The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-03-04
McGIEE GROWS FACErIOUs.

McGHEE GROWS FACETIOUS.
Col. John \. bargains Second Visit 10
White House Furnishes the Target
for His Nimble Wit.
Washington, Feb. 29.-Col. J. ].
Darsan Of Stateburg is in Washing
ton, He Is a candidate for the United
states senate, and he intimates that
he Is goint to run to beat the band.
But that IS not his business in Wash
ington. He IS here strictly in the in
terest Of the Gen Thomas Sumter
Memorial academy Col. John J. Dar-
gan. principal.
He and President Roosevelt had a
conference on the subject today. The
president IL very interesting man to
tho colonel He Ia 90 enthusiastic over
education in the country. The colonel
says that the president has in truth
been working along the same lines
that he has been working along at
Stateburg. The president took hts old
friend by the hand today and they
had heart to heart talk on the
subject
" Il am delighted to. seen you, Col.
Darsan." said the president. "Yon
knew I am q very busy man and can
not talk long. but you are doing
q a'aobie work. and anything I can
do for you at any time you many count
on me-"
That's the way the president talked
to him. end he shook his hand several,
times. ,. re- ,.''st (
1t Must be borne in mind that this
Is not the first visit to the president
which the colonel has made. The two
country educators had a conference
las.sum'ner wher the president wrote
on the margin Of a. letter Of introduce
'tlcn from, Gov. Apscl a little note to
the secre taky Of the navy. directing
him to do whatever the bearer vent
CD. The tearer wanted the Marin.
band to go down to Stateburg TN tn,
occasion. OF the unveiAng Of the Gen.
Thomts Sumter, memorial monument.
He did not get the band. but ne got
the promise OF 1t, which gave him
almost as much pleasure, and he got
the letter with the presidents hand
writing on it. which he framed and
hung upon the wall Of the Gen.
Thomas Sumter Memorial academy
for future generations to read and
write compositions about. The for
mcr. visit was recalled today. The
colonel did not get any more notes
scratched on the margins Of letters
today. but he got the presidents
smile and his ""Dce-lighted." both of
which made him unspeakably happy.
There really ought to be some way of
framing these and hanging them on
the wall. bat they are duly framed
arid hung upon the walls Of the
coloners big heart. and that will
serve, perhaps
(, Col. Dargan also paid visit to DR..
Galloway and DR.. Knapp, two inA-
portant officials OF the agricultural
department. connected with the bu-
reau II plant industry. He did not go
nirg for the United States senate ei-
'ther. He wanted them to help him
in the establishment Of an agricultu-
raj department In the Gen. Thomas
Sumter Memorial academy at State
burg. They said they would be glad
to render any assistance in their pow
or, and this gave the colonel much
pleasure and encouragement.
The colonel goes on to New York
tonight. where h. has some business
to attend to for the enlargement Of
his school. He would not talk on the
subject Of the United States senate.
that is, not for publication. What he
has to say IN that subject is for pri-
vate ears alone, fer the prest ut. But
1t Is the duty Of rho managers. ,lirec-
tors and manipulators Of the state
bureau to say unto the people Of
South Carolina that along about the
second Tuesday in August and a little
before-well. will not say what, but
you better look out, for q little bird
tells me that there'll be something
doing.-zach McGhee in the State.