The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-29
HANNAH GOT THE WATCH
The Big Timber Statesman Was
Not Going to Get Left.
HE RAN THE RECEPTION
He Subscribed $25 for a Testimonial to
the Volunteers and Then Accepted
One Worth $50 for Himself-In
Good Shape Financially.

Special Correspondence of the Standard.
Big Timber. Oct. 26.-All the talk to-
| day is about the reception to the volun-
| teers last night, and, with the excep-
ton of few schemers who thought to
help Hannah's political schemes, the
whole town is either smiling, swearing
or looking weary at the part the state
senator took in the proceedings.
1t will be remembered that the rev.
erend senator enlisted in the Montana
regiment after much prayerful consid-
Grafton and some serious consultations
with leading lawyers as to whether he
could hold his senatorial job in the
even of his enlistment. The fact that
he did not have a single, solitary ex-
cuse aside from his official position for
not enlisting, warrants the presumption
that Hannah has a good eye for fu-
lures. Hence the precaution he took to
keep his line Of retreat open, Being
assured that he could get back when
he wished, and having an eye for the
political phase of the enlistment dodge,
as well as for the financial phase Of his
senatorial job. Hannah, with view to
killing two good fat birds with one
stone, enlisted. He went to Manila,
spo~+ a few months very pleasantly in
collecting Philippine curios and study
ing the political economy of the situa-
ton, and about the time the fighting
was to begin accepted the proffered
discharge. procured. presumably, by
w. A. Clark. Hannah would have liked
very much to stay and kill few Fill
pinos along with the other boys, but
Clark had far more important fight on
at home and needed Hannahs help.
The news of his coming was noised
all Il I, ll,sI
circulated announcing that a public re-
ception would be rendered the hero and
statesman upon his return from the
wars and the town was in furore Of
excitement about the coming of the
great man. The reception was held,
the people turned out and filled the
hall; Hannah was given an opportunity
to make a speech and he was happy.
The enlistment dodge was working to
perfection. Hannah then went to Hell
ena to legislate, and did so with such
success that since the legislature adj
journed he has given evidence of such
financial ease that it is, strange to say,
causing some talk. Previously so poor
in this worlds goods that he boosted
of it publicly, Hannah has, since he
voted for Clark. been on no less than
three eastern trips, has loaned money
on mortgage, has purchased real es-
tate. is the manager of an unincorpor-
ated publishing company and is report
ed on excellent authority to have taken
out life insurance policy for large
sum. But that's another story.
When it was announced that the
other boys We're coming home, after an
arduous and glorious campaign, during
which, to quote Hannah's own words. !
zone of them wasiin % engagements"
it was deemed proper to give them q
reception of some kind. A prominent
citizen headed subscription list with
$50, and in a short time several hun
dred dollars was subscribed. 1t was
not intended to ask Hannah to contrib
ute. He had been a volunteer and had
been duly honored upon his return
home. and it was not deemed in good
taste to ask him to contribute to honor
members of the regiment of which he
had so lately been one. But some of
his friends saw in this a deep-Iaid
scheme to humiliate Hannah and deter
mined to circumvent it. The subscrip-
ton list was secured bv Thomas Ross
of the Ross-Dier Mercantile company,
who, for some reason or other. has been
very chummy with Hannah ever since
the ~everend gentleman voted for w.
A. Clark. In short time the list was
returned by Mr.. Ross, who triumphant
ly announced that Hannah had put
down $25, the second largest amount on
the list. The following day the Yellow
stone Leader (Hannah's newspaper)
published a partial list of subscribers
to the fund with Hannah's name and
amount modestly placed next to the
top, although it was about fifteenth on
the original list.
The committee selected to have
charge of the reception decided to pre-
sent each of the boys with a solid gold
watch suitably engraved. No sooner
was the decision announced than Han
nahs friends began to complain that he
was again being sighted. In vain it
was pointed out that Hannah had al
ready been rewarded for what he had
done: that if he were also given
watch he would be receiving a double
portion of recognition for services in no.
wise commensurate with those of the
other soldiers, and, besides, he was
subscriber to the fund, and it would
hardly look well for him to be contrib
uting money to buy himself watch
as compliment from the people. How
ever, the committee waited upon Mr..
Hannah to ask him if he would accept
watch under the circumstances. The
establishment and disgust Of the COM
mittee may be imagined when Hannah
promptly announced that he would ac-
cept the watch
Last night the presentation was
made and Hannahs ears must nave
tingled as he heard Mr.. Barbour's re-
count the valorous deeds of these re-
turning volunteers upon the field of
battle" Hannah got the watch and
made the response for the boys and is
doubtless happy.
This is the plain story Of how Han
nah secured $50 watch for S25.