The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-06
His POKER STORY.
Senator Elect Mason Made u Speech, but
Was Puzzled Later.

Senator Elect Mason Made u Speech, but
Was Puzzled Later.
1t is a poor political argument which
will not work both ways, Many stump
orator has made Il telling point, only to
find afterward that local conditions,
with which he was totally unfamiliar,
have reversed its application, with most
disastrous effects, upon his logic. Sena-
tor Elect Billy Mason is an effective
campaigner. On the stump he takes his
audience into his confidence at once and
uses hoincly illustrations which every
one can easily understand. But it is inn
possible for any orator to guard himself
against unknown local conditions
The great Issue of the Harrison cam
paign OF 1888 was the tariff as cxcmpli-
fled i'll fine Mills bill Mr.. Muson Wa,
sent into ONO to combat free trade and
hang the banner of protection OH the
outer wall At Wooster, while address
ing IN enthusiastic audience, he said:
Some persons claim that the tariff
question is hard TO understand. it is rs
simple rs two and two are four 1t j.; as
clear us daylight. Suppose few of YOU
boys here i'll Wooster yet together occa-
slonally at night to enjoy Il quiet game
OF poker. The limit is kept down pretty
well, and no one can lose or win enough
to hurt any one. Tom may be the Win
ncr tonight But the next time Dick
comes ont ahead or Harry or Jack. No
matter who wins or who loses. all the
money that goes into the game stays
right here i'll Wooster. 1t may change
hands but it stays here. That is pro
lection.
"Now, suppose that Il travelling man
comes along Time hangs heavily on
his hands, and he begins to look around
for Il little amusement. He wants to
come into the game. You boys talk the
matter over and finally decide to throw
down the barrier of scclusiOn which
heretofore has kept outsiders from COM
pcting with you for the jack pots. He
comes i'll, and when he gets up he may
have i'll his pocket all your money The
next morning he takes the train and
goes away. With him goes your capital.
See how il leaves you financially? That's
free trade.
After the meeting was over the speak
or went to little hotel to meet and
'ii'''NO W ltll tllt ldlllllul tlllt IL
possible, make Il few converts by per-
sonal contact. An old granger came up,
shook Billy's hand vigorously and said:
BY gee, that wuz a hot talk You give
us tonight. jest as plain as prcachin.
Any one could understand what You
WIZ drivin at all right. That tariff ar
gyment wuz great-simply cmcnSc.
You see, some OF us fellers here have
been runnin quiet little game nights
over the harness shop across the way.
Never won or lost very much--couldn' t
do it if we wanted TO. One day last
week drummer from Cincinnati came
along and broke into the game. Well,
sir. we helped him let go of more than
1920 that night and i'll the mornn
we Clipped i'll and bought him Il ticket
to Columbus. This town hain't had
SIGH 4 business afore sencc the war
And when Billy finally retired he
spent an hour trying to figure out on
which side OF the tariff question he had
been talking. Chicago Times Herald.
Tcacher-<iive an example of the use
of the word contagious.
Pupil-Strcct cars are not contagious
They are hard TO catch Boston Tran
script