The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-06-24

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But the situation" said Mr.. Handy.
as he pulled At his mustache and put
his hat over his eyes. does not seem
to be working out that way. though.
Fairbanks II . man than whom no
other in all this great galaxy Of sister
states is more fitted geographically
and logically to lead our great party.
Il speak" went on Mr.. Handy, after
rejecting and chewing viciously at his
cigar. Il 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."
% Now for Taft.
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 l was for Roosevelt,
Of course. was for him when he
was just a kid in the police commits
SIGN in New York. What's more, II
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 e-ratic. and we've got to get down
to business
No Politics, All Reform.
1t was on Monday that l met my
friend from the Ninth district again.
He was in the Pompeian room Of the
Annex when l found him.
THE only true thing" he said. as he
waved proudly for the boy and ordered
a 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-
fectively: The trouble with this con-
ve1tion is there is no politics in it.
There are no politicians here. I've
looked at this man Eitchcock-noth-
ing. but a 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 oil in front Of my
name? Ike 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 a rabbit. They decided to do
nothing. Imagine a convention where
the New York delegation is such a
four spot that they have to debate
three days to decide whether they will
take the vice-president! And, what
more, imagine a 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
IL Will tdhc HUGHES lOI SlCe-pTcSlutul
or rally around Jim Sherman. the PEG.
rle's choice. or commit hara-kiri with
Tim Woodruff"
Mr.. Handy reflected for time and
sighed. It's h-l!-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 50 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 p!atform-and where will the pal
ladium of our liberties be them"
There is something in Abner
Eandy's view of it. The alternate
from the Ninth Kansas district has
been drifting around today locking for
the old familiar faces. and he finds
they are not here. There aren't a
dozen bronze buttons in all the throng.