The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-07
MONOP[ FOR
 ELECT|ONEER|NG Verdines Has French P0li-
 ticians Guessing WINNING THE VOTERS Youngest Flying Lady in France Is Added to Long List of Aero
 plane Yictims-Work in
 French Schools
WINNING THE VOTERS
By PAUL VILLIERs

Paris, April Especial )-Since the Wrights made their first successful
 heavier than air flying machine France
 has been in the lead in the art and sci- ence of aviation. Practically all the fly ing records are held by Frenchmen. Another record has now been added to the long list and this record should Interest some of the strenuous politl
 clans in the United States M. Jules verdines, the noted man bird. who Is | literally flying into the French as- sembly, and it Is not impossible that
 he will fly much higher in the French government. verdines IS contesting the
 Limoux division of the Aube. The gov l ernment has selected NJ Bonnail as It's candidate and with the support of M. lDuJardin Beaumetz. under secretary of state, all was going well until Yer dimes threw his aeroplane into the ring. INT. Bonnail had all the local election eering committees and all the local of flcials, and till now he has had all the voters on his side. But Verdines has flown over the heads of committees, electioneering agents and officials. and swept away the enthusiasm of the vot- CTS He has not single electioneer- ling agent he has no committee, and no political sponsors of any kind. His whole electioneering outfit Is simply his mon oplane He flies with this from place to place astounds the villagers and
 peasants, and routs all his opponents.
 The political groups of the prefecture,
 the sub-prefecture, and all the local au- .t said. at first sarcastically, that Yer dimes might have 500 votes Then they admitted that he might have 1000. and now with panic they realize that he may have 5000. Recently M. Verdines announced that he was going to ny to Limoux, and 5000 men went out to see him. They shouted and cheered them selves hoarse, and unanimously prom ised heitr votes. The committees sent their best orators to all the places where Verdines' was to fly, but the crowds, instead of going to hear the speak CTS, rushed out to see the flying man.
 NJ. verdines says that he Is simply candidate of national defense. To de- fend France we need aeroplanes and aviators he declares. 1t Is necessary that some aviator's voice should be
 heard in parliament. If you need me l shall be the first to speak with pro- fessional knowledge of the matter. am not seeking popularity l have enough of that already. nor do l need the pay. What l want to do Is to rep resent the interests of aviation in parli- ament There is great national work | to be done. l am an active man. F | have given proof of 1t, and you may ! trust me as an Independent socialist
 and champion of national defense.
 M. verdines is cheercd whenever he | lands anywhere In his aeroplane. A crowd gathers around him. he repeats
 his short speech, which eXcites their en- thusiasm, and no under secretary of state hav ever had such a triumphant electoral tour
 MT. Verdines In one case said before a crowd of worSmen. "A year ago I
 was workman, like yourselves. I
 earned 15 sous an hour The men
 looked at him in wonder. and cheered
 him, and shook hands with him in de-
 light.
 In another place a country snowman
 came to him with very sad look. You
 have spoiled my day" he said: mo
 body has come to my show because they
 want to see you fly"
 "Then there is something to make up
 for it,'' said verdines, as he handed
 him a bank note. The people of the Aube constituency had never before seen an aviator and scarcely ever an aero
 plane. Their enthusiasm. therefore is
 stimulated by the novelty of seeing a
 flying man and his flying machine. The
 local newspaper has denounced Yer dimes as a national danger. He is an other General Boulanger. it says
 A song. called "Bedrino," is already popular all over the country. The |
 verses say that Bedrino is going to be elected and that Bedrino is going 10 |
 fly to Paris and, adds the song "ft l will be with tri-color sash" The peo-
 pie in some of the country districts are |
 so enthusiastic that when Verdines. | aeroplane appears they leave their vil- | lages and fields and rush to shake hands | with him, and women have even been l seen kissing his aeroplane.