The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-10-04
"DEAR BOY" 2
Ny Dear Boy:

My Dear Boy:
You inform me that John Jones, Tom
Bently and old Harry Weldon say that
they are going to vote for Mckinley
and Roosevelt, but that they will vote
against our Congressman, now a candi-
date for reelection.
Well, the Republican party is very
much like Bro. Robinson's church. Bro.
Brown and Bro. Robinson, two clerical
friends of mine, were talking about the
churches under their care. Bro. Brown
said:
My church has a large membership,
but only about one-fourth Of them are ,ae-
tive members"
Bro. Robinson replied:
My church members are all active.
The last one of them is active. Those
who won't do anything else will kick.
The Republican party is a very active
organization. There is nothing dead
about it. The last one of its mighty
membership is doing something, and it is
not surprising that some of this activity
should display itself in kicking. Jones,
Bently and Weldon have lined up with
the kickers.
Now, 1 am sorry. I will tell you why
am sorry. In my judgment, the lead
ers of the Democratic party lave very
little hope of ~electing Mr.. Bryan, but
they do hope to elect n Democratic House
Of Representatives. They do expect to
paralyze Legislation, tie McKinley's
hands, block the wheels Of the nations
progress, and cripple the ship Of state
right in the midst of the breakers that
surround it. And their hope lies in the
kicking Of such men us Jones, Bently and
Weldon.
L happen to know just what is the
matter with those three men. Jones fail
ed to be appointed postmaster at Sque-
dunk Station. Bently didn't get to take
the census in Pawpaw township, and
Weldon thinks he ought to have his PEN
sion increased to twenty-four dollars a
month, and the department decided that
fourteen dollars was enough. Each Of
them thinks that his representative in
Congress is to blame for his failure to
|. get what he wanted. Hence the kick
ing. ~
Now, 1 do not attempt to solve the per-
sonal equation in either of these three
cases. Perhaps Jones would be a very
good postmaster at Squedunk.. 1t may
DS ShAiL SShti "ao ~ bIooI SUIlptltut
person to take the census in Pawpaw
township. For aught I know Weldon
ought to have a pension of twenty-four
dollars a month, although I doubt wheth-
er he is more disabled than myself and
/ get only eight dollars and am not kick
ing about it. I could use more to very
good advantage, but nm thankful for
what I have.
Why, my boy, we are entering upon
wonderful times. The ancient c~iviliza-
ton of the Orient is crumbling. The
islands Of the sea are being transformed.
The Christian nations are coming to-
gether. America, with her inexhaustible
resources, her intelligence and freedom
of thought, her energy and inventive
genius, is becoming the foremost factor
in the coming regeneration Of the world.
And at the head Of this great nation
stands William Mckinley, enduring the
most tremendous strain which has come
upon any President since Lincoln's day.
His wise, dignifed faithfulness COM
mands the respect and confidence of the
world. He should be reelected and
should have a Congress upon whom he
can depend.
In view Of these great things, how
small the p~ostmaster's place at Squedunk
and such trifing personal matters ap-
pear!
Once there was a man who traded q
good farm for a drink of whisky and a
plug of tobacco. The Bible tells us of
Esau who sold his birthright for a mess
of pottage. Tradition informs us Of a
man who cut off his nose to spite his face.
And Of such are Jones, Bently and Well
don and others who let little things blind
them to great things.
My boy, this is not the year to kick.
Think on these things and DON'T BE A
KICKER. YOUR FATHER.