The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-06-27

But the situation" s2i3 3Ir. Handy.
as he pulled at his muslache and put
his hat over his eyes does not seem
to be working out JAat way, though.
Fairbanks is man than whom no
other in all this great galaxy of sister
states is more fitted geographically
and logically to lead our great party.
81 speak" went on Mr.. Handy, after
rejecting and chewing viciously at his
cigar, '1 speak in no uncertain tones
in this matter; he is leader without
fear and without reproach, and with
him as our standard bearer in this
great contest the eagles of victory
would perch upon our triumphant
guidons."
Is Now for Taft.
l can say for Mr.. Handy to-day that
he is an ardent supporter of the sec
rotary Of war for president, and pro-
poses to take the stump for him in his
district. After the nomination Mr..
Handy said to me-:
You know that I was for Roosevelt,
of course. l was for him when he
was just a kid in the police commits
sion in New York. What's more, if
we could have put him on the ticket
this year he would make Garrison
county solid for the whole ticket.
But then, you know, he's impulsive
and cratic, and we've got to get down
to business
No Politics, All Reform.
1t was on Monday that I met my
friend from the Ninth district again.
He was in the Pompeian room of the
Annex when 1 found him.
The only true thing" he said, as he
waved proudly for the boy and ordered
split of water-'the only true thing
about this convention is that nothing
is true"
AS he slipped the fuzzy water and
recalled his promise to Mrs. Handy
before he left home Abner added re-
f1ectively: The trouble with this con-
vention is there is no politics in it.
There are no politicians here. I've
looked at this man Hitchcock-noth-
ing but card index, that's all there
is to him. And I've looked over Vorys
he won't do; he's perfectly frank
Haven't heard him called liar since
I've been here No man gets far in
politics until his enemies call him a
liar
Say" added the colonel as he
leaned across the mosaic on the table
top, "Say-noW honeSt-why did your
paper cut the Hon off in front of my
name? l like it. Tell them to put it
on. l was around when the New York
delegation held a meeting to-day, and
say! They don't know any more poll
tics than rabbit. They decided to do
nothing. Imagine a convention where
the New York delegation is such
four spot that they have to debate
three days to decide whether they will
take the vice-prssident! And, what's
more, imagine convention where the
most serious item of interest is the
nominee for vice-president! And now
the New York delegation is going to
have its palm read to find out whether
it will take Hughes for vice-president
or rally around Jim Sherman, the peo-
pies choice, or commit hara-lziri with
Tim Woodruff"
Mr.. Handy reflected for time and
sighed It's h-I!-it's certainly
h--l!-but what else could you ex-
pect of a convention where people all
paid their railroad fare. You re-
formers will get this country sewed up
in sack so that there won't be
any politics any more. They'll nomi-
nate the delegates by direct primaries,
instruct them on the chief planks of
the platform-and where will the pal
ladium of our liberties be then?"
There is something in Abner
Handy's view of it, The alternate
from the Ninth Kansas district has
been drifting around to-day looking for
the old familiar faces, and he finds
they are not here. There aren't
dozen bronze buttons in all the throng.