The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-28
iouston, Texas, Saturday, February 2s 1908
y PAGES TO-DAY.
MUSIC AND POLITICS.


At a public banquet in New Haven the
other evening, Governor Chamberlain Of
Connecticut Surprised the guests by sing.
ing THE Old Oaken Bucket The New
Haven Palladium frowns upon the governors
performance in the following language:
There are Some people with grabbed natures
and who little OF the bright side OF lite
who inclined 70 think that 1t IS not quite
dignifed for his exceency to rise on these oc-
casions and render a solo 10 them the act ot
speechmaking is regarded as what should be the
limit of a governors share on 2 special occasion,
Simply with the idea Of suggesting how Governor
Chamberlain may best retain the loyalty of al
the good people, the dyspcptic and the hale tel
low well met alike, We suggest that he decline
IN the future to respond to the calls Tor he
Old Oaken Bucket
The Syracuse Herald does not agree with
the Palladium, neither does The Post, The
Herald thinks that Governor Chamberlain
can afford to treat this admonition with in
difference, and asks, what need he care for
the Grabbed natures of the Nutmeg State.
They don't carry elections. And even if
they did he would be an unworthy son
of New England If he did not assert the
inanenable and constitutional privilege Of
every American citizen to strike up a tune
when the humor seizes him and the occasion
is ripe. This much is said, of course, on the
hypothesis that Governor Chamberlain can
sing. Ii he can't sing, and only thinks he
can, the Palladium's advice Is sensible
enough
The Herald continues "As matter of
fact, music and politics 20 well together
Senator Plat achieved master stroke a
few years ago when he chanted The Battle
Hymn of the Republic at public dinner in
New York. Since that time nobody has
dared to dispute with him the mastery of
the republican organization. Not so many
years ago a candidate for governor of Ten
neseee charmed a majority OF his fellow cit,-
zens into voting for him by the aid of a
violin. Here in Syracuse a rising young Of
fetal partly owes his political success to a
fine tenor voice. A spellbinder tells good
story and his listeners laugh, applaud and
admire. What is there in a song that de
tracts from ones dignity, while n fetching
story does not? Nothing The idea is pre-
posterous."
In Governor Chamberlain's case, the Pal
ladium can render him friendly service
not by warning him to discontinue the use
of a natural gift-assuming that it is a gift
but by urging him to overhaul his yoCa
repertoTy. The governors star selection a.
New Haven is trife ancient-as moss
grown in fact as the bucket that it immor
talized. Senator Platt's favorite is also old
but it is a war song; and war songs. like
pensions. are always in season. An outworr
sentimental ballad, however, is dangerous
weapon for singer who is interested in re
tanning the good will of the public. Again
'The Old OalSen Bucket" rests under sus
picion 1t was written to commemorate the
virtues Of pure spring water, but it has dc
generated into vehicle for vinous expires
sion No man-exceptlng the governor OF
Connecticut OF course--eyer roars out, How
dear to my heart are the sce-e-nes of my
chi-i-ildhood" whose organ, as Silas Wegg
would put it, has been mellered with moth
ing stronger than water, Therefore, Gov
ernor Chamberlain might properly be ad
vised to cut THE Old oaken Bucket" out OF
his musical catalogue and keep his reputa
tion above reproach.