Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-03
THAT FATAL GIFT OF BEAUTY
Secretary Hayward Of the Republican
National Committee in Trouble.
PARAGRAPH PUTS HIM IN BAD
Claim that He f. Best LOoking Man
in Calls Down Ava
lanche of Protest aud
Jealous Competition.
ARAGRAPH PUTS HIN IN BAD

William Hayward. secretary Of the re-
publican national committee is the best
looking man who lives in Nebraska"
Sc wrote Samuel G.. Blythe not long ago
In his weekly contribution TO the Hall Of
Fame" column In the Saturday Evening
Post. thereby starting a controversy that
promises to last longer than the late polit-
ical campaign and produce more dsap-
pointments and heartaches. Mr.. Blythe,
who is a warm personal friend Of Mr..
Hayward. evidently thought he was doing
a friend a favor in calling national atten-
ton to the personal pulchritude Of the Sec
rotary Of the republican national commit
tee. but the result has been directly the
opposite. 1t appears that the great and
growing state of Nebraska is filled with
men who concede that they possess the
fatal gift Of beauty and they have not
been slow in writing their protests both
to the Saturday Evening Post and to Mr..
Hayward.
one Nebraskan has written an indignant
demand for an apology, saying: M father
stin has his residence at Pawnee City, Neb.,
and has It all over Hayward for looks.
Please correct your statement in next
weeks Post" The forwarding Of this with
the advice TO scrap it out and similar
~ " WI ~ WV ~" N'N
from him to Blythe:
My Dear Blythe: 1 am in receipt Of the
letter from a correspondent whose father
still has his residence at Pawnee City,
looks" This is getting to be an old story
to me now as most all remonstrants have
written direct to me. The next time you
want to have a little fun with me / wish
YOU would confine yourself TO a territory
that is not 400 miles long and 200 miles
wide. 1t is easy enough to tell me to scrap
II out. hut the truth Is that YOU have put
me In very bad" out here. Until that un-
fortunate paragraph appeared my political
man without a past, but they are all
blasted now, for every fond and doing
wife in the grand old state Of Nebraska
somewhere. The unfortunate thing about
IT is that my own wife seems to agree with
them. They have demanded proof Of your
assertion and unfortunately 1 do not carry
II with me on my person. / wish you had
at Least displayed tact enough to have
would have thought they or theirs was the
WILLIAM HAYWARD.
TrOubIe il Only BeEun.
Mr.. Blythe's answer is characteristic Of a
man who starts trouble at long range.
NJ Dear Hayward he wrote, Il wash
my hands of the whole affair"
That was easy enough for Blythe, but it
has not helped Hayward a little bit. To his
confidants, he complains that his mail is
still burdened with protests, challenges to
a beauty contest and suggestions Of plans
for getting even. He has been advised to
admit the charge and bear the consequences
or else make a tour OF the state and chal.
lenge all corners to a comparison OF charms,
1t has been suggested. too, that he might
shift the blame to Blythe by explaining
that the mistake was natural, as Blythe
had never seen any other Nebraskans ex-
cept w. J. Bryan, Senator Burkett, w. E
Andrews and Judge Kinkaid and might
therefore feel justified in jumping at his
hasty and unwarranted conclusion, but Mr.
Hayward fears such a course on his part
might create state political feuds that would
have to be reckoned with in the future.
Mr.. Hayward's law partner. who was
called in as arbitrator. has issued this ulti-
matum. addressed to Mr.. Hayward:
1T is easy enough to figure on putting
the blame on Blythe, but an entirely diff.
ferent proposition to transfer the Jealousy
already melted to the same broad should.
ers. Mr.. partnership agreement with you
does not stipulate that you are to furnish
the good looks. You cannot evade the ISSUE
by lying law and hoping the people will
forget It. Jealousy dies hard and vanity
, is everlasting. 1t is up to you and the only
, apparent way open is for you to raise
whiskers."
, In the meantime all Nebraska City, where
, Hayward lives, is wrought up to the frenzy
point and the beauty parlors there arr
doing a thriving business.