The Washington times., 1908-10-25
Col. Dan Ransdell and DR..
]. J. Richardson Have
Charge of Candidate.
ARGUE EVERY DAY
OVER LONG HOURS
10th Men Insist Candidate Shall
Rest From Labors, But Lose
in Debate Every Time.
By JAMES HAY, II.

FORT WAYNE. Ind. Oct 24.-There
is a lot Of OTatOry on the TAFT
special train, but there is only one
Joint debate. This debate, however is
a daily performance. It always has the
same ending. and IL is always between
the same people. No matter what State
the train IS in. no matter what may be
the burning issue Of the town in which
the special has stopped, the debate IS
the same and between the same people
on the one side is William Howard
Taft, Republican candidate for the
Presidency, and on the other are Col.
Dan Ransdeu sergeant-at-arms OF the
| Senate, and DR.. J. J. Richardson, one
| OF the best known throat specialists
/ in Washington.
Colonel RansdelI and Dr. Richardson
are the two Washington men who are
! responsible for the life and health OF
/ the candidate. The colonel IS IN charge
OF the special DIT. Richardson Is IN
/ charge OF the candidate. No candidate
/ ever has been worked so hard by the
I Republican party as has Judge Taft
| The campaign managers. who sit on
soft chairs in comfortable Offices in
/ New York and Chicago. are pretty good
AT mapping cut itineraries on which
/ Taft has TO make from ten 10 twenty
| Eve speeches a day. This is their star
! performance. They take pleasure in
| loading him down with work. They
make IN their minds TO do it. and they
get away with II in the most approved
style.
Voice Gets Husky.
/ Now and then there comes q time
when the candidates voice gets husky
and he looks tired. That is when the
Joint debate is on. Colonel Ransdell
/ and DR.. richardson have a whispered
conference. They march into the can
didate's stateroom.
. - Idge." SAYS the colonel. there are
only three small stops between now
and 6 o'clock this afternoon You are
worr. out. You must sleep. and let
| somebody else speak at those small
| towns"
us that so?'' says the candidate
sIt e" saws the doctor Il am able
To say that my professional experience
tens me vour throat is in such a con
dirinn that it demands a rest. 1 packed
If IN ice last night. I sprayed it fifteen
times today. and I have worked on X
ceaseIess s. but it must have rest.
The vocal chords are strained"
Us that really true?' asks the can
didate."
absolutely" cry the doctor and the
colonel. who have agreed beforehand
that absolutely" is the most emph attic
term they can use in the connection.
Absolutely they say in loud tone
Of voice and with exact concord as to
emphasis.
Not for Taft.
IT am billed TO speak at those three
stops and I am going 20 do =" re-
plies the Judge.
"Impossible!' says the colonel.
..Imprudent!" says the doctor.
Nevertheless. I shall do it, asserts
the candidate.
That ends the joint debate. The col
onel and the doctor retire to another
stateroom. There they lament that they
cannot make the judge do as they de-
sire.
colonel
/. at Is terrific" says the doctor.
when Judge Taft was looking around
for q. man who, by his political train
inc his administrative experience. and
his acquaintance Win poD4'S men
would he a good one TO look after him
and his train, he thought or Colonel
\ RsnsdeH. He tele graphed from Cincin-
natl to the colonel. who was then in
washington. The colonel got on train
and went to Cincinnati to recommend
one OF his friends for the job. He never
got through with the recommendation
! The Judge put his arm around him and
said:
you're the only nan who can do the