Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-08-30
AN ALLEGORY
By A. Longfellow.

Oh huC uds III AuSuSt, iOOO,
Fred Russell was walking up Main
street of Webster, South Dakota, and
happened to pass Jen's place of bus
mess and found Jens standing in the
doorway. He accosted Jens with,
Hello, Jens, hear you have new
machine in town. | don't mean a
lightning rod machine, but new
political machine, and I'd like to see
it work" "All right, Fred, if you'll
come up to Frank Anderson's Office
and help me carry it down, we will
sit it on the sidewalk and I'll show
the people machine that will beat
any machine in the county"
Russell accoinmodatingly helped
Jens carry out the new machine and
place it on the sidewalk. "Well,
Jens, it looks like Punch and Judy
show to me, but let's see how it
works." "You turn the crank, Fred,
and I'll handle the levers" said
Jens. Fred commenced turning and
an inspiring melody burst forth with
words as follows:
oh where, oh where have the boxers gone,
oh where, oh where can they be?
There used to be some, but they all seem
gone,
oh where, oh where can they ber
stop it, Fred, | like that tune,
but | don't like the words. | must
have pulled the wrong lever. Let's
try the next one."
In the meantime large crowd
had gathered to see the show. Jens
pulled the next lever and up popped
the form of little black bearded
man who made bow and spoke as
follows: 81 am republican. But
short time ago l would not consent
to have my name placed on the
republican ticket. l was mayor of
your town, and what did 1 dor" A
voice from the crowd answered, "Not
a d-n thing" Fred, guess l
made mistake again. Let's try the
next one."
Jens pulled the next lever and a
lean form appeared, made bow and
said, 81 had all the offices that /
could get in your neighboring county
but I'd like to have few here, or at
least | like to have my fingers in the
county treasury" Jim shut off the
lever quickly and said, Fred, let's
try the next one."
A lean, hungry-looking form hob
bled into view, and in a nervous
manner said, "A great bank in Chi
cago has failed lately, but my bank
has never failed in anything except
in getting enough county money.
Vote the way say, or l will FORE
close on you" Jens shut off again.
Better try the next one, Jens,"
said Fred.
A large, smooth faced, well-fed
form arose, made bow and said,
"By the way, l was your states
attorney elected on the populist
ticket and what was my record?" A
voice from the crowd answered.:
Lost every criminal case you tried"
Jens shut off again. "The consumed
old thing don't seem to be right,
but I'll try again.
Two forms arose majestically, for
got to bow, and spoke, eve are pio-
neers, we sold you goods on credit
when no one else would, and if you
couldn't pay we took your farm.
Listen to us. We know what is good
for us, is good for you. Let us rule
you like we used to-" ooh, shut
it off, Jens, and give us something
fresh"
Jens pulled the next lever and a
figure appeared with a pen in one
hand and printing press in the
other. "Here we'll have something
fresh" said Jens. The automaton
bowed and said, "We have lived
among you long time, almost a
year, and we know that you ought
to let us control you because we
know how. Read our paper and
swear by it. You don't need any
bible when you have it. We only
want the public printing and any
other Office lying around loose"
Jens shut off again.
Jens pulled the next lever and a
fat smooth faced little fellow