Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-22
NO DESIRE TO ARGUE

They slid into the rear seat of the car
from opposite-sides late Saturday night
last. Both were masticating inch-ends OF
extremely frazzled and weary-looldng ci-
gars, and both had obviously made large
number of stop-overs before starting for
home They sized each other up, grinned
affably at each other, and the fat one
started 1t going.
Looks like this fellow Hearst Is going
to get hull lot OF it after ALL" he said.
That's what 1t does" replied the heavy
eyed one. Looks a-plenty like it,
>"Ain't such a bad duck at that. Hearst
said the fat one. might be worse
That's my>idea about him." replied the
heavy-eyed one. Lot O. worse people on
earth than Bill Hearst
The fat one maintained a ponderous 81
lence for about half minute. Then he
crossed his legs, threw his arm back OF the
seat, and said:
And yet, at that, I'd kind O. hate to see
him loom up SOS to make him dangerous
for Bill Bryan
of the other. Same idea here exactly.
Because went on the fat one, Il think
it's kind O. coming to Bryan. Hearst he
isn't in line for it like Bryan is.''
You got that right, all right said the
heavy-lidded one. "Bilrs the boy that's
entitled to it,.
The fat one gave the heavy-eyed one a
sort of slanting, searching gaze at this.
Then he shifted around in his seat some
more and thought of new one.
Looks like there might be something do
Ing with those Dagoes down in Cuba, hey?
It's wonder they wouldn't behave after
all we've done for EN-, eh?"
That's what I've been thinking" was
the instant reply of the heavy-eyed one
They ought to behave, sure"
And yet" said the fat one. after a mo-
of it. we didn't have any license to give
them their government with a string sort
of tied to it, like. did WEI"
1--WE sure didn't" was the reply. THAT
wasn't right: Let 'em run things them
selves, hey?''
The fat one began to shift about quite a
lot at this.
well, there's one thing about you, any
way way. pal" he said; you sure can take all
That's what / can." was the quick re-
Spouse. Can look at it from any old
The fat one didn't appear to be quite so
grinny by this time. There seemed to be
some resentment yelling up in him.
What did you think OF Teddy blowing
In all of that good coin on that naval re-
view up there in front Of his summer
house?" he asked presently. ''Kind O. rub
bling 1t In on the taxpayers, wasn't it?'
That was the way 1t struck me-" was
the reply of the fat ones casual seat
mate. Il thought that way, too
nss land YETI said 1;itd the fat one his
Teddy's the commander-in- chief Of the
whole blamed shooting match, amt he. and
II he wanted to stake himself to sight Of
the ships in fighting line, why. he was en-
titled to, I guess hey?"
We'll. I guess yes" calmly replied the
heavy-eyed one. I'D like to know who
had better right, at that"
The fat one crossed and recrossed his
l1rrs frrvN ft,r@1 o,,1 WOOD nrl
on his inch Of frazzled cigar. 1t was OBJ
vious that the difficulty he was experience
ing in his hunt for an argument was get
ting on his nerves.
Tell you what. matey," he said after a
pause, this government ownership thing
has got to be decided one way or the other
within the next few years It's the biggest
question a-going right now. They've got to
in kidding It and laughing it down. It's up
and It's got to be answered. hey?"
well. that's my idea about 1t, right
enough" was the others placid reply.
They've got to tackle it for sure thing.
and they can't duck 1t much longer"
And 1t isn't such a bad scheme at that. T"
said the fat one. at works in lot O.
others. and so why shouldn't it work In the
United States. hey? Bully notion. In a good
many ways, according to my way Of think
ing"
'rve never had thing against govern
ment ownership" was the others answer.
II can see all kinds of good in it. for that
matter
ooh. you can hey?'' chopped the fat one,
sauaring his jaw quite good deal. ''Well,
how about the other side? How about the
countries that have tried government own
ership and that have made hash of it,
hey7 Did you ever stop to think Of that end
Of it?'
II sure have" was the others reply. De-
ponds on the government that tries it.
That's what I think
"Oh. that's what you think is it?" growled
the fat one then. Caring ct his casual seat
mate. well. III tell you what think. I
think you're one of these here mental mol
lusks that agrees with everybody about
everything, that's what think. ou've got
about as much brains as star-fsh, that's
what you have, and anybody that swings
along and says anything, why you're there
with chime-in. It's wonder you wouldn' {
smoke up and dope out an idea or two Of
your own, stead of walking up and down
the world like q he-doll thst says dada
when you pinch It," and the fat man, who
had failed to get an argument, snorted
fiercely.
Jaw. gwan." placidly replied the heavy
eyed one, leaning back in his place. pulling
his hat over his eyes.
"Gwan yourself" said the fat one and he,
too, pulled his hat over his eyes, and then
they both rode to the end of the line, sound
asleep, and had to be prodded awake by the
conductor to pay another fare.