The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-18
State Superintendent Takes 70
Tobacco to Quiet HA Nerves.
ENCOURAGING NEWS RECEIVED
Bulletin 1T Fusion Headquarters AM
noupces Improvement I'm His Con-
dtfson--<sood Effect Later oAset b1
Browne's Appearances I'm Cioud
n smoke--Indorscment of Plumb
and Frfars--Meckfem's Statement.

ssre official embodiment OF political
friendship for the masses, occupying and
operating from the p6riors OF tho Hotel
Northern. has been getting along in a
rather nnexeiting and colorless way until
within the past fsw days. The absence
az Farmer Todd from the outer parlor
and Of superintendent Frank j. Browne
from ths inner Sancfnm left things very
quiet. Chairman Drum looked wise,
Chairman a3allaine appeared somewhat
melancholy. Chairman Pierson handed
ont an occasional Jolly. the typewriter
clicked and the mailing clerks plugged
along. But II was all very tame.
Within the last day or two, however,
new life has been taken on. or rather
has been instiiied by news and other
things from outside sources.
First and most important, especially to
Chairman Ballaine, official representative
Of ths feather remaining from what was
once the Silver Republican wing OF fusion
Ism, was the bulletin from the bedside
Of superintendent Browne. az follows:
Pulse normal; respiration vigorous:
nerve unehnken. name Of Harr Wagner
has not been mentioned for forty-eight
hours"
This was indeed gladstone tidings. since
the exposure Of ths wsstland school book
game Superintendent Browne has been In
bad condition and seriously on his feed.
For sosns time he was closely confined In
the inner sanctum at headquarters, but
II was finally considered safe TO set him
AT largo on "official business
~ thu dismay OF Chairman Drum ana
Chairman pferson, and especially of
Chairman Ballains. the superintendent at
once recklessiy plunged again into poll
ties He hastened eastward ana rejoined
his famous colleagues Hon. John r. Roy
=
BY Hon. q. II. ffolcomb. Tho ouartetta
talked lcnk and loud and frequently. They
alrn sang OF fusion. reform and Rogers
economy ana one thing or another.
Enc result was Inevitable Eupcrinten-
dent browne suffered a relapse They
nov have him safely stalled again ana ara
irving 70 break him OF the tobacco habit.
fnr. sad to nay. Superintendent Browne
nas become victim To the filthy weed.
rsaf.ins upon his educational career with
al no virtuous determination az n ,,,t,.
Robbie Reed. he got on well until benom-
,nR associated with the westisnd concern
Here the hrst steps toward his dowrfaIt
are SAID 10 have been taken IN occ.-
sionai indulgence ins the insidious sci
The rest came easy. with the shock >,
exposure on his nerves the sunerins q .;ent
took TO madnro cigars N MI romss.'s
kind. At headquarters he /. arcussc su.s -
consuming fat. black stogies ana parta,,a
~ theA plpsfui, hut this IA not rrovs,,
ANYHOW. his combustion was ~ corxt. :.
hHa nhensIve that Chairman Drum, bad ~
esf perior In another part or the bousn.
1hairman E1eraon seldom entered tbe q, !,
ner room. and only Chairman Ballaina
remained faithful at his post. This sta,s
q affairs could not long be tolerated.
Even the clerks reared This liz said ID ba
vhe true reason why Mr.. Browne was ~
soon liberated.
The Importance Of the bulletin may.
therefore. be easily understood. Aftsr
returning from Eastern Washington the
superintendent was Put In the care Of
eminent specialists and nurses. who, hv
raithfuiIv avoiding all mention OF the
cause OF hts disturbance and careful nurs-
ing on clay ptpe and common plug cut.
are gradually bringing him back TO health
and reason.
Another important factor In the con-
valesc~nce 81 Superintendent rrowne n
sata 70 be the receipt OF two letters from
prominent educators Of tina state which
fully sxonerRte him from compiicity In
the Westland school book scandal. and
10 fact. heartily tndorse hts selection Of
the Wagner geography and Hughes spell
or for use In the common schools
These letters are from no less aisftu~
Kmsahed authorities than Prot y. H.
Plumb. az North Yakima, and Prof II. E
ftiars OF Everett Roth OF these gentle
men know whereof they write They. arc
thafonsnly familiar with the workings 81
he Wes'land hook TRUST. and every detail
OF tbs situation is perfectly plain to them
keinx members OF the Rogers state board
of education and having voted with SUI
refiAtendent Browne In favor az the WAY.
ner end HUGHES productions. their In