Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-10


fitten 70 run for Office against no spot
less archangel."
A profound silence fell upon the as
semblage. Sadness rested on Coione!
Todhunter's visaGe.
MY hearers" he said. 81 reckon
got to face the music and take my
medicine like man. Old Bill STick-
land Of Ninaveh somehow don't seem
to stack up the right way against tbs
Hon. stephen Is. Yancey of Jackson
county"
From somewhere in the heart of the
crowd there came Just one snort of
appreciative laughter. II was quickly
strangled.
Il hate to confess it, continued
Colonel Todhunter, but old Bill Strick-
land amt no celestial cherub, neither.
Ike Bedford Giles describes the Hon.
Stephen X. Yancey."
An apprebensive uneasiness crept
into the faces OF the local Yancey man.
ayers on the speakers platform.
Fellow citizens" spoke Colonel Tod
hunter "old Bill Strickland ANT got
no business settin' himself up in oppo-
sition 10 a man who meets all the NOR
al requirements OF the heavenly sera-
phim. like Bedford Giles says the Hon.
| Stephen X. Yancey meets 'em."
In the very front rows OF the crowd
I 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 10 give him your votes
/ stead of givin' 'em TO man that'll
shine at the Judgment bar on the last
day at the blowin' of Gabriel's horn,
like Bedford Giles says the Hon. Ste
phen X. Yancey's agoin' to shine"
"E-yow-wow-wow" came i raptur-
Gus American whoop of tickled approx
al from somewhere in the crowd.
"A man." said Colonel Todhunter,
who'll face the recordin' 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 and fro through the
( confronting assemblage.
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
can say in excuse for old Bill Strick
land is that he thought he was runnin
against just Il plain human bein fol
the Democratic nomination for COVER
nor Of Mizzoorah."
Suddenly he bowed his head, threw
out his hands deprecatingly and ther
lifted his eyes mournfully as he stood
once more erect.
Fellow Democrats he cried. 81
hereby announce the withdrawal of the
Hon. William J. Strickland from thi:
race. and l wish to state that the with
dra wal is made in favor of the Hon
Stephen X. Yancey on the strength o.
the description Of Mr.. Yancey just Civ
en- by Bedford Giles"
There was moment of astonisheC
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 HI
has just made for the Hon. StepheI
X. Yancey. GOVERN the spOtless arch
angel business. the sword of righteous
ness. the celestial cherub. the heaven
ly seraphim. the unfolded scrolls of tn,
recordin' angel. and so forth and s,
forth. straight down to the garment
pure as the driven snow and tn
mind of political chastity. and includiu
the whole blamed outfit my hearers"
A mighty roar of pent up laughte
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 tn
demonstration Bedford Giles. stricke
by the thunderbolt of ridicule. spran
from his seat and actually fed tn
scene.
Colonel Todhunter gazed after hi
disappearing figure in such apparen
establishment that the cyclone of laugh
ter increased in its Overwhelming vo
0 ume But the colonel stood uumoveC
his face absolutely impressive.
And when the sun set on that men
T orabe day a new record had bee
p made in the colorful history OF Mi:
e souri, political' campaigning. ColonC
I Todhunter in five minutes speech ha
battered down the walls Of the Vance
e stronghold. until then thought TO b
Z Z fha most Unreasonable in oil NgiSSCuri