The Washington herald., 1907-08-06
The Near.eelipse Of Mr. Graves

O0G OF the most IUtdBit luNluehlS III
connection with the recent prohibition
agitation in Georgia was the near-eclipse
OF Col. John Temple Graves by his mod
est and erstwhile retiring partner. Mr.
f L. seeley, publisher Of the Atlanta
Georgian.
At the height of the water-wagon
spasm, Mr.. Graves left the State to
shuttle for itself, temporarily, while he
scattered his annual clusters and fes-
toons of wisdom from various Chautauqua
platforms throughout the Middle West
This was unfortunate because as a rule,
great and epoch-marking events in Georgia
are not allowed to occur unless the physi-
cal presence Of the colonel is assured.
Without his official sanction and rhe-
torically bedecked 20. X, J. T. G." moth
ing worth mentioning-up to this par
ticular time-had ever happened in GeOr-
gia.
The acute prohibition crisis developed
with such astonishing suddenness, how
ever, that the Hon. John Temple was
caught among the missing and unac-
counted for" before his fellow-la bOrers
had half a chance to realize the extreme
gravity Of the situation. A momentOus
and drastic reform was about 10 be
wrought in Georgia, and no John Temple
there to do 1t reverence With splendid
courage, not to say reckless abandon,
Mr.. Graves partner. Mr.. Seeley, pub
Usher Of the Georgian. plunged boldly
into the fray in this startling emergency,
issued signed statement throwing the
weight Of the Georgian to the prohibition
side, and emerged some days later, much
to his surprise. literally despatched with
glory and apparently inseparably linked
to Fame's chariot wheels. With far
seeing wisdOm-though. indeed. delight
full naivete-Mr Seeley explained that
he felt sure Editor Graves was in COM
plete sympathy with the situation, and
would. undoubtedly. have hurled the
thunderbolts IN person had he been pres
ent. or even within reasonable hurting
dista-Ice.
This. of course. was q generous,
thoughtful. and modest thing for Mr.
Seeley TO DO. but it availed him nothing
so far as side-stepping the wild applause
and cheers OF the populace was con-
cerned. Communications came pouring in
by the bushel-basketful Whether he
would have Il so or not. Mr.. Seeley was
for the nonce, the Atlanta Georglan's
greatest asset and most splendid posses
sion. The eclipse OF Mr.. Graves was all
but complete; the temporary transpositlon
of halos was effected quicker than
wink
Therefore. 1t is time to watch the news
papers and keep your weather eye upon
Col. John Temple Just what he will
do or say 10 shift the spotlight back
where it belongs this deponent sayeth
not, nor dare imagine. That il Will be
something grand, gloomy. and peculiar.
We strongly suspect; that it will set the
nation all agog and the politicians ali
a-futter, we know. Let the heretofore
shrinking member OF the firm extract his
maximum Of Joy from the present situa-
ton. Already there hangs over his devoted
head the sword that is 10 cut him down.
Already reaches forth the fine Italian
hand that will yank him from out the
limelight with unfaning accuracy and
certainty. We DO not know what is
going TO happen, as We have said: but
something is going to happen-somethlng
startling and well calculated 10 give the
people sharp and certain pause. Watch
and YOU shall see; or, at all events most
certainly hear.