The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-13
THE EVENING STORY
The Quack Bill.
(By Annie Hinrichsen.)


THE one and only cure for every
disease that can afflict the human
race. One treatment removes every
ache and every sorrow. Step up,
ladies and gentlemen, and buy this
marvellous remedy"
1t was a laughing, merry crowd
that surged around the wagon. Eag
erly they passed up money to the
medicine seller and received huge bot
ties which they held conspicuously in
the air.
In the road, at the outskirts of the
crowd, an automobile stopped. TIE
girl at the steering wheel sat watch
ing the medicine vendor.
The man on the wagon, having
dispensed bottles to nearly every one
in the crowd, took up the reins and
drove his four deliberately caparisoned
horses through the cheering mob and
down the road.
Howard Clayton and Louise Alden
were in the visitors gallery of the
house of representatives.
THE papers declare" Louise said,
that there is much graft and dis
honesty here
There are instances" Clayton an
swered, Gin which a good man is
made corrupt through circumstances
and not through his own inclinations.
stances to be dishonest I have a
world of sympathy. There was time
when 1 experienced the cruelest pow
erty. I nave known what it means to
be forced to accept any work, however
mental, in order to secure the bare
necessities OF life"
Louise turned quickly toward him.
There was a new interest in her eyes
as she looked at the young legislator
beside her. you have been COM
PEELED to earn money by honest but I'M
pleasant means?" she asked eagerly;
''reallv compelled to?"
Clayton looked at her in amaZement.
In the few weeks he had known her
she had treated him with cool cour-
tesy which contained no trace of a per-
sonal interest. Now there was look
of genuine friendliness in her eyes.
yes" he answered, 81 have been
compelled to earn my living in many
hard ways"
One day there was introduced into
the house of representatives meas
ure known as the Quack bill. 1t de-
creed that all vendors of patent medi-
cines who sold their wares on the
streets or in any place by means of
oratory, should be charged an enor-
The day before the bill was to be
voted on a metropolitan paper pub
lished a furious denunciatton OF the
bill and its advocates.
Medicine Bill Introduced in House by
Gang of Grafters Who Expected to Be
Paid to Defeat It." Then followed the
statement that a group of legislators
had framed the bill. believing that the
patent medicine companies would pay
large sums of money to defeat it. But
the companies had failed to pay the
enormous tolls demanded by the
legislative robbers and for this reason
the bill would be passed.
Louise Alden read the TRADE many
times Then she sent for Howard
Clayton.
us this true?"
The mans face whitened.
81 do not judge you entirely by what
this paper says" Louise went on. Il
Judge you because of-of something
else. You declare that the patent med
icine doctors are quacks who ought to
pay a high license. You denounce
them, and yet you were once a pat
ent medicine doctor selling bottles
from a wagon. I saw you. 1t was
near Jonesville. nearly a year ago.
When 1 met you here I recognized
you as the medicine man. But one
dav YOU told me that you had been ;
compelled by circumstances to make
your living in many hard ways. You
had sold medicine on a wagon,
thought. because you had to, not be-
cause you were a quack doctor. This
paper has shown me the reason for
your Inconsistency in fighting bust
ness in which you once engaged"
$50 you think 1 am sandbagger,"
he asked, because I once sold patent
medicine from a wagon, and now in |
the Assembly denounce the practice, |
and because the most sensational pa
per in the state publishes a lurid ac-
cusation against me?''
Your inconsistency condemns you. |
You can clear yourself in my eyes to- |
morrow when the vote on the bill is |
taken. Make a speech against it. Vote |
against it. Prove to me that you are |
not supporting this bill because the pat |
ent mediciYe companies would not pay |
you to fight it. Prove to me that you
are not inconsistent and 1 shall believe |
in your honesty"
A cold, hard look came into Clay |
tons face. ct have supported this bill |
because 1 believe it to be a good one. |
shall continue to support it. I shall |
not act in opposition to my principles |
in order to convince you that I am |
honest"
The next day Howard Clayton's bril- |
liant speech in favor of the Quack bill |
secured its passage.
As he left the State House Louise |
Alden Joined him. Howard" she said, |
will you forgive me for my cruel, I'M
fair Judgment? I was wrong. You |
are a thoroughly honest man."
st have not given you the proof you
demanded. How do you know I am
honest?''
81 do not need proof. I know you
are sincere and true. I have known I
It all the time But-but-I could not
understand your inconsistency in de- |
nouncing a business which you had |
once practiced. That yellow journal
gave me for moment hideous doubt.
But when you would not give me the |
proof 1 asked I knew that you are,
in spite of your inconsistency, an alb
solutely honest man"
do you care for me?' as asked
bluntIy. do you love me?'
did NOT sneak b11f her ewes gave
him his answer.
Il want proof Do you love me wen