The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-30
THE TRIUMPH OF VOICE,
HOW WEBSTER DATIs's TESoR TONES
CARRIED HIM TO VICTORY.

|
lake Bueies at sunrise They Thrilled the Heart,
or "p1asourn's" women. and when the
Rrutsi Rassos and naritonea Combined to
Compass His Derest tho women uuter,enca
with Mckinley, and ne LAUGHS, n Conauero-
When tho pen Of President Mckinley made
tho Hon. Webster Davis OF Missouri Assistant
Secretary OF the Interior another chapter was
written In n political romance of which Mr..
Davis is the adorable Thaddeus OF Warsaw.
Probably no news from the Executive Mansion
ever caused 10 many feminine heart nutters az
this recognition of the Adonis OF Missouri, whose
voicc-a voice like buglcs at sunrise and silver
| chimes at sunset-has %triumphed over gray.
whiskercd and practical politics.
When the Hon. Webster Davis. fighting
bravely, was overcome in his struggle to win
the Republican nomination for Governor Of Mis-.
souri, tears were shed in half the towns and
hamlets of the State. Real political romanceu
and handsome, unmarried, fute-voiced political
heroes are rare nowadays. Even the god.like
Mr.. Bryan had sore eyes and a family of small
children. Mr.. Davis was unmarried, his eyes
were sparkling and passionate, and he was quite
young. Not only is the Hon. Webster Davis OF
Missouri broader OF shoulder. taller, and hand.
somer than the Hon. William J. Bryan of No.
braska, but he can talk longer. louder. and fur.
Their than Mr.. Bryan ever dared to talk. The
Hon. Webster Davis is a perfect and passionate
tenor, whereas the Hon. William J. Bryan 10
only a fair article Of baritone. Why. then.
should Mr.. Bryan rise to greater heights than
Mr.. Davis For no other reason than that Mr..
Bryan was q Democrat at the propitious mo.
ment, whereas Mr.. Davis is a Republican.
The romantic career OF Mr.. Davis may he
termed the triumph Of a voice. 1t illustrates tho
unreasoning seduction Of the tenor voice. With
q bass voice the Hon. Webster Davis would not
now DO Assistant Secretary Of the Interior.
Instead of rising to greatness by the lapse OF
hard, gray years, Mr.. Davis came forth in a
day and lowered high in the Western skies.
Then, by a conspiracy Of bassos and baritones.
he was crushed to earth. His political for.
tune, therefore, depended upon President Mo-.
Kinley. Incidentally this candidacy of the Hon.
Webster Davis was a direct evidence Of the
power over woman Of the tenor voice. 1t will
never DO known how many sweet notes came to
the President urging him to appoint the Hon.
Webster Davis. It may even be said that this
appointment is a recognition by the Admins.
tration of beautiful woman.
In 1892 the Hon. William Warner. basso, OK.
Commander.in-Chie of the G. A. r, who de-
clined the Commissionership Of Pensions from
the hand OF President Harrison, was Republican
candidate for Governor of Missouri. He made a
whirlwind campaign over the State. and took
oiOnB u youuB man, "CuoIcT bdNlS, 10 nelD
Gran leader did not dream that he was thus en-.
comprising his own downfall. and that his own
tenor tones Of his young supporter.
Young Davis raised his quivering, sobbing,
p %aTIiStTisssekiHH s ;ref sasean to o gqi Glorious lG gF eosetr ef
redeemed by the holy hearts blood Of. the chiv.
Glory ! slain: w hs ioT Sls t fash taf had soSss,. "q I'D
Loved o 56e . rSGss ard Tills and do dal les and .t hills %, of
tn declare the aacredness Of honest tOil. and IN
praise u the willing hands of stalwart labor
s5r SPEAK X OF Ta tiie se eneob II ioT ief,u a . ee of w fa11ea
presence Ca this occasion" and it was reported
Say, Amanda, doesn't his voice make you
Everywhere in the broad State of Missouri tho
farmers began to agree with the girls that
hearts and made spinal columns creep. In 1894
the A. T; A. arose In the West with repeating
was n danger Of being captured by Rome. Kan
sas City was almost In a condition Of civil war.
William =" Wsr 1Sasr Sa ss 'n Who s,Fe oppose ape The so <.
2: As n the Republican party. struck the key
I'VE will give them Webster for Mayor!"
in In t tn b sap Pal fbf 1hs wo iaenr T sons. to o, The he Meet Meet
entertaining as riding bicycles in the moonlight.
and Webster. the real poor boy. the true Amer:
romantic past. was swept into office and 81, 900
a year upon a tidal wave Of ballots and guns.
who had come from Chicago to Kansas City
Mayors Office There they intended to unfold
their, woful story and beg transportation back
s. Davis isl sas hesr dlPea the se sansd ta os his asn vo &eG ihey
became confused and stammered:,
$40 mo we don't want to go h9me!" o,,o
homa the fame Of Mayor Davis brought him
urgent rent. inyitatiers, 70 address the people; He
star-spansied BANNER: 'extoiied Washington.
"0ur next Governor. Webster Dayis!"
showing. not his hsnd, but his heart. He bestowed
smiles In town and village that awakened happy
It went abroad that he Intended to lay his honorS,
his Governorship, at the feet Of some surprised
the convention OF the Young Peoples Society OF
CHRISTIAN Endeavor. The paper OF the society
"lI spite OF the contamination of politics we
cannot but believe that the Hon. Webster Davis
Then came the old veteran leader, the Hon.
William Warner. basso, and said:
my yyc hoy =: want oHntt you to appoint So,an nIfss n,
Msyesr Of KANSAS City, %An can oi''0''
you. said tho veteran grimiy. and the A'P,M.
and the snti,A. T: 4. Rspm6licans
most sensational story possible at thar time
would have been an announcement Of his mar
riage. But in 1895 began a revolt OF the men
against the spell of Mr.. Dayis's voice. Finally
he went to a convention. There he made ms
first mistake. The delegates were all old fell
lows toWe who had fought nit sigel" Passionate
W am Proud Of s your slor ,oF . said Mr.. Davis,
but give the young men a chance. II WASN'T
our fault that we didn't fight shoulder to Shout.
born then I"
. rImpgdent boy!" shouted the veterans.
" HOW dare you rise up against your fathers
They embraced the Hon. William Warner, the
old gray hero, and carried him upon their shout
ders. But even this bad break OF the Hon.
Webster Davis might have been overcome;
II was a hole In his hat that stilled
the applause and withered the laurel and
sent the triumphant tenor appealing TO
A vast public meeting was, a.,
cries for Mr.. Davis. but ne delayed. His nomi;
at Springfield for Governor OF Missouri
seemed to depend upon carrying Kansas City FOR
the Republican candidate for Mayor. TwoyeaTs
had elapsed since. his own election as Mayor.
he hnnphad ,nnn tha nlutfnrn