The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-08-25


Story of Mr.. Talbot and His Famous
Hat.-So elusive is fame that most of those
who court it would be satisfied if there was
Just one achievement in life upon which IL
rested safely, says the Baltimore NeDs. 1t
happens, however, that Mr.. J. Fred. q. Talbot,
the Democratic candidate for Congress in the
Second district, has been favored even beyond
the dreams of the fortunate.
Everybody in Maryland knows Mr.. Talbot,
the politician. Stories of bis adrotness, hisskill
as q manipulation, his tactfuness, his abilities
as mixer" have been told and retold, and
each campaign brings forth fresh supply, so
that the topic never grows stale. Since way
back to the time when the memory of man
''runneth not to the contrary" he has been q
candidate for Congress: Some vic issitudes
have been encountered, but, taking all in all,
he surely cannot complain.
That is politics, and this is not to be politi
cal story. 1t is of that wonderful, soft, light,
felt hat that reclines at such reckless angle
on the thickly matted, gray locks of one j.
Fred. q. Talbot that this tale is told
1t is given to few to set the fashion in dress.
King Edward has been responsible for thing
or two of this kind, and Beau Brummel did
even more for fashion. Some mems ambition
in life run to fancy hose and Others to fancy
vests. 1t remains for Mr.. Talbot to set the
fashion in top piece" Such ambitions are
worthy politician. The most famous hat that
ever figured in the political world was grand
pas" which Harrison was accused Of wearing
in and out of season. 1t was almost an issue
in a national campaign.
Mr.. Talbott's hat has not been accepted as
the only thing for men to wear. It has its
votaries, however. Just before an election in
Baltimore county great number Ofthe citizens
of that prosperous community don the hat OF
the political leader. 1t is sort of q rabbit 8
foot. Candidates for Office are said to believe
that it will endow them with share of the
political luck and sagacity of the county leader.
IN A. 1;chk hat, rod Inf
tunately, however, they cannot initiate the
angle at which it is worn.
MANY Republicans, especially those of q
dusky hue, are strongly of the opinion that
there is witchcraft in the Talbot hat" The
expression means nothing except when taken
in connection with the angle that the hat is
worn by Mr.. Talbot. Hundreds upon hun.
dreds have tried to initiate this angle, but no
man has ever succeeded This is what lends
color to the belief of the colored people that
there is witchcraft about it somewhere. They
wow and decIar'" that Mr.. Talbot will never
be beaten as long as he wears his hat in that
"'diclus fashun."
Down in Washington verybody knows the
Talbot hat' and the man who wears it. In
three counties of Maryland, not to mention
two city wards, the people know the man and
the hat, and in the remainder of Maryland the
hat is better known than the man.
When Congressman Talbot first began to
play the little game of politics, away back in
III, he appeared in a Democratic convention
wearing a soft felt hat, tipped down over one
cara duplicate of the very hat that he wears
today. That was 35 years ago. Beneath its
shady brim he has travelled over the hills and
wales of his country district, and the hat has
always heralded his approach. One windy
election eve, so the story goes, he lost the hat
in a guest of wind. Before he could get q
duplicate the votes had been counted, and 10 !
Mr.. Talbot had lost. Since then he has kept
a supplv of hats on hand.
Few, if any, have ever seen Mr.. Talbot in
any hat other than the one which bears his
name. One of bis closest political friends is
authority for the report that he possesses q
high silk hat. 1t is carefully concealed. After
every campaign Mr.. Talbot hies himself to
New York to recuperate for few days. Then
the high silk is brought out, and after he il
safely landed on Fifth avenue, New York, it
is worn. The high silk is not permitted to see
the light of day in the Second Congressional
district. There are some good, sturdy old
Talbot men out there who would not take
kindly to high silk.
Now THAT the dollar subscription plan for
campaign revenue has been adopted there will
ho n sfrfo for fha roaiIon of treasurer of the