Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-08
CHAPTER TX.
Colonel Todhuntsr Takes the Stump In
Rural Missouri.
Copyright 1911. BY ths Bobbs-Nsr-
rill Company.

VVApUe1 uNs
Gs'onsi fodhuntsr Takes the Stump In
Rural Missouri.
4 result Of Colonel Todhunter's
~ picturesque prosecution Of the
Strickland campaign in St Lou.
IL heAwas unanimously chosen
by the Hon. William j. Strickland's
managers to invade the Yancey strong
holds throughout the state.
Todhuntera champion vote getter,
Strickland" ssHd old Governor Leslie,
''and that's mighty rare gift. Any
ordinary spellban der can keep q candi-
dates own friends in line during a
campaign and get 'em to the polls on
election day. But it takes man Of
uncommon qualities to steal friends
away from the other fellow. Todhun-
ter's that sort on man. He's a natural
born campaigner, and the sooner we
put him right ontthe firing line the bet
ter
This fitted in admirably with the
colonel's own wishes 1t was at the
big barbecue in Dunklin county, where
he met the redoubtable Bedford Giles
on the stump, that Colonel Todhunter
made himself famous throughout the
length andtbreadth Of Missouri.
Bedford Giles was probably the
finest living master of the old school
Of perfervid political oratory that once
% powerfully swayed the minds Of
men In the south and middle west. It
may be true that he lacked the sense
&c hu.cc.;; but, cmsetting this delin-
quency, he possessed 4 sort Of leonine
earnestness that had never failed to
score tremendously In the campaigns
of which. he was conspicuous figure.
The announcement Of speech by
Bedford Giles was in itself sufficient
to concentrate Missourians at one
given point from a radius Of twenty
miles around: And they were never
disappointed. because this renowned
spellbinder, in his temperament rant
ing tragedian Of the old Edwin For
rest type, Invariably tore their emo
ttonal beings to tatters and left them
convinced for all time that they had
assuredly been listening to the most
irresistible or1tor Of their day.
Against this man was Colonel Tod
hunter pitted on the day of the bar
becue, and the certainty Of witnessing
q great encounter attracted to the
scene Of their meeting the biggest
crowd ever assembled at political
gathering I'M that county. Enthusiasm
was at fever heat. The fact that it
was largely Yancey enthusiasm placed
the colonel ut decided disadvantage.
but instead Of depressing his daunt-
less soul this seemed rather to key
him up to,his best lighting mood.
During the forenoon. as was not I'M
common, there had been a GENEROUS
flow Of good liquor. The orators of
the day were naturally expected to
give a satisfying account of them
selves In disposing Of this democratic
output. Both were seasoned veterans
at the task.
It was q peculiarly Of Bedford
Giles, however, that when he reached
a certain stage of exhilaration his
mental horizon so widened and his
imagination took such wings to itself
that hts speHbinding eloquence scared
more in the realm Of fancy than Of
fact. His figures Of speech became
overwhelming in bold poesy of concep-
ton and application. and, for the time
being, the sonorous rounding out of
his excited thought into splendid SEN
fences was Of far more importance in
his estimation than the structure Of
truth upon which they were supposed
TO be based. His Missouri hearers en-
1oyed this phase Of his oratory keenly.
BY the time he was primed to such
gorgeous flights they, too. were SINH
larry primed to. accompany him, so
that the conclusion Of one Of Bedford
Giles speeches never failed to witness
4 scene Of magnificent emotional pro-
portions.
Upon this occasion. mellow as q
peach, Bedford Giles fairly outdid him
self in his barbecue tribute to the vir-
tues Of the Hon. Stephen X. Yam
cey. Now, In reality, Yancey was not
q candidate Of the magnetic" class.
He had many friends. he was known as
q steadfast party man, and it was con-
ceded that he possessed particularly
shrewd knack Of always lining up"
with the stronger faction in party di-
visions. It requires more than these
things, however, to make Of candi-
date one of those formidable political
figures for whom the party rank and
file delight to cheer for sheer love and
affections sake" as the old phrase
has It
But Bedford Giles, the cookies Of his
heart warmed by liberal potatons,
idealized the Hon. Stephen K. Yancey.
and the peroration Of his speech was
one of the finest and most typical ex-
amples of Gilesian eloquence.
II an not asking you. my fellow cit
izens,". he declared generously. ito nom
mate Stephen X. Yancey to the proud
Office OF chief executive Of the imperial
commonwealth Of Missouri at the sacri-
ice of others equally deserving. No,
my friends, II this were the case !
should not feel the supreme confidence
that I do now feel in your entire vii
lingness thus to honor him, nor in the
wisdom Of your decision in his favor.
..But fellow Democrats. speak no
mora than the simple truth when SOL
EMMY declare. here and now, that the
gentlemen competing with stephen K.
YanSey for your suf1rages are no more
to IS compared with that peerless lead.
er than the tallow candle Of our fore 4
<.t,,lr. n IN IN. compared with the Al