The Washington herald., 1908-04-02
left" Davis-Comediaut

Sometimes we wonder If. after all, we
haven't made a serious mistake through
out this land-that is. throughout that
section outside Of Arkansas-in not ac-
cepting Senator JEFF Davis. frankly and
candidly. as a frst-rate comedian rather
than would-be tragedian; an intention
al Don Quixote rather than a st. George,
The Senator is undoubtedly funny
whether designedly or not One Of his ia
vorite stunts-comedians do stunts. ira
gedians never-wHen running for governor
Of Arkansas was TO pause during an i'm
passioned oration on the stump, pull a
bottle Of some sort OF liniment from his
pocket and pour the contents down the
back Of his neck and spinal column.
This was supposed 70 sustain his failing
physical strength until the tribune Of the
"peep-ul' had delivered his message. II
was . comedians trick. but il seems 10
have worked it got the votes. and that
was what the Hon. JEFF" needed in his
business. Then. the gentleman got elect
ed 70 the United States Senate: within
seven days of his induction into Office
he went a-trust busting. He gave the oc-
topus ''the worst drubbing it ever re-
ceived in its life" He admitted II open-
ly, himself: telegraphed it home. in fact.
and flooded his State with evidence Of il
via the Congressional Record. II was a
comedians trick. and it didn't make much
of hit this time; perhaps because the
artist was before strange and more ex-
acting audience.
Discouraged, probably. by the flatness
Of his vaudeville failure in the Senate.
the gentleman hurried back to Arkan-
sas, and there he has just pulled off an
other comedians trick, attuned 10 the
galleries and planned TO cover the recent
defeat Of the Senator's erstwhile candi-
date for governor of the State 1t seems
that the Senator and a man named Helm
engaged in a street brawI in Little Rock
Tuesday last. Moreover, it appears that
the Senator got decidedly the worst of the
encounter; so much so. in fact, that he
subsequently secured his navy six and
fourished it about the streets consider
ably and conspicuously. When all was
still the Senator retired to his Office and
prepared statement of the case TO
s44D. bSSR-S VI <AihdilSdS the ruDeS,
we suspect, especially. In part, this
statement reads thus:
"To my friends throughout Arkansas: There was
a coldblooded. cowardly attempt 10 asSassnate me
to-day by the prosecuting attorney OF this county.
1T was an unwsrranted attack. instisated By Rho
ton, and applsuded by this bunch Of grafters here
that / have been fighting for years.
This is the bunch Of boodlers and grafters in
Little Rock that / told you would commit murder
thieyery. arsOn assassination. or any other crime
to accomplish their point. / have made a game
fight in This last campaign. They may yet assassi
nate me- but they do there viii be others to take
my place.
This is the first time that the grafters and
booders have had victory and they are so intoxi-
Gated with their success that they would commit
murder il necessary 10 perpetuate their reign They
dread JEFF Davis before the people. and therefore.
they would kill him"
Can you beat it? Can Mr.. George Nj.
Cohan or Mr.. George Ade beat il? and
within three trials. at that? We trow
notl The Hon 'JefH-' understands that
his particular constituency in Arkansas
wants to be thrilled; and the Hon jeff
overlooks no thriller that may be turned
to good account. The gentleman's ac-
count Of his attempted assassination is
worthy of the greatest comedian on the
American stage to-dsy-of a particular
kind; perhaps the Jefferson De Angels
persuasioni The especially funny part of
II all being. however. that large sec
ton Of Arkansas is apt 10 take him
seriously.