The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-02
KEEP PENSION AGENCY
Topeka Will Be One of Five-How
Murdoch Became an Orator.

Washington, D. c., Jan. Unlike
his predecessors. Secretary Fisher of
the interior department it is under
stood on good authority, will not make
a recommendation urging the CONSOLE
dalton of the seventeen pension agen-
cies scattered throughout the country.
His predecessors, both Ethan Allen
Hitchcock and Richard A. Ballinger,
worked hard for years to consolidate
these agencies into one general pay
ing office at Washington. The house
has on a number of occasions voted
to abolish the agencies, but the sem
ate always forced the lower legislative
body to agree to a restoration of the
item making provision for their main
tenance in the general pensions ap-
preparation bill.
AS has been stated heretofore in the
State Journal, the house is ready to
abolish the agencies and there is a
growing sentiment in the senate look
ing to at least some curtailment of the
great expense of running these agen-
cies.
Senator Curtis and other senators
particularly interested in this leg1s-
latiOn are of the firm belief that ac-
ton will be taken at this session to
reduce these agencies to five in num-
Der. In this event it is confidently ex-
pected that the Topeka agency will be
retained.
Congressman Vic Murdoch is be-
coming an orator of some pump
kins," as it is being expressed about
the capital. He has a line of talk as
lecture tour he pulls applause out
of his audience as easily as a magician
pulls rabbit out of a 81 derby.
This is the tale of the friendly tip
that showed Vic the way to becom-
ing an orator.
Some years ago when he first be-
gan to make public speeches, young
Murdoch grew discouraged. No mat
ter how many good stories he told or
how many appeals to patriotism he
sprung, his audience was as cold and
unrespOnSive as a dead whitefiSh. APP
plause was as scarce as the monday
sun in Pittsburg. Vic" wondered why.
He analysed his speeches in manu-
script and they seemed mighty good,
regardless of the way audiences took
them. He asked his father to go over
one of his speeches and see what all
ed it, and his father agreed that it was
good. The mystery of the nOn-ap-
plauding audiences became greater
than ever, and VIC began to woAs
if he was being plotted against.
One night, after addressing q politi-
cal meeting, Vic" was riding to the
nearest railway station with the pro-
prietor of the local livery stable.
People didn't applaud much,
they" commented the driver
admit.
You said some pretty good things.
too" went on the driver
Then why didn't they applaud -
asked young Vic Murdoch, eagerly.
well, for one thing" said the drfv
err you didn't give them time. l was
ready to start the handclappin' there
several times, but before I got a
chance you went right on to some
thing else.''
You think I'd be all right if I'd
just talk slower, then ?"
No; twasn't just that. I'll tell you
I've listened to lots of these fellows
that come here to speak, and notice
that when they spring any big names
they put them in the hind part of
their sentences. You start out to talk
about Lincoln, Grant and James G.
Blaine, and then you end up by telling
what they did. If I was you I'd tell
what happened and then say: These
things were done by Lincoln. Grant
and Jas. G. Blainel' Holler it out real
loud, yknow, and then stop for a min
ute and I bet you they'll clapp their
hands"
Vic slapped the man on the thigh,
It'll try your system he said
And the next time he spoke he got
all the applause he could handle. He's
been getting it ever since.