Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-09-23
WATTERsONIAN VAIL
THIS TIME IT'S a osEvELT THAT
HE'S AFRAID or.
Tie Gassaudra of American Politics
uticrs DssmaI Hpwis and Dsr~fni
Pre- iictions About Roosevelt nad
Republicans.

On the evening Of Sept. Z, 1904. tho
land was 81 peace, and no sugurics OF
dread possessed il. Vermont had said
It's say. In no unmeaning manner and
ali was calm IN city and country. while
IN New YORK was gathering a band. just
a few faithful editors OF Democratic
antecedents, 10 talk over the political sit
nation, and incidentally devour that
square meal which when eaten In public
and accompanied by speeches. il called :
banquet
Among the chivalry which gathered
there was Henry Watterson OF Ken
tueky. The moment he was seen at the
festive board those editors and specta-
tors who are accustomed 10 observe tho
usual progress az events knew that somc-
thing was going 10 happen. They d.
yined that Henry had been seeing
things" 1t il a way he has. And then
he says things
Time rolled on The rich New York
,iands. prepared for the unaccustomesi
palates OF the visiting editors. the fiery
cocktails. the generous wines, the nips or
strong waters. all these had met tho
fate prepared for them. And then cams
Watterson, as chief speaker OF the even
ing.
Watterson is at times an excitnble
man. This was one OF the times lie
| was not only excited. he was painfully,
morbidly scared And OF all things in
the world. this brave. loyal. chivairous
American gentleman was afraid OF an-
other Brave. loyal chivalrous American
gentcman--the President Of the Unite6
| States, Theodore Roosevelt.
There was rant about raising the
| black flag" "scnttling the ship Of civil
service "und cutting the throat cf rc-
! eiprociiy" which made Wntterson's hear
ers turn pale. though they knew no more
! than did the speaker to what these trucuy
lent words referred.
| The trembling editors listened, nppaIl.
| "a. Waiterson lowered his voice and
mutiered forth charges Of ruth and ruin
against Roosevelt past. Roosevelt pres
ent Roosevelt future. Again he paved
the earth. shook his fists aloft and bell
! lowed his predictions Of an everlasting
candidate for the presidency, and an ev-
erlasting President IN the person Of Tho
| odore Roosevelt. IL the Republicans con-
tinue in power. Watterson's auditors
thought Of Carter TX. Harrison and Car
| ter II. HarT IN H., perennial and ever
| blooming Mayors Of Chicago, but, -
these examples OF political longevity be-
| long to the Democratic party. II Gained.
the nerves OF the wrought-up banqaiso~
ers. aud they were able 70 brace up sndI
listen to the impassioned gentleman from
Kentucky. ~
The food OF oratory went on and on
and when II was over the editors felt re-
/ lieved, because no seizure Of fatal
character had made fitting climax tp the
utterances OF the choleric speaker. whGl2
coquence has been whetted for years.
upon the obtrusive angles OF his own
party.
And then the teiegraphic wires bore,
az upon the wings OF the wind. tho
words Of Wnttcrson, TO be printed in the
morning papers that there could be read.
by the toilng millions, the fatal words
at objurgation, adjuration and diyina-
! ton.
The public read the burning words
| OF Watterson with that fatal apathy
! which greets 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 tho
morning papers, and one or snobher OF
the great army Of freemen sail to his
neighbors. as he looked up from tho
warnings. denunciations and predictions
of the hysterical orator OF Louisville,
'Watterson's broke loose againv
And that was all.