The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-01
lingness thus to honor him. nor in the

IluSneSS CnuS 10 uOuOT ulu, hut Ill lue
wisdom Of your decision in his favor.
But. fellow Democrats. speak no
more than the simple truth when | SOL
EMMY declare. here and now, that the
gentlemen competing with Stephen Is.
Yancey for your SURFACES are no more
to be compared with that peerless lead.
er than the tallow candle Of our fore
fathers is to be compared with the Al.
mighty's own handiwork Of universal
illumination, the glorious orb Of day
that now shines so benfgnly down upon
this representative assemblage Of the
sovereign American people.
II have no hesitancy, my friends.
in placing the Hon. Stephen X. Yam
cey before you today as the unri-
vailed product of a civilization, of
nation and of people that have in
their splendid conjunction produced
the most godlike development of the
race of man known in the worlds his
tory, my hearers. Stephen X. Yancey.
my fellow Missourans, is more than
mere Democrat, high though that
title may justly place him in the scale
of human progress. He is the spOtless
archangel of American democracy. His
garments are as pure as the driven
snow, and his flaming sword of battle
is the weapon of righteousness His
mind is the abiding place of political
chastity, and his soul cherishes the
untainted thoughts of the sweet mind
ed child, or of those celestial cheru-
bins who are the heavenly parallels
of earthly infancy. And say to you
now, my fellow citizens. that when the
mighty Gabriel, with his awakening
trumpet, sounds that awful blast that
shall summon us all to the judgment
bar for final accounting. supreme
among the elect who shall arise on that
great day and make answer to their
records on the open scrolls of the re-
cording angel, the man without one
mark to his discredit made by that
angelic pen. the man not one Jot or
title afraid Of the unfolding Of those
august registers, the man against
whom may be pointed neither the ar-
cusing fingers Of men nor seraphim in
condemnation for the deeds of his do
ing, will be the Hon. Stephen X. Yam
cey of Jackson county, in whose be-
half l now ask your vote at the ap-
preaching primaries l thank you for
your kind attention"
1t was titanic effort. Bedford Giles
had puffed and .perspired freely in its
deliverance. His arms had cut wide
swaths out of Missouri's atmosphere.
His hands had bludgeoned emphasis
into his words with mighty blows.
More than once he had crouched as if
to spring upon the presumptuous RI
walls Of the Hon. Stephen K. Yancey.
only to rise again to his full height and
hurl forth. with all the effectiveness
gained by such bodily exercises, the
crushing conclusion Of some tremen-
dous sentence. The speakers Missouri
audience could not but respond to such
an appeal. Thunderous cheers greeted
Bedford Giles as he bowed and seated
himself. He received them modestly.
swabbing his heated countenance with
big handkerchief already dripping
with the honest sweat Of oratorical toll.
Colonel Todhunter rose to reply Dis
may was in his face.
MY friends Of Dunklin county, he
began hesitatingy, II hardly know
what to say in reply to MIR. Bedford
Giles magnificent tribute to the vir-
tues of the Hon Stephen X. Yancey.
his candidate for the Democratic nom
ination for governor Of Mizzoorah."
Here the speaker paused. almost
gropingly.
Then he resumed Fellow citizens,
you all know old Bill Strickland Of
Nineveh as we'll as do"
One derisive boot sounded from the
outskirts Of the crowd. The speaker
seemed hurt, but not surprised.
"And. KNOWN him." he continued,
"you know as we'll as do that he amt
fitten to run for Office against no spot
less archangel."
A profound silence fell upon the as
semblage Sadness rested on Colonel
Todhunter's visage.
my hearers he said. II reckon l
got to face the music and take my