The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-02-07
the last speaker lad reference TO. /
have said that | didn't see why that
oppropr;afinp rac 90 hard RI rof


got and why not ours? ! did say if | |
was congressman I'd gel it Yes. |
and I'll say more" he added raising |
his veice-"I'll say that if | was sent
to Washin'ton by this town. congress
man or not. I'd move heaven aud
earth and all creation from the presi-
dent down till | did get it: that's all
So would any live man. should
think.
He sat down. There was some ap-
plause Before it had subsidized Abel
Leonard. one of the quickest witted
of Mr. Simpsons workers. was on his
feet gesticulating for attention.
"Mr. Moderator" he shouted, 81 want
to make 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 to go to Washin' ton. if
he wants to, or anywhere else. and see
that we get the appropriation. And If
we don't get it the blame's his! There.
nowp'
There was roar Of laughter This
was exactly the sort of Tit for tat
humor that appeals to Yankee
crowd The motion was seconded half
dozen times Moderator Knowles
grinned and shook his head.
"A jokes a joke" he said. land we
all like good one. However. this
meetin' is supposed to be for business,
not fun. So
"Question! Question! It's been Sec
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 he looked at the Joyous assem-
blage with almost his old expression
of appreciative alertness.
Never mind the VOTE" he said. 81
realize that Brother Leonard has rath-
! er got one on me. so to speak. All
right; won't dodge I'll be commit
tee of one on the harbor grab. and if
nothin' comes of it I'll take my share
of kicks Gentlemen. l appreciate your
trustfulness in my ability
This brief speech was a huge sue
cess. If for a moment the pendulum Of
public favor had swung toward Simp-
son, this trumping of the latter's lead
ing card pushed it 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 Mr.. Simpson
stepped to the front and, after visit
full glance at the door. began to speak.
"Feler citizens" he said. sit is my
privilege to put in nomination for
school committee a man whose name
stands for all that's good and clean
and progressive in this township. But
afore | do it I'm goin' to ask you to
let me say word or two concernin'
somethin' that bears right on this mat
ter and which. believe, every one
of you ought to know. It's somethin'
that most of you don't know, and it'll
be surprise. big 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 is, that a member of ouI
!, 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
father and his child. who pizened the
mind of that child against his owI
parent and when that parent come tt
claim that child first tried TO buy hin
: off and then turned him out of thu
house? Yes. and offered violence tt
him and done it! Is that the kint
: of man we want to honor or to lool
out for our own children's schoolin' 2
Mr.. Simpson undoubtedly meant t
cause a sensation by his opening re
marks. He certainly did so. The cap
tain rose to his feet, then sank bacl
again.
Gentlemen" continued the speaker
"last night | had an experience that
shan't forget as long as | live | me
!. a poor man, a poor. lame man who
: been away out west and got hurt ba6
Folks thought he was dead His wifi
thought so and died grievin' for hin
= She left little baby girl, only seve
Z or eight year old. When this ma
come back, well again. but poor, to loo
up his family he found his wife ha
, passed away and the child had bee
n sent off, just to get rid Of her, to
e stranger in another town. Ths
stranger fully meant to send her OF
too; he said so dozens of times.
l good many Of you folks right bel
It heard him say it. But he never sci
= her. He kept her. Why? Well, that
" the question l shan't answer 1t.
st o}n,f ancuSin' nobody All l say