The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-05
WAISTCOATs IN POLITICs.
Lieut.. Gov. woodruff Tells How They
First Became q vital Force.


Soma men are born 70 waistcoats. some
achieve them as Ii Hung Chang has his
yellow jacket and some have them thrust
upon them And that IS my case ! do
not mean to say that have had all Of my
waistcoafs thrust upon me. Ny assert
ment Is really large and choice and Of my
own selection: but the particular pink
Waistcoat which is making such rounded
and bold front for fame with an important
part OF my anatomy inside of ii was thrust
upon me by newspaper correspondent
VINO did not know how much good he was
DOING me by hiding so much OF myself be-
hind such gorgeousness.
What the deur de lis Is TO France the
PINK waistcoat has become TO me.
l no longer need consider even the lilies
now they grow or supervise the work of
my tailor. for. like charity. tia pink waist
coast covers, TO the public eye. the multi
tude OF sins.
II the pink waistcoats were a. tangible q
material OF fact A. IL Is a political one, I
would will Il TO my eldest born and It
would De unto him as . bullet-proof cloak
ihe PINK wasSteoat Is great thing-in
faet, 1t is thing of beauty and a 10y for.
ever. Already have alluded to Ii Hung
Cnang. II l should lose the pink waist
coat through any defeat I should strive
as Vanantly 10 recover il as the Chinese
statesman his yellow jacket.
NY political pink waistcoat is the glitter
oauble that holds the attention Of the
c1o"o wniie go about the serious work
well. of digging for my party.
The pink waistcoat was a factor Of no
mean Importance In the struggle within the
fAepuoiican ranks in Brooklyn which
ended IN the nomination OF q straight Re-
publican ticket
An interview was given to q newspaper
man by politician, which, when pub
nsheo. attracted great deal of attention.
II was an attempt to belittle me by ridi-
culing the distinctly social side Of my life
and nature.
Naturally 1t had to do with my mode CT
nsins and the cut and quality of my
ciotnes. The pink waistcoat, known al
ready 10 some extent, symbolized my raj
ment, while my entertainments degener-
ated to the effeminacy Of the pink tea. 1t
really was very clever and very funny,
anu although knew the intention of the
article was meant to harm me, still / could
not help but enjoy It.
BUT these men, as rule. do not enter
those things about me whira can afford
ana whatever style I live In is fitting. I
mink. to both my position and my income.
Had not entered politics. these things
would have created no comment for there
are thousands OF men who live as I do,
because they can afford II, enjoy it and are
used to It.
But these men, as a rule, do not enter
pohtics. l did; and as there was nothing
else Vulnerable about me to the practical
poiticians, they tried the demogagic ruse
OF afousing the supposed prejudices OF the
people against good clothes, good living,
good houses and good horses-all MAIN
tanned by ne at my own expense and from
money earned In private enterprises. am
pursuing happiness in my own way. a
thing granted by the constitution and SO
recognized by the people that. although
me pink waistcoat is as a bullet proof
Coax they have seen through 1t as with an
X ray
Why, In the campaign Of 1896. when
was a candidate for my present Office,
politicians actually asked me not to drive
my horses about town, for fear should
offend the labor or some other kind of
vote. But the labor or some other kind Of
vote knew thing or two more than the
politicians
l remember the Press. In Its column call
ed Brooklyn Chat, defended my position
at that time as one OF common sense and
self-re5pect.
But for the history of the pink weskitt,
When l went from Brooklyn to Albany /
was not very well known there, but reports
had reached It's people OF my wonderful
raiment and really believe some Of them
expected TO see me driving around with
ten horses to some kind of gilded chariot
one OF the newspaper correspondents for
Brooklyn paper thought it his duty to
transfer the delusion back to Brooklyn
while I was in Albany. You know, dis
lance lends enchantment and blends colors
that at close range would be impossible.
Well. he wrote of my pink waistcoat. 1t
seemed to suit the journalistic situation 1t
was badly In need Of one word that would
comprehend the absurd splendor of my
robing and of style that was being pictured
TO the people. So the political pink weskitt
was born and has been growing in dimen-
sions TO this hour--that 1t may keep It's fit.
l shall never grow too large nor become too
small for IL. 1t Is made OF flexible stun.
And never want to be without it. When
1t Is the worst thing about man that man
Is not very bad, and even II he ehouid do
things at some time that are not considered
good the pink weskitt would be a shield
and people would talk chiefly about it. My
chief regret In connection with the pink
waistcoat Is that did not have one OF that
particular shade when / entertained the
newspaper men at dinner In Albany last
winter. never thought of 1t until they be-
gan to arrive, and then I would have given
800 could have sent TO tailor and have
one made for the occasion.
I shall not discuss waistcoats as q whole
not when nor how they should be worn:
nor how many have nor how often wear
them: for all waistcoats look alike to me
now. and all are dyed in an everlasting and
lmperishanie political pink.
TIMOTHY L. WOODRUFF.
Naw