The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1910-11-17

| 2"uSlplu.
''Oh, WELL" in turn interrupted Will
kins, mo use O. any argument now,
Mr.. Shapiro, an IL we can find a good
| speaker to-
That puts me in mind," interposed
Supervisor McHenry, that there's a
travelin' man over to Mrs. Williams
boardin' house that told me this
mornin' that he'd present our side il
We wanted him to. He's a-travelin'
fer some trust company, examinin'
applications fer loans, believe. And
they say he halls from Cherokee coun-
II an has been in the legislature from
that county, so he ought to be good
speiler."
"Goodw exclaimed Wilkins. "We'n
see him, Mr.. Shapiro, an let We know
II arrangements can be made. Sup
pose yer son Dick I'll talk fer your
side"
Shapiro told them of the impossibility
OF Dicks appearance, for which he
was very sorry, and that he himself
would have to represent the north
siders.
The north side farmer drove home
much elated. 1.-THE debates a-comiD'
or" he told Hanson They're a-goin'
to git some travelin' Teller that's been
to the legislator from Cherokee county
to speak fer 'em. But I amt afraid
O. him. He may be a glib talker an
all that, but he hain't got the argy-
ments, an thems what counts in a de-
bate"
"Say, amt it pity Dick amt here?"
regretted Hanson. He'd make a meal
OF that legislator feller."
Il amt sure but Dick III turn up yet
in time fer the exercises" said the
elder Shapiro hopefully, "but I'll be
loaded to the muZzle in case he don't"
The news of the proposed debate
spread quickly, and appearances point
ed to an enormous attendance. A
canvas covered grand stand lighted by
electricity was erected, benches pro-
vided and all details arranged 1t was
plain from the public interest in the
event that the fate Of the bridge bonds
would be largely influenced thereby.
Saturday night came, but Dick, like
one Of Napoleon's generals on a GER
tain occasion, did not come. Some
thing had detained him, and the re-
spOnsibility of the coming debate was
upon his father. The ferryman was
kept busy that afternoon carrying
north siders across the river. They
were taking no chances. They, the
whole population Of them, went early
to occupy front seats and shout for
their side.
Farmer Shapiro, not to appear un-
friendly. met his opponent to be, a
smooth, professional looking man with
gray hair and beard, at his hotel, and
arm in arm they walked down to the
mass meeting when the hour arrived.
The resolution to be debated was,
Resolved, That bonds in the amount
Of 100000 should be voted by Walka-
rusa county for the building of a
bridge across the Walkarusa river at
the point known as Banning's cross
ing"
William Shapiro as the affirmative
speaker made the opening address, his
allotted time being fOrty-five minutes.
He spoke with directness and force il
not with rhetorical polish, reciting the
facts that every north slider knew by
heart. The south" had the railroad,
the county seat, the high school and
nearly everything else desirable, to-
ward all of which the north had con-
tributed in various ways, while the
north had nothing. In asking for
the bridge they were merely asking
for what was their own by right.
The speech was frequently interrupt
ed by applause. and at the close the
whole north side contingent arose and
yelled in chorus for five minutes.
"The distinguished gentleman from
Cherokee will now address you," POM
pously announced the chairman, and
amid deep silence the smooth. gray
bearded stranger arose.
He spoke in a low voice and with
ease, but without enthusiasm He
consumed twenty minutes of his time
in generalities before coming to the
matter at issue at all. He praised the
He talked-merely talked-until an i'm
patient south slider called out. "Waal,
how about the bridge bonds?"
But the interruption only made the
matters worse. for the south side, for
the first point" the gentleman from
Cherokee made was that to build the
bridge would deprive "a worthy poor
man"-the ferryman-of his means Of
livelihood.
This raised howl Of laughter from
the north siders and disguised the
south side politicians, for every resi-
dent Of the county knew Hiram Ban
ming for a worthless drunkard.
In vain the chairman called for Or
der and admonished the meeting to
give respectful attention to "the gen.
tleman from Cherokee" But the
crowd from both north and south had
taken the measure Of "the gentleman
fpovv, Chosc1<oo oroa fho,1rh tho