Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-03

II wonder" queried the retired mer-
chant, after CHANGING over the headlines
in the morning paper, whether the men
we have chosen for presidential candi-
dates measure up with the leading states
men of fifty years ago. Many people and
many newspapers seem to cling to the
theory that they don't.
Il don't care three whoops whether
they do or not retorted the hotelkeeper.
land I have my opinion of man who
will come around at 10 O'Clock in the
morning springing such doggone conun-
drums and expecting busy men to an
swer them. I'm worried blind this morn
ing. The gentleman who occupied the
back room on the third floor and who told
me only yesterday that he intended to
make this hotel his permanent home is
missing Has no been kidnapped for
ransom did he slide down the water
pipe with the deliberate intention OF leav
ing me to hold the sack? He owes me
more than $40, and L don't know what
to do. If send the police after him
may offend an innocent man who intends
to return: if 1 don't he may make his
everlasting getaway. With such d prob
lem as this on my mind you come around
here asking fool questions about our presi-
dental candidates.
Il haven't any presidential candidates.
The ones YOU hear so much about don
belong 10 me. and | wouldn't lose any
sleep if the whole lot We're lost, stolen
or strayed. I'll be interested in presi-
dental candidates when they register al
this caravansary and pay IN advance.
Not before. If there's anything silly, it's
this thing of arguing and worrying over
candidates That sort of argument is the
national weakness or vice and there
ought to be a law against it.
Talking politics is IA waste Of time
and effort unless you are a hired spell
binder. and it's apt to get you into
trouble. Old Rampage, the grocer, is on
the toboggan. and one of these days his
creditors will take charge of his store.
and it's all because he persisted in talk-
ing politics. If YOU went into his en-
porium to buy a couple of yards of cod
fish, he'd spring some conundrum ike
the one you handed me, and no matter
what your answer might be he'd take the
opposite view just for the sake Of argu-
ing for an hour or two and showing how,
much he didn't know.
4 went in there in hurry one day to
purchase a kilowatt of potatoes, and he
began explaining that the recall of judges
would be little short of crime L wasn't
interested in judges. 1t was potatoes l
wanted and / told him SO. But / couldn't
get him to shut off the wind. So l told
him I'd never darlIen his door again and
he's been losing trade right along.
Last week a couple of painters came
here to decorate this palatial hotel. They
were drawing big wages by the hour.
and their business was to paint. But they
spent most of their time haranguing each
other about the initiative and referen-
dunn. Every time I'd go upstairs TO see
how they were getting along I'd find them
exchanging eloquence, so | sent word to
their employers that l wanted painters.
not silver ongued orators, and both those
men were fired. / could give you fifty
instances where men are in trouble be-
cause they talked politics instead of saw
ing wood. and yet you come here when