The state herald., 1908-05-01

N
orator is let down from his pinnacle
and expends his energy in loud talk In
his immediate vicinity, until some
low-browed gentleman advises him to
''cut 1t out, at the same time casting
perfectly annihilating look in his
direction
The old stagers always enjoy these
interludes, They smile grimly, get a
fresh grip on their cigars and elevate
the weeds reminiscently in a skyward
angle, They keep watchful cognizance
when their wards are about to be
reached and, If chairmen, rise in
stantly at the word. shout clearly the
vote and, whether 1t be recorded
| right or wrong, they settle down
stoically into the attitude of mere
spectators Far he 1t from them to
"holler' If the cards are stacked
against them. They would do the
| same If they had the power. The
| other fellows have the whip-hand to.
day; when II shifts. they will give
TO cavort around on the floor wailing
out "Meestair Chairmannn," not for
them. They are too wise to resort to
such puerile foolishness.
Nothing can exceed the perfect re
pose which marks the proceedings as
relates to the officers and head men
who have II In charge. There is not
n shadow OF a smile on the counte-
nances of the chairman and his assist
ants and the bosses" move around
| on the floor OF the convention or as
cend TO the platform with an entirely
indicate extreme self-sacrifice and the
most absolute fairness TO their op-
| ponents.
But once the business is concluded.
over the cigars and cocktails these
genial gentlemen will unbend and re-
late delightedly and with rare humor
the amusing comedies played on the
convention floor. They have remem-
bercd the very voices and gestures OF
i. the reformers and patriots. they can
1 initiate, and perfectly, the surprised
scream Of the plundercd delegation. or
the stcntorian yawp Of the hard.boiled
orator They enjoy these things with
the gusto OF the connoisseur, the po.
litical bon yivant. But at the hall. and
In the midst OF the carnage. they are
as suaye as panthers and as remorse.
less as cannibals. Everything goes
In politics" Is their motto, that is
everYthing but honesty.
Ginning back from my last political
convention met Jack Derby In the
smoker Jack was from the ward
next TO mine. and had missed him
Just before the voting began. hal
noticed stranger in his seat when |
came In rather late. but s,lll In time
To vote. Jack was moody and his head
was done up In a gaudy handkerchief
what's upg" | said to him. Il didn't
see you when the votes were being
cast"
They thrun me out" was his re.
I ply. u went over to see friend o.
| mine In the fourteenth and when got
back TO me seat they was a guy there
In IL ! grabbed him and he caught
hold of me arms, The sarge" (ser.
geantht'armsl came runnin up an
this guy gives him the wink an says
this fcller's a plokpocket Before ,
could hand him one the sarge" grabs
inches seven feet long and four feet
ihfough-and he wings me to the door
In four Jumps and fires me by the neck
and pants. See? An lose me vote
an don't get In the hail again"
That's tough. Jack. was my con.
soln,ory reply
Tough. said Mr.. Derby. with an
Injured air. an | was goin To vote
righi all the time | think that ser.
geant must be bugs"
ERNEST M'GAFFEY.
Copyright by Joseph u. Bowlesi