The Mena weekly star., 1912-03-07
IMPRESSIONS OF JEFF
DAVIS ON FIRST SIGHT

/
For this reason, this paper is glad
Ito give its readers something diff
ferent" in way of writeup of the
senator's speech last week-a sort
of human interest story from the
pen Of a man who is an old news
paper man and a writer for maya
zines who never saw or heard Mr..
Davis before.
Mr.. Eugene Ray, formerly of the
Atlanta Constitution staff, now in
Mena representing Uncle Remus'
Magazine and Library of Southern
literature, favored this paper with
Ifhe following article on Senator
DAVIS speech and his mannerisms:
Senator JEFF Davis spoke at the
court house in Mena today. He
was advertised to speak at II
O'Clock, but came in before IL,
showing US country people he had
regard for sun time rather than
railroad time. And all along, the
senator's remarks, manner and
bearing indicated regard for the
people. fCome right up here and
stand in this aisle" he said to the
people standing just inside the
ldoor-ecome up this way and let
those people outside get in" And
the senator's tone indicated that he
wanted those outside TO get in, not
because he was eager to talk to
them, but because they wanted in.
Throughout his address the sem
ator made room for them. If he
had spoken until night and the peo-
pie had continued to come, he
would have found place for them
and a place nearer him.
What are we going to do with a
man who calls. us up closer to him
all the timer NCome right up here,
grandma. the senator said to an
elderly. lady who came in alone
l4Get up,A he said to a man sitting
near him-s'get up and let grandma
sit downs And the man got up.
What are you going to do with a
man who says FGet up and let
grandma sit DOWN.
As the senator continued he
stopped continually to see that some
lady got a seat. The fact is, if
ever a man was at home, JEFF Davis
| is at home when he is talking to an
Arkansas audience
Mr.. Davis began by referring to
| the criticism his opponent makes
against him. Mr.. Brundidge COM
plains that | will not meet him in
joint discourse" said the senator.
Then he told OF their four joint de-
bates at four different places, and
| how he decided that he wanted in
| this campaign no such bitterness
| as was engendered in his race for
a third term as governor, when
father was arrayed against son and
brother against brother; when his
lenemies hit him over the head with
lpistols and he broke canes on their
heads. 'SBcsiuos," he continued,
'I don't propose to get. up crowd
for old man Brundidges to talk to,
When Brundidge spoke in Mena he
had an audience of thirty-seven
people, two-thirds of whom were
Republicans. Why, my friends
,hhere are more people here today
THAN Brundidge has talked to
Throughout the campaign" and the
Isenator had his figures to demon
lstrate his statements. He said his
Isecretary would telephone and in
Iquire how many people were out
Ito hear Brundidge wherever he
lspoke. IT was noticeable that Mr.
Davis in quoting others would tell
Iwhat they said to "Jeff."
The young man who introduced
1.-THE senator today said in his neat
Inappropriate address that the SEN
lator knew more men, women and
lchildren in Arkansas than any
lother man in the state. 1t does
seem as if everybody says JEFF" and
l"Jeff" never says mr. to anybody
| Furthermore said the senator
in effect, if not in so many words
| Furthermore, Old man Brundidge
Ieould not follow me in this cam
Ipaien. For twenty days | have
lbeen travelling by buggy in the snow
with the thermometer two or three
degrees below zero. Brundidgt
lrides in Pullman. / am sorry fol-
lold man 3rundidge. If he had beer
with me during the snow it would
have killed him. But let's qui
| talking about him-he's corpse,
mr.. Davis added sadly.
"Mr. Brunddge declares | do no
lstay at my post of duty in Wash
Iington,n continued Mr.. Davis, anC
There the senator seemed most hap
lpy. Lawyer-like, he takes the evi
ldence and argument of the othe
fellow and uses it TO good advant
age. "Mr. Brundidge says | was no
: in my seat in congress from Apri
Ito June, 1909. My friends, it wa
during that time my wife died-a
, sweet and loving little woman a
ever lived. | was left with eigh
orphan children. II you think
,, did wrong in spending my time a
home in that sorrow, | don't wan
you TO vote for me-"
,, Another time the senator was a
home with his baby girl, who ha
scarlet fever.
Il would have come to be wit
! chat sick baby If Washington ha
sunk to hades," he said.
The senator said that the people
interest did not suffer, since, durin
his absence. he was paired wit
\ II hi