Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-04-23

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ten times he must come through the
crowd and never will they have left
quite enough room for him to pass.
One meeting | recall, the place was
packed like figs in a basket, with
little bit of narrow aisle between
humanity laden chairs leading from
the side door to the rostrum.
The secretary stopped, looked at
the path and at the people nearest
to him.
Some of you have got to come
out before l come in. am two
man wide and It don't help matters
If try to go sideways Also, l warn
ycu not to get stepped on"
Suppose we carry you up" sug-
gested the nearest man, big
brawny Irishman.
Thank you, but want you to-
stay and hear my speech, and that
will be hard enough even for a husky
fellow like you"
If he is late. which is very sell
dom, for he believes in being on
time, It Is impossible to persuade.
him to enter and interrupt the speak
er then, on the platform. He al
ways defers to the rights of the
man who has the floor. When he
reaches the platform he seems dis
inclined to march to the place of
honor always reserved for him,
glancing about to see II he cannot
find some one else more worthy TO
fiji It. That is one great fault his
friends find with him, while he is
impregnable In his determinations
and always sure OF his opinions and
polocies, he believes there are so
many other. greater. wiser and bet
ter men around him that he Is will
ing TO put himself at constant dis
advantage
Past experience has taught him to
be careful OF his chairs. He always
settles into them guardedly. Many
a fine old piece OF furniture has gone
on for years supporting human
frames and earning respect and af-
fection from It's owners. It's weak
nesses never suspected until Secre-
tary Taft has come along and depos-
tied his three hundred pounds on It.
Then II has been retired.
A curiosity vendor In Manila was
Offering a chair for sale. It's claims
for unusual price being that IL was
the one which Taft sat on when he
opened the Philippine congress Gov
Smith, who happened TO sit next tc
Mr.. Taft on this. particular occasion
listened thoughtfully to the Span
iard's pictnre OF the glory that mus
hang around II in years 10 come.
"I'll take Il said the governor
"It's all right about the souvenir
value. Taft sat in II. Is the maiT
thing so / know it's a damned gooC
chair"
A broad smile and a friendly nod
with. perhaps. a wave OF the hand
is the secretary's response TO the un
falling applause attendant on his ap
pearance and then he settles TO thu
serious business OF the meeting, lis
tening with Absorption TO every wore
OF the speakers who precede hin
and thoroughly unconscious OF th'
attention diverted to himself. Thi
? Is by no means a pose or Intended q
? compliment the speaker or audience
He listens because he knows he /
going 10 learn something and he ha
) thirst for information as some me-
thirst for drink and some womeI
for admiration. Also II is plail
that he Is not thinking abut his owl
speech. II has been my opporutnit
20 sit with many OF the greatest me
of recent years and be present o
the platform where | could watc
them closely, and ! must say that al
Of them. with the exception OF Tai
gave little signs of being conscion
that in a few minutes they them
selves would be speaking and wer
engaged in preparing little thing
to m the make up or the speeia
humor OF the audience or were pre-
pairing to trim what they had 70 sa
To agree with or 20 oppose the view
OF the man who was then speakine
When his time comes he step
slowly 10 the front his eye rOyin
the sea OF faces before him and II
certain 20 alight on some one wear
ing a welcoming smile. The big ma
smiles back and then be smiles a
the people who are not smiling am
they suddenly loosen up and smi.
themselves The speaker evident
refuses 10 Immediately take the sir