The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-01
Stephen X. Yancey."

An apprehensive uneasiness crept
into the faces Of the local Yancey man
ayers on the speakers platform.
"Fellow citizens" spoke Colonel Tod.
hunter. ''old Bill Strickland amt got
no business settin' himself up in oppo'
| sitiOn to a man who meets all the NOR.
al requirements Of the heavenly sera,
phim. like Bedford Giles says the Hon
! Stephen X Yancey meets EN-"
In the very 'front.' rows or the clowe
facing the speaker broad smiles Of hui
morous comprehension began to be Wis
ible.
And old Bill Strickland amt got no
business" conceded Colonel Todhunter.
"askin you to give him your votes
shine at the judgment bar on the last
day at the BLOWN Of Gabriel's horn.
like Bedford Giles says the Hon. Ste
phen k Yancey's agoin' to shine
"E-yow-wow-wow" came raptur-
Gus American whoop Of tickled approv-
al from somewhere in the crowd.
"A man." said Colonel Todhunter.
who'll face the recordiu' angel hisself
| without the flicker Of an eyelash Sc
cure in his consciousness OF his own
immaculate perfection"
A great underwave Of laughter, held
in leash, swung to aud fro through the
| confronting lssemblage.
And then Colonel Todhunter rose to
his full height Of six feet, thruSting his
right hand into the bosom Of his ample
skirted coat.
MY friends he announced. ''all l
can say in excuse for old Bill Strick
land is that he thought he was runnin''
| against just plain human bein' for
| the Democratic nomination for COVER
nor Of Mizzoorah."
Suddenly he bowed his head, threw
out his hands deprecating!y and then
lifted his eyes mOuruful.y as he stood
once more erect.
Fellow Democrats" he cried. Il
hereby announce the withdraw OF the
Hon. Willium J. Strickland from this
race, and | wish to state that the with
drawal is made in favor Of the Hon.
Stephen X. Yancey on the strength OF
the description Of Mr.. Yancey just CIV
en- by Bedford Giles.
There was a moment Of aStonished
silence.
Colonel Todhunter remained standing.
Again he lifted his hand. "Provided.'
he said, that Bedford Giles can fur
nish proof Of the truth OF the claims he
has just made for the Hon. Stephen
X. Yancey. coverin' the spotless arch
angel business the sword Of righteous.
ness, the celestial cherub. the heaven
ly seraphim, the unfolded scrolls Of the
recordin' angel. and so forth and so
forth. straight down to the garments
pure as the driven snow and the
mind of political chastity. and includin'
the whole blamed outfit, my hearers
A mighty roar Of pent up laughter
burst forth.
1t was like an explosion. Men rock
ed to and fro on their feet in uncOn-
trollable mirth. They smote one an
other on the back, shouting in gar
gantuan chorus. In the midst Of the
demonstration Bedford Giles. stricken
by the thunderbOlt of ridicule, sprang
from his seat and actually fled the
scene
Colonel Todhunter gazed after bis
disappearing figure in such apparent
establishment that the cyclone of laugh
ter Increased in its overwhelming vol
ume. But the colonel stood unmOved,
his face absolutely impressive.
And when the sun set on that mem.
orable day new record had been
made in the colorful history Of Mis-
souri, political campaigning. Colonel
Todhunter in a five minutes speech had
battered down the walls Of the Yancey
stronghold. until then thought to be
the most impregnable in all Missouri.