Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-02-29

IuS VII Cuc OOpIIIOSc WdfC VI pOpuAd4A-
ty and his name was even suggested
in connection with the Office of road
overseer of his township. But, alas!
That fatal borrowed pass! That hired
Hessian of a subsidized corporation,
commonly known as a conductor, dis
covered that ''Windy Ben" was trav-
cling under an assumed name with
his own wife. His pass was good for
Mr.. Drake while hers read Mrs. Ben
C..Rich. Tt appears that while he
would not accept pass for himself
his conscience was pliable enough to
solicit one for his wife. And while
some may not see the difference, so
far as principle is concerned, yet we
assure you there is a wide difference
and "Windy Ben" can have all the
room he wishes for public explana-
tion. Result-he was compelled to
pay his hard earned cash from Wame-
go to Topeka or be forcibly elected by
the cOlored porter. He paid and from
that day to this he has made no more
campaigns against the pass. And
when we read few weeks afterwards
that he had taken trip to Garden
City to examine some irrigation
plants there through the courtesy of
the Santa Fe Railway Co., we won
dered if it could be possible that the
immaculate reformer had at last
yielded his honor to the seductive
influences of the general passenger
agent? But perish the thought! We
all know that like old Madam BlaiZe,
"Windy Ben" ''never follows wicked
ways-unless when he is SHINING"
"Windy Ben" is a humorist as well as
a reformer and everybody knows that
he would not make terms with cor
poration-unless it would be to his
advantage It is true that this little
episode caused him to tumble down
from his lofty pedestal and it is fur
ther true that there is scarcely a pop
ulist in the county who from that
time henceforth has not had suspicious
but we assure them that it is all on
account Of their ignorance and lack of
humor. "Windy Ben" himself says
so and says that nine-tenths of the
people in his party in TregO county
never think for themselves but will
do as he tells them to. We will en-
deavor to get him to state publicly
that there is nothing in the pass story
so that you may all believe him-and
that will give US an opportunity to
assist in the explanation by publish
ing few things from the record.
'Wlndy Ben" has signified his friend
ship for US IN many ways and nothing
can prevent US from reciprocating
when the proper times comes.
There are many other instances of
"Windy Ben's" high sense of humor-
in fact we might fill a large volume if
we had the space. We might men
tion the time he gave description Of
Eureka Ranch" before a farmers
meeting at Topeka. AS an evidence
of what he could do in the way of eX
aggerating hyperbole this is perhaps
his masterpiece and must be read to
be appreciated. His description of
his mansion and his orchards and
other improvements disclose a power
of imagination seldom eXcelled. We
can only promise that we will repro
duce it verbatim in the near future.
We feel very friendly to "Windy
Ben," and think it our duty to make
public what his excessive modesty
would otherwise conceal from his ad-
miring constituents.
Ben'S high sense of humor is con-
spieuously displayed when he can get
somebody who has never been there
to listen to his description of Eureka
Ranch" and then it is that his de-
course he does not tell you that if it
was not for his wife peddling butter
and eggs and cheese, while he talked
finance on the street corners, he
would have starved to death ere this
instead of being the prosperous pro-
prietor of Eureka Ranch" OF course
he doesn't leave that impression for
that would destroy the effect and
effect is his main hold. Neither can
we enlarge further on this subject at
this time. 1t will keep.
The time shat he was found in the
water closet in the state house at To-
peka-and where he had locked him
self up for twenty-four hours without
food, has its humorous side also, al
though it was thought by many that
the place was an appropriate one for
him TO be.
And SO we might multiply instances
but we will content ourselves at pres
ent by simply reiterating what we
have said before. And while we must
all admit that ne morally insolvent
yet we can't sec how that fact should