The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-07
STYLES in Political Speaking

otyleS IN fOHtlcdl speaking
"The style has changed in political
speaking enduring the last 10 or Is years"
observed the backwoods school teacher
: Formerly a seeker after the votes of
the hernyhanded agriculturist had to in
terlard his discourse with job lot of
jokes, some of which illustrated the pint
and many of which Mortified the
modest minded listeners. | amt re-
nowned for being a Puritan or a prude,
but l have heard some ranikaboo vul-
garities from the political stump that
would bring the blush to the virgin cheek
of an army mule. In those days a can
didate had to assume in his garb, and
walk and conversation the appearance of
being one of the common people He
wore wool hat and copperas breeches,
he chawed tobacco. his cotton gallusses
was always in evidence, fastened with a
locust thorn instead of but tons.
IN his address from the stump he gen
orally alluded to the fact that he was
raised between the plow handles. era
died in hollow gum log and never wore
pair of shoes until he was 10 years of
age-when he begun getting his educa-
tion by the lot light of a pine knot fire.
Nowadays. the frock coat. the wide
black hat and the white vest are the
evidences of full dress on the part of a
candidate, all of which it is necessary for
him to wear. The people just won't
vote for the chap as is garbed as a
rube any more, nor will they stand for
indecent jokes. 1t makes no difference
whether women are present or not-the
men voters themselves are cleaner than
thew used to be, to the extent of simply
resenting as an insult any .anecdote that
smacks Of yulgarity. Sometimes. even
In former days, when the speaker in tell
ing joke got on a mans religious con-
-l.kf~ 1t IT,
fellow was mighty liable to call him
down and that candidate stood to lose
votes a whole lot. can tell you a anec-
dote which illustrates this fact:
"Crog Whatley was candidate for
the legislature in Calhoun county and
there never was cleverer fellow than
Crog, but he hadn't had large amount
of political experience. The race be-
tween his antagonist and Whatley was
growing pretty close. and the other fel-
low was using means to secure votes
which the former reprobated. In relat-
Ing what his opponent was doing, and
how unfair It was, Crog was In the habit
of telling a story on a fine old Hard
shell preacher, named Monk, who was
quite eccentric.
According to whatley. Brother Monk
was called before the church to answer
the charge OF fighting. His defense was
to the effect that he was passing a grog-
gerry. riding his Beck, mule, when
drunkark stepped out in the road and
said, Light. Monk, I'm going to Hex
you,' Monk said Whoa. Beck and Beck.
whoaed and Monk lit In the road. The
sot hit him on one cheek. Brethren said
Monk-and then Monk turned the other
cheek, and he hit him on that 'un Then,
my dearly beloved brethren. right thar
the scripter was fulfilled. and when that
III
another lick. old Monk was right thar.
and belted him a sock-dollager right
between the ewes. and the Lord helpel
me to warm that villain hip and thigh.
ontil he bellered like the cattle on the
hills of Moab
"'rhe time came around when Whatley
With his joke was billed to appear at