The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-27

Dear Ned.-Your letter saying that the
bows have made you national committee
man from the old State gave me heavy
HOLT. I feel a good deal like the old lum-
herman who stood on shore and watched
his sons go out on the logs to break a
big lumber jam. 1t was the lad $ hrst
star performances, and the old man re-
marked: Hes fine boy and lisa ilne
lob, but If he don't do 1t right this time
he'll never get back to where ne can pc
licked for hts foolhardlness."
BY exerting little brute force ana
aWkwardness man In almost any kinu
of an office can manage TO make fool
of himself. but when he takes Inc posi-
tlon Of State captain for the party IN
national campaign he can sit still and de-
pend upon being made monkey or oy
any one Of thousand energetic husllers
\ In the organization who are prahclns
around nights apparently for the sole
purpose Of putting your foot IN me ne sl.ua,
ton. Compared to the opportunities open
to a national committeeman. legislator,
a congressnan, or even Governor.
stands about as little chance to 90 him
self harm as a boy with a bucksaW and
q big woodpile.
The list Of perils that beset the Apostle
Paul would look mild beside the array
OF pitfalls which walt for the feet OF
those who make straight the paths OF
party triumph. II the holder OF an ordl-
j nary office keeps close tabs on one or
two special enemies and watches ms own
weak points with special care, he's com
paratlvely safe, but this party general
in a big camrsalgn has got to dodge al
the sharpshooters' on the other side and
give most OF Ills time to keeping MS 1901
friends from exploding the ammunition
magazine in his own camp.
Then, again, he must have a scent Tor
Iandslides and storm-ccnters that approx
imates omniscence. BACK ~ bust'
used to know bee tree hunter who In
sisted that even In tho dead of winter
he could hear the hum OF a swarm o. bees
In hollow seventy feet from the ground
the minute he clapped his ear to the butt
az the tree. That's the kind Of an ear
tor trouble you've got to have. Ned, If
sou get through with the Job you've
tackled without making a mess Of your
political future. And right on this point
OF oca ting storm-centers ! want to tell
Il sou story that. In the language Of tho
evangelist. will ur!ng you to reallza-
ton of your imperilled condition !
was back in the old Stale then. as you
know, and taking considerable notice Of
what was doing on the inside of politics.
Little Doc. as you'll recall was the ma
tionnl committeeman from our state and
also State secretary of the State Central
Committee at the time when the first
free silver campaign broke loose. Ele had
his enemies, but none Of them accused
him OF sleeping daytimes. and knew he
was like fathers old clnybank mare ir
ono respect---there was no evidence tina,
ne had ever laid down In his stall, r
thills or double harness. He was keeT
as a fox, and had thrown the dogs Of
a good many times by running on the TOT
rail- of the fence, jumping sideways across
the creek and doubling back or HIS track
Those OF us who We're best acquainted
with his habits felt mighty safe when HI
landed on the National Committee an'
stood for our STATE IN the chief coun
sels of the party But there were !
good many of the boys down In the Stat
who didn't take to him because his hal
curled, and he changed his shirt at lcas
three times a week
Well, anyhow. he was the captain 0
d The party ship when the free silver iloo
y came In, There wasn't a man In on
party who didn't fairly eozo satisfaction