The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-16
The Irregular
Member
BY Annie HinriChsen
(COpyrigh,. I,is, By Associated Literary Press,

/
Re still | wish 10 hear what MI
Ralston is saying" Mary Collin
shook her head impatiently at tn
men with her.
Nobody listens 10 Ralston." scoffe,
the representative of metropolitan
paper
Il do" she retorted HE talk
we'll"
He Is an Irregular" commented ,
member OF the assembly. "a man wht
votes according TO his own convic
tons. instead Of obeying his party's
mandates. He refuses to obey the
dictates OF the party leaders. He viii
not make alliances with the Other
party. No party or faction can claim
him. He votes as he chooses. re
CARELESS of party lines. and intro
duces all sorts of impossible but
highly meritoriOus bills Because he
Will not stand by either party. Meth
er party will stand by him. He Is
making a speech now in favor of one
OF his bills. but nobody Is listening
to him."
Mary Collins walked afaw from the
group of legislators and newspaper
men to place near the irregular
member.
Accustomed from childhood to the
unwritten laws of legislative proceed
ure, trained to detect and understand
every condition and change in the
mental atmosphere OF the assembly,
she knew that Ralston was speaking
to men whose ears were deaf to the
words OF an irregular party man.
The members were reading. writing
or walking about The presiding Of
fcer sat in his chair yawning osten-
tatiously. The pages clattered noisi-
ly around the speaking member.
Several times Ralston's eyes met
Mary's. When he sat down. reward
ed by the Indifferent silence OF his
fellow members. he turned toward
her. She smiled and nodded with
emphatic approval In the shake Of
her pretty head. There was a fash
Of surprised pleasure and gratitude in
bis eyes.
When the house adjourned she was
standing near the entrance of repre-
sentatives' hall. Your speech this
morning was a good one" she said.
When he smiled the firm.lipped.
austere legislator became a boyish
young man. you are the only per.
son who thought So" he said. within.
sically. "The members won't listen
to me and since never accomplish
anything you newspaper people pay
no attention to me-"
rs 1t impossible for you to act in
harmony with your party!"
Il despise the sort Of legislation
my party is advocating. and I won't
work with them. I don't enjoy being
a Pariah-an irregular is a Pariah-
and I'm awfully lonesome. But I'll
stick to my ideals"
Ideals are sometimes cold com.
panions," said the girl bitterly. They
had left the state house and we're
walking toward the hotel.
They are" the man agreed. But
when We give them up we sacrifice
the best Of ourselves: We give up all
that raises us above the common
OF life"
He pushed open the hotel door for
her. In the lobby stood Grant War.
rem. leader of the house and mem.
Der of the party to which RalstOn be-
longed. He came toward them. nod.
ied to Ralston and spoke impatiently
to Mary.
i've been waiting ages for you.
Let's go in to lunch"
What do you see in that man to
like" Warren asked when they were
In the dining room.
"His ideals. think" she answered
absently.
The irregular was at table not far
rom them
"The man has a lot OF crazy no
ions. The political whirl Is no place
or him. lie will soon have chance
o redeem himself with his party.
rhe franchise bill which was intro.
luced few weeks ago will soon be
'oted on. 1t Is a party measure and
We can pass It by majority OF one
I all the members Of our party vote
or 1t. But Ralston will probably re-
use to support 1t. The loss OF his
'ote will defeat the measure. II he
lands by his party We shall forgive
lin his past misdemeanors. II he
orsakes US we shall throw him out Of
he party and out Of the house."
shall you vote against the fran.
hise bill?" Mary asked Ralston sew.
raj days later.
Il have announced my intention
( doing so. can see nothing but
arm in It."
.Vnu understand do vou MT thot