Evening journal., 1912-10-19
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Weapon" That Startled
John Sherman
BY Holland.

"a short time after the close of the
Republican national campaign OF 1922
spent an hour with Senator John
Sherman" said Governor William Nc
kinley of Ohio, to me In the spring OF
1879, Il told Senator Sherman that
In my opinion the campaign speeches
which he made in the summer and
fall of 1892 we're the best of all the
Republican speeches that we're de-
livered in that campaign
spoke 10 him In a complimentary
way OF the mental and physical vigor|
which he had displayed in that cam
paign, saying that it was unusual that
a man of his years--he was then
Xty-nine-could endure, without the
slightest evidence of fatigue. as he
had done, the hard work entailed I'M
campaign speaking day after day.
I suppose that l entered upon|
that campaign with even more energy
than / had done in the three earlier.
presidential campaigns because | was
apprehensive that President Harrison
would be defeated for reelection"
said the Senator. Harrison knew
that ] did not look with favor upon
his denomination in 1892 My sole
reason for that feeling was my fear
that he would not be reelected.
thought one or two other leading Re-
publicans would make stronger can
didates. Harrison was a very sensi-
tive man, and for that reason ! was
especially anxious that he should
know that my opposition to his re-
nomination was not due to any personal
feeling against him. My entire cam
paigr was very pleasant to me. and
was gratified to know that President
Harrison was greatly pleased with
the vigor and earnestness which I
showed in my many speeches in favor
Of his reelection.
There was one incident in the
campaign, however, Senator Sherman
went on to say which for a time was
very unpleasant Announcement was
made that I would speak to the Re-
publicans of Philadelphia early in the
campaign. 7 turned that speech over
in my mind with especial care. I
was anxious to make a very good inn
preston in Philadelphia because
some of the strongest friends Presi-
dent Harrison had lived in that city.
But the fact is that at the beginning
of the speech-indeed, for the first
fifteen or twenty minutes was very
greatly embarrassed and secretly
thought that / might break down.
81 i had hardly begun when I saw
a young man in the front row aiming
at me something which ] took to be
a weapon. / was inwardly startled
A few minutes later ] saw another
young man aiming a similar weapon
i at me. and again / was startled. This
continued, ! should say during the
first fifteen minutes of my address
Finally | reasoned secretly to myself
that whatever all this meant it GER
tainly did not imply any personal
damage, or disturbance All that was
done was to point weapon at me
for moment.
After the speech was finished
recalled. in the midst of the great
demonstration of approval that was
made, those queer maneuvers with
the curious looking weapon. I spoke
! to one of the members of the com.
mittee about II and he laughed heart
lily, saying those things were nothing
} but kodaks Strange as il may seem
I had never heard of a kodak. and
when ! asked for an explanation
! was told that 7 would probably fint
one in the newspapers the next day
That prediction proved to be correct
! for on opening one. Of the Philadel
phia newspapers the next morning
: saw myself pictured for the invariou
! attitudes. and It was the getting o
these attitudes that caused what
thought to be weapon to be leveleI
at me don't understand th'
mechanism Of the thing now SOM
day ] will try to get somebody to ex
plain il to me-
MY own thought as Senator Sher
man told me of this incident" SAT-
Mckinley, was this: How nearly al
= lied to the innocence and simplicit'
Of child is geniusl Here is the
! foremost financial authority of hi
: time. a master intellect, man whit
has been numbered among the pre-
} eminently great of his party from
/ civil war days to 1892. who has neve
; heard of a kodak. and who was ap
prehensive when he first saw It lev
eled at him that It meant danger"
. Copyright, 1912, by r. J. Edwards
All rights reserved }