The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-09-11
A "Horse. OF Farmer Todd.

As re all know Farmer Todd went over I,
Eiiensburgh last month, all cooked and primed
with speech in acceptance of the gubernator-
ial nomination-but King County failed to SUP
port him, an6 the following from the Olympis
Standard must account for it:
THAT was very laughable joke that DIR. Riley
played upon Farmer Todd, a few days ago. al
though he was not responsible for its inception
and was an unwilling actor throughout the lar.
ger part of the little drama
The doctors long, flowing white beard, is NOT
unlike the hirsute appendage OF Farmer Todd,
nor In 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 Ellens-
burg, with very laudable ambition to sit in
the State executive chair, that "Doc' Riley,
went to Seattle-professedly to see the whale
Soon as he stepped upon the wharf of the
proverbially hospitable Queen City he was espied
by that ubiquitous individual who knows every
body and is always ready to take the lead in en-
tertalnment OF strangers, who apparently struck
by the striking personal resemblance of the two
gentlemen determined to turn it to account.
"Hcw do you do, Mr.. Todd?" exclaimed the u.
l. enthusiastically, extending his hand, "How
are crops? On your way to the State Conven-
ton 'spose; how are they comm; you've big
support about here an it is goin' to stick to
you"
wall" responded the doctor catching on,
Crops is good, or rayther from fair to middlin'.
l think can count on nominashun. Potatoes
are leetle BACKYARD. count on good SUD-
port east OF the mountings. Hay is a fair crop
Int the nripo iS 1oyU m o. ~ ;,,s,
gold standard. But say"
'Come, Governor" interrupted the u. j..
there are some of your friends who want to
shake the hand Of an honest man." and dozen
or more middle-of-the-road men stepped for
ward to grasp the hand of the supposed Farmer
Todd, nor was their confidence shaken when the
doctor suggested an unusual proceeding for a
reform candidate, but being couched in farm
d1alect-"Let us irrigate" passed muster, and
the doctor led the way to the nearest saloon.
Here several rounds were "fred" in rapid
succession in honor of the gubernatorial can
didate, and of course at his expense, the crowd
constantly growing larger.
As long as the conversation drifted along in
desultory manner, in which crops and coinage,
potatoes and political prospects, were the topics,
the doctor got along toerably we'll; but when
some of his admirers, among whom were sever
al delegates to the convention at Ellensburg be-
gan to talk of the referendum" the "singl e
tax, and other topics he had never submitted
to careful diagnosis, he endeavored to hedge
by close observance of the forms of hospitality
in the shape of Setting EN- up whenever
difficult problem was suggested, and the pie
that he was tired ''talkin' politics. When,
however fha haI 70,
fever heat and it was suggested that Farmer
Todd should mount chair and make speech,
the doctor made frivolous excuse for seein'
man, and escaped by the back door, yowing
maledictions not loud but deep upon the
mutual friend who had got him into the
scrape.
The sequel to the story appeared later on
when the convention was in session at Ellens-
burg, and Farmer Todd was called to the rostrum
for speech, when delegate who had seen the
spurious Todd in Seattle, calculated with I'M
mistakable earnestness:
"What are you givin' US? That amt Farmer
Todd 1 met him in Seattle. I'm pussonally
acquainted with him.
And he would not be pacifed until he was as
sured that a candidate, like the chameleon, is
privileged and expected to change his appear
ance to suit his surroundings, and that what
ever change might be noted in the candidate
for Governor was undoubtedly owing to a few
days sojourn amid the waving fields of grain of
Eastern Washington, producing a rugged i'm
press of the farm upon individuality that the
woodland and ocean of the west slope failed to
impart.
Still there is some doubt in the mind of that
delegate, and he expressed at adjournment the
unyielding conviction that the Todd he met at
Seattle suited him much better than the Todd
who had been reincarnated by the breezes
which wave the grainields OF the alkali plains.