'spose; how are they comm; you've
big support about here an it is goin'
to stick to You"
wall" responded the doctor catch
ing on, Crops is good, or rayther
from fair to middlin'. / think | can
count on nominashun. Potatoes are
leetle BACKYARD. | count on good
support east OF the mountings. Hay
is fair crop, but the price is low, on
account of the internal gold standard.
But say"
Come. Governor" interrupted the
u. l., here are some of your friends
who want to shake the hand of an hon
est man." and dozen or more middle
of-the-road men stepped forward to
grasp the hand OF the supposed Farmer
Todd, nor was their confidence shaken
when the doctor suggested an unusual
proceeding for q reform candidate, but
being couched in farm dialect" Let
us irrigate'-it passed muster, and the
doctor led the way to the nearest sa
loon. Here several rounds" were
d" fired " in rapid succession in honor
of the gubernatorial candidate, and OF
course at his expense, the crowd con-
stantly growing larger.
AS long as the conversation drifted
along in desultory manner, in which
crops and coinage, potatoes and politi
cal prospects, were the topics, the doc
tor got along tolerably well but when
some of his admirers, among whom
were several delegates to the conven.
ton at Ellensburg began to talk Of the
referendum" the single tax" anC
other topics he had never submitted
to careful diagnosis, lie endeavoreC
to hedge by close observance of the
forms of hospitality in the shape o
setting 'em up" whenever ditficul
problem was suggested, and the Piles
that he was tired "talkin' politics.
When, however, after the enthusiasm
had got up to fever heat and it wa,
suggested that Farmer Todd shoult
mount chair and make a speech
the doctor made frivolous excuse fo
seein' man, and escaped by the bacl
door, vOwing msledictions not lout
but deep upon the mutual friend
who had got him into the scrape.
The sequel to the story appeare,
} later on when the convention was il
session at Ellensburg, and Farme
Todd was called to the rostrum for
speech, when delegate who had seer
the spurious Todd in Seattle, ejaculat
ed with unmistakable earnestness:
. What are you givin' US? Tha
amt Farmer Todd. | met him in Sc
attic. I'm pussonally acquainted will
him."
And he would not be pacified unit
he was assured that candidate. Xix
the chameleon, is privileged and ex
pected to change his appearance l.
suit his surroundings. and that what
ever change might be noted in tn
candidate for Governor was undoubt
= eddy owing to few days sojourl
!. amid the waving fields of grain Q
Eastern Washington, producing rug
ged impress OF the farm upon individ
atty that the woodland and ocean Q
, the west slope failed to impart.
Still there is some doubt in the min
of that delegate, and he expressed a
adjournment the uuyielding convic
ton that the Todd he had met at Sc
attic suited him much better than tn
Todd who had been reincarnated b.
the breezes which wave the grainfield
of the alkali plains.
Il
THE PORTLAND FAIR.-The Orego