The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-17

PLEASE DRAW YO'R PISTOL"
yes, sah.they decided that 1 was the
man, and when told that the veal or
woe of my native state rested on my
action did not hesitate to sacrifice my
law business and take the stump.
1T was during the alligator craze Inc
saurian, sah had become one of the in
dustries of this glorious state. Hun
dreds of men were hunting him for his
hide. and hundreds Of hides were being
exchanged for cash. In their thirst Tor
wealth however, the people were killing
the golden goose. So great was the
slaughter that it was mere question
of time when the alligator would be-
come extinct.
Il was the first man in the state to
see and realize this, and 1t is needless
to inform yo' that 1 acted with zeal and
prOmptitude-zeal and promptitude, sah-
I drafted ans introduced a bill in the
senate to protect, cherish, encourage and
stimulate the increase of saurians in all
the waters of the state. 1t was founded
not only on humanitarian principles,
but on those of business as well. The
more alligatOrs, the more hides; the
more hides, the more cash You doubt
less follow me. sah2 There it was Sa h
the alligator versus the people-kur-
mel Bunker and the alligators-the ALI
gators and Kurnel Bunker versus rfdi-
cule and opposition.
There was ridicule and opposition,
sab: heaps of it. 1t was a step in adj
vance. Kurnel Bunker was ahead of the
times. To belittle me, to ridicule and
defeat my measure, sab, / was advised
by press and speakers to introduce bills
to protect coons, possums, horsef1ies,
mosquitoes and so forth. simply
marked the men and went steadily
ahead.
when the time came to speak in de-
Tense of my old bill. I furnished figures
to open the eyes of the people. l was
the only man in that body of legislator:
who had posted himself on the fact that
every female alligator laid forty-six egg
in the course of a season. OF the forty
six only half are hatehed- OF -
twenty-three young alligatorS only
seven survive the perils of infancy. IT
the co'se of foty minutes. sab. 1 weni
through alligator eggs. young alliga tors
male and female alligators, and proved
conclusively that if protection was no
extended we should not have hide tC
sell after three years. Figures sab =
KurneI Bunker, sah-Kurnel Bunker
and figures.
THE figures were convincing, sail-
more than convincing-bu Kurne
Bunker was ahead of the times. l So "
that heroic measures must be adoDtef
or the bill would be killed, and my frs
move was to call upon an editor VIII
was daily ridiculing my project. dc
not think he was inclined to look GpoT
the matter seriously at first. 1 think
displayed a gun, sah-I think l did
and to the best of my recollection
also remarked in tones becoming a gen
tleman:
My dear sir, it looks to me as if The
alligators and the editors of Arkansav
must either stand or fall together. II
rest with yo', sab, it rests entirely with
yo' as to which it shall be-
He was man of persDicacity, tina.
editor. sab. IN the twist of a coon's
tail he had connected Kurnel Bunker
the alligators, the editors and that sun
and he had figured out results. III
arose and took me by the hand. and
next day. sab. ne defended my bill tc
the extent of column. The other
papers took their cue from his. and in a
week the press was in line and helping
me out. Egad, sab, but I have always
fiattered myself that it was well donl
very we'll done.
There was opposition in the senate
and the house. however. Ex-Judge
Gndersleeve led the one, and Maiaf
Barnes led the other. I took an early
opportunity of asking the judge to TAX
q stroll with me into the country. Wher
we had reached a secluded spot L turnel
upon him and serenely observed-se-
reneiy observed, yo' understand.
- Judge. viii yo' do me the favor &c
pace off ten PAGES toward the peIsim
mon tree2'
He gave me a look of inquiry. buf
he proceeded to pace. When he turneS
about. 1 said:
- Please draw yo'r pistol I vii
count three in loud voice. and then ".
VIII omen IRE ana continue until one OF
the other is lying deadl'
'Kurnel Bunker says the judge n:
he slowly walks uD to me and extend.
his hand, there is no occasion for thi.
duel, none whatever
&" But yo' oppose my alligator BILL
I did UP to yesterday. but I do s,
no longer. I have come to the conclu
sion that it is a wise and necessar,
measure To'r hand, kurnel and to
morrow I will make a speech in favo
of the measure
I'VE shook hands and walked back t
town the best of friends. and the judg
accorded me his earnest support, sab
his earnest support.
"A day or two later I invited tn
majah to my room az the hotel AS b
entered I locked the doah and put dow
the curtains and placed two bowl
knives on the table and said;
q 'Majah Barnes. select yo'r weapon
s'sWhat for2' says he.
To fight me to the death. Yo' wi
take one coner of this dar1ened roor
and 7 will take another. and one of Il
shall not leave it alive Majah, do nc
keep me waiting
- 'FSurnel Bunker says the majah a
he turned away from the instrument
of death, I do not refuse to fight 70
INT I desire to first help yo' to pas
11osr alligator bill. I was opposed to
until began to figure. now find tina