The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-17
Stories Of an Inland State.

When the Hon. James Trude Allthum
! rounded up In the state capital he wa
ready for any legislative work which Nigh
present itself. There were one or two bills
relative to his locality. which he intends
| to introduce This he believed was a.
| that was necessary to insure their imme
date enactment into laws. He did no
know the pitfalls IN the committee rooms
or that morgue the calendar. He though
a meritorious bill would at once argue it
i own case and go through with a whcop,
as he expressed it.
| It was with the hope Of getting som
| suggestion as TO the formal way Of draugh
| ing these bills that he called on the Boss
Mark Wayne.
Hello Allthums," cried the Boss wiring
ing the members hand. How are you an.
| way?'
The Boss really thought a great deal o
the big honest member from Thorn county
/ Besides he would need his vote in the sen
atorial contest. But the latter consi6era
ton was honestly secondary. He Iikei
the man.
I'm first-rate; how are you yourself?'
Been interviewed yet?"
Interviewed? i was never interviewed
in my life. DO have TO be Interviewer
"Of course. Who ever heard OF a new
member of the legislature escaping an in.
terview. Come here, Harrison, a minute
Harrison, the reporter for the Morning
Herald, had been interviewing the steno.
grapher in an unprofessional way and be
arose and was introduced.
I'D like TO interview you. Mr.. AlIthums. -
said Harrison.
Allthums Spread himself This was an
honor he never expected. What would he
talk about? The condition of the country.
How would he word 1t? Should he, talk on
the tariff and the schedule of duties OF
hides? Was he in favor of abolisbing the
United States senate? Now, how would he
answer that if the reporter should ask 1t ?
II was true they had begun to call the SEN
ate "the house of lords" and he could not
approve of all its acts. Still he believed
It to be a wise provision of the trainers
of the constitution. But how would he say
these things so they would sound graceful
ly in print.
Two ways were suggested to his mind.
One was:
Mr. Alithums replied that q wise pro-
vision of our fore-fathers had created the
United States senate and while it had
grown into aristocratic ways he could see
of the original patriots"
The other suggestion was this:
"Mr. Allthums unhesitatingly replied TO
this question that he believed the United
States senate must surrender its aristo-
cratic tendencies II IT wished to retain the
place in the hearts of the people intended
by our wise fore-fathers."
All these suggestions went through ALI
thums' mind quickly. He braced himself
for the interview.
Harrison, the reporter, sat down in a
chair and pulled out fresh cigar.
Allthums also seated himself stif1y and
pulled out cigar. He waited patiently
for the reporter to, pull out an immense tab
cf paper and sharpen his pencil. The re-
porter did nothing of the kind.
"Allthums, the reporter said, you're
from Thorn county, aren't you?'
Right" said Allthums.
First time you were in the legislature,
,h?'
First time had the honor" said ALI
.hums.
"Ain't got any crops to speak Of" said
AlIthums
How're the cows?"
Fine
GOOD grazing?"
BEST in the world" said Allthums, won
lering where the tab and pencil were and
when the interview would begin.
.Glad to meet you, Allthums," said Har-
son
Same to you" said Allthums.
The reporter left the room on this and
Allthums stood supplied and non-plussed.
Mr.. Wayne" he said, that's fine
'oung man.
Hes daisy" said Wayne.
Fine" repeated Allthums with some
hing of sneer in his tone.
did he interview you?" said Wayne.
'No."
"He didn't?'
'No. Guess I amt enough Importance"
That's strange" said Wayne. He usu- |
lily interviews everybody"
WELL he didn't interview me-" said ALI |
huns rather sadly.
It vexed Allthums to think that he had |
cen judged so hastily on his personal ap-
earance by the reporter. If he had only |
sked him one Question-on the abolition |
the senate, for instance-he was sure |
is answer would have assured the report
: that he was not as mentally weak as his
1uSu tlulCAlc-dDQ Ne
light have interviewed him. 1t would have
elped him at home to have had an inter-
lew. The Stogs Center Clarion would
ave copied 1t and the boys would have re-
iced at his prominence. He would get at
lat reporter again and try TO prove to him
lat he was really worthy of an interview
But this first touch with a reporter sad
snad him. He went to bed with a heavy
cart.
The next morning he picked up the Morn
g Herald and read this:
James Trude Allthums is attending his
st session Of the legislature. He is a
lie Misunderstanding man and will be one
the leaders in the house. In q conversa-
On with reporter for the Herald yes
rday Mr.. Alithums spoke at great length |
the condition of Thorn county. He said
at the production of cereals had been |
pereeded in large part by the cattle
Isiness in which Thorn county led the
orld. the succulent grass furnishing abun-
mt grazing and the living springs which !
ound in the county. making il the peer OF
y cattle country on the globe. He says |
at every hill and valley is crowned with |
lie cattle, the people are constantly I'M
owing the breed and that new and fancy
rds are belng driven IN every day TO Sc
re the natural advantages of Thorn coun-
which Mr.. Allthums contends is the best
the state. AR. Allthums will remain
the city during the entire session. He Is
eady prominent figure in all the eau
ses and viii probably be placed at the
ad Of an important committee. When
Ned in regard to his choice for United
ates senator, Mr.. Allthums asked to be
cused from talking at this time !
ieran.um Jim almost fell of his chair. | s
living springs" Jehosophatl What a
c the bows would take me 10 he .S1,crr, |