The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-05-05

He sat down There was some ap-
rlause Before It had subsidized Abel
Leonard. one of the quickest witted
of MI SIMPSONS workers. was on his
feet gesticulating for attention.
-Mr. Moderator" he shouted. 'T want
| to make u motion We've all heard the
| big talk that's been made. All right,
| then. | move you. Sir. that Captain
Cyrus Whitaker be appointed COM
mittee of one 10 20 10 Washinton. II
he wants to. Or anywhere else, and Sc
that we get the appropriation. And Ii
we don't get 1t the blame's his! There,
nowr'
There was rear Of laughter. This
was exactly the sort Of tit for tat
humor that appeals to Yankee
crowd. The motion was seconded half
a dozen times. Moderator Knowles
grinned and shook hi head
"A jokes a joke" he said. land we
all like a good one. However, this
meetin' il supposed to b. for business,
not fun. So
Question. Question! It's been sec
onded! We've cot to vote on Ter
shouted chorus.
Don't you think-seems to me that
amt in order" began the moderator,
but Captain Cy rose to his feet The
| grim smile had returned to his face,
and H. looked at the joyous assem-
blage with almost his old expression
of appreciative alertness.
Never mind the vote" he said III
realize that Brother Leonard has rath-
or got one on me. 50 to speak al
| right; won't dodge. I'LL be commit
tee Of one on the harbor grab. and II
nothin' comes Of IL I'll take my share
or kicks. Gentlemen. appreciate your
trustfuIness in my ability"
This brief speech was a huge sue
cess. If for moment the pendulum OF
public favor had swung toward Simp-
son. this trumping Of the latter's lead
ing card pushed 1t back again The
moderator had some difficulty In re-
storing order to the hilarious meeting.
Then Mr.. Myrick was accorded the
privilege of the floor. in spite Of Tad's
protests, and proceeded to nominate
Cyrus Whitaker for the school com
mittee
Josiah Dimick seconded the cap
tain's nomination. Then MIR. Simpson
stepped to the front and. after visit
full glance AZ the door, began to speak.
"FelIer citizens" be said. 1T Is my
vNE-iy In, inn
school committee man whose name
stands for I'LL that's good and clean
and progressive in this township. But
afore ! do IL lin Goin' TO ask you to
| let me say Y word Or two concernin'
somethin' that bears right on this mat
Ter and which. | believe, every one
OF you ought to know. Its sOmethin'
that most of you don't know. and it'll
be q surprise. biz surprise.
"Feller Bayporters," went on Tad,
there's one thing we've all agree on.
no matter who we've meant to vote
for-that ID. that d member of our
school committee should be an up
right. honest man. one fit morally to
look out for our dear children Amt
that SO? Well, then. | ask you this:
Would you consider man fit for that
job who deliberately came between q
father and his child. who pizened the
mind of that child against his own
parent and when that parent come to
claim that child first tried TO buy him
Off and then turned him out Of the
house? YES. and offered violence to
him and done 1t. Is that the kind
OF man we want to honor or to look
out for our own children's Schoolin'?''
Mr. Simpson undoubtedly meant to
cause sensation BY his opening re-
marks. Il certainly did 20. The cap
tain rose to his feet. then sank back
again.
Gentlemen" continued the speaker.
last night | had an experience that l
shan't forget as long as ! live. | met
IN poor man. poor. lame man who'd
been away out west and got hurt bad.
Folks thought ne was dead His wife
thought 10 and died grievin' for him.
She left little baby girl, only seven
or eight year old. When this man
come back. well again. but poor, to look
up his family he found his wife had
passed away and the child had been
sent or, just to Get rid OF her, to q
stranger In another town. That
stranger fully meant to send her of,
too; h. said 20 dozens OF times .
good many OF you folks right here
heard him say it. But he never sent
her IT. kept her Why? Well, that's
the question. | shan't answer It.
amt accusin' nobody. All / say is,
what's easy enough for any OF you to
prove. and that Is that 1t come to light
the child had property belongin' to her
property. land. wuth money!
He paused once more and drew bis
sleeve across his forehead. Most of
hi hearers were silent now. on tiptoe
| OF expectation.
This man." he proclaimed. this
father. monrnin' for his dead wife and
longin' for his child. comes to the
town where he was to find and take
Ia