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

IuInrr ONT WY In lir rn Ert rnr ElrI
and the Iand If IL. can. KNOWN
KNOWN. mind you-that the father
amt cot cent to hire lawyers nor
even to pay for his next meal And
when the father says be won't 20, but
wants hi dear one that belongs to
him, the rich Teller abuses him, knocks
him down with his fist-knocks down
a poor, weak. lame invalid just OF q
sickbed, Is that the kind Of man we
want on our school committee?"
The meeting was FRI an uproar.
NO need for me to tell you who
mean shouted Tad. waving his arms
You know who a. well I'd + do. You
have Just heard him praised as bein'
ell that's good and great But say
You've said enough! Now let me
say word
It was Captain Cy who interrupted.
lie had pushed hi way through the
crowd.
Knowles" said Captain Cy, turning
to the moderator. ''let me speak. will
you? | won't be but minute" Brief
ly he told the true facts.
80 for the property" he concluded,
flerceIy, why, darn the property.
say! 1t amt with much anyhow, and
lie twas anybody else's h. should have
It and welcome But It's Bos'n's, and
bein' what he is, he shan't have It
And nc shan't have her to cruelize
neither-by the Almighty. he shan't
SO long as I've a dollar to fight him
With 7 say that to you, Tad Simpson
and to the man-to whoever put you
up to this. There! I've said my say.
Now, gentlemen, you can choose your
side"
He strobe back to his seat. There
was silence for a moment Then 10.
sieh Dimick sprang up and waved his
hat
That's the way to talk" he shouted
That's a man. Three cheers for Cap'n
Whitaker. Come on. everybody
But everybody lid not come on
The cheers were feeble. 1t was evil
dent that the majority Of those present
did not know how to meet this unex-
pected contingency. 1t had taken them
by surprise. and they were undecided.
The uproar OF argument and question
began again. louder than ever. The
bewildered moderator thumped his
desk and shouted feebly for order.
Tad Simpson took the floor and in q
few words and at the top Of his lungs
nominated AIonzo Snow. Abel Leon
ard seconded the nomination. There
were yells Of Question! Question:
and vote! Voter
Eben Salters was recognized by the
chair Captain Salters made few
speeches, and when he did make one
it was because he had something to
say.
'Mr. Moderator" he said. 81. for
one. hate to vote just now. 1t isn't
that the school committee is 80 i'm
portant Of itself. But I do think that
the rights of father with his child is
pretty important. and our vote for
Cap'n Whittaker-and most OF you
know / intended yotin' for him and
have been workin' for him-might
seem like an Endorsement Of his posi-
zion. This whole thing is big sur
prise to me. ] don't feel vet that we
know enough OF the inside facts TO
give such an Endorsement. I'd like to
see this Thomas man before ! decide
TO give it--or not TO give II. either.
It's queer thing to come up at town
meetin', but its up. Hadn't We better
adjourn until next week"
He sat down. The meeting was
demoralized- Some were shouting for
adjournment, others to vote it out
4 straw would turn the scale, and the
straw was forthcoming. While Cap
tain Cy was speaking the door had 81
lently opened and two men entered the
hall and sought seclusion in q corner.
Now one OF these men came forward
the Hon. Heman Atkins.
MIR. Atkins walked solemnly to the
front.
The moderator's gavel descended
"Order" Inc reared "Order, say!
Congressman Atkins Is goin' to talk
to u.s."
The Honorable Heman faced the e
cited crowd One taDd was In the
breast Of his frock coat; the other was
clinched upon bis hip.
Fellow townsmen." he began, ''far
be 1t from me to influence your choice
IN the matter Of the school commit
tee Still farther be It from me to in
finence You against an old boyhood
friend. neiEhbor. one whom 4 be
leve-er-h had believed to be all that
was sincere and true. But, fellow
townsmen. my esteemed friend Cap
tain Salfers has expressed a wish to
see Mr.. Thomas, the father whose
story YOU have heard today. happen
to be in position to crafty that wish.
Mr.. Thomas. will you kindly come for
ward?"
Then from the renr OF the hall Mr..
Thomas came. But the drunken
rowdy OF the night before had been
transformed Gone were the scrubby
beard and the shabby suit Shorn was
the unkempt mop Of hair and vanished
the impudent swagger He was dress
ed in clean linen and respectable black.
"A.