The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-23
WATTEhS0N!AA Wall
THIS TIME IT'S -ossvElT THAp
HE'S AFRAID c.
The cassandra of American Po,itics
Gtters Dismal Howls AMI Direful
Predictions About Roosevelt and
Republicans.

On the evening of Sept. .. 1904. the
land was at peace, and no angur;es Of
dread possessed it. Vermont had said
its say, in 10 u%nmcaning manner, anG
all was calm in c.;y and country. while
in New York WAS gathering a band. just
q few faithful editors of Democratic
antecedents. to talk over the political sit
uaticn, and incidentally devour that
souare meal which. when eaten in public
and accompanied by speeches, is called a
balGlct.
Among the c~h:vaIry which gathered
there was Henry Watterson Of Ken
lucky. The moment he WAS seen Mt the
festive board those editors and spectt-
tors who are accustomed to observe tho
usual Progress of events knew that some
thing was going to happen. They di-
vinea that Henry had been seeing
things 1t is Il way he has. And then
he says things.
Time rolled OH. The rich New York
viands. prepared for the unaccustomed
palates of the visiting editors, tho fiery
cocktails, the generous wines, the nips of
strong waters, all these had met the
fate prepared for them. nj then came
Wattcrson, as chief speaker of the even
ing.
Wattnrson is at times an excitabe
man. This was one of the times. He
was not only excited, he was painfully.
morbidly, scared. And of all things in
the world, this brave, loyal. chivaJlouy
American gentleman was afraid of an
other brave, loyal, chivalrous American
scntleman-the President of the United
States, Theodore Roosevelt.
There was rant about raising the
black flag" ''scuttling the ship of civil
service" and cutting the tliroat Of re-
ciprocity" which made Watfcrson's hear
ers turn pale. though they knew no more
than did the speaker to what these trucu-
lent words referred.
TIE trembling editors listened, appall-
cd. Watterson lowered his voice and
muttered forth charges of ruth and ruin
against Roosevelt past, Roosevelt pres
ent. Roosevelt future. Again he paved
the earth, shook his fists aloft and bel
lowed his predictions of an everlasting
candidate for the presidency, and IN CIV.
erlastins President in the person Of The
odore Roosevelt, if the Republicans com
tinue in power. Wahtterson's auditors
thought ofCarter II. Harrison ]. and Car
ter H. Harrison H., perennial and ever
blooming Mayors of Chicago but. as
these examples Of political longevity be-
long to the Democratic party, it Gained
the nerves of the wrouSht-up banquet
ers. and they were able to brace up and
listen to the imprisoned gentleman from
Kentucky.
The food of oratory went on and on.
and when it was over the editors felt res
licved, because no seizure of a fatae
character had made fitting climax to tho
utterances of the choleric speaker, whose
e!oquence has been whettcd for years
upon the obtrusive angles of his own
party.
And then the Geographic wires bore,
as upon the wings Of the wind, the
words of Watterson, to be printed in the
morning papers that there could be read,
by the toiling millions. the fatal words
OF objursation, ADMIRATION and divina-
ton.
The public read the burning words
of Wattcrson with that fatal apathy
which Sreets the efforts Of those who. in
the first place, talk too much. and in the
second place, habitually overshoot the
mark. There was a good-natured laugh,
perhaps, as some stalwart American
glanced over the scare heads" of the
morning papers, and one or another of
the great army of freemcn said to his
neishbors, as he looked up from the
warnings, denunciations and predictions
of the hysterical orator Of Louisville,
"Watterson's broke loose ~apaipt'