Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-05-02

In Missouri's Metropolis.
"O Colonel Todhunter. a country
man born and bred and of lar, an
innate rusticity of soul that
was an essential part of his
being, contact with the throbbing life
OF big city was so rare and foreign
picturesque unikeness to the urban
that it never failed To emphasize his
type He stalked into the busy st.
Louis headquarters of the Hon. Will
liam J. Strickland on the parlor floor OF
the Laclede hotel. the living embOdi-
ment of that political figure dear to
the amused metropolitan imagination,
Sthe delegate from the rural districts
1t was brave and honest face that
showed itself in Colonel Bill Strick-
lands private office. but somewhat dis
mayed at thought of an impending
ordeal.
"Tn Just be eternally whipsawed If
you amt a-tryin' to make round peg
ut into square hole. Bill!' he protest
ed earnestly, something like awe of
his surroundings stamped upon his sun
i
most anything In the world for you,
and you know 1t. But when you turn
me loose in big town like this and ex-
pect me to behave like anything
more'n a wall eyed plow horse with his
tail full o. cockleburs I'll be everlast-
in'ly condemned If you amt maxim a
mighty serious mistake. suh.'
yf,lx. rolA nj
Strickland. I'm counting ON you for
some st. Louis speeches that'll be
worth their weight in gold. my friend.
We need you here. sir-a man that
talks old fashioned American DemOc.
racy straight from the shoulder. City
politicians have forgotten what the
real Democratic doctrine is. Thurs, and
we've got to revive it in che peoples
hearts If we expect 'em to vote right.
That's why want you to help me
open my st. Louis campaign. You've
got to do 1t. Thurs!'
Colonel Todhunter gazed at his friend
pensively. BILL" be said. I'm a-goin
to do it. as you well know. I'd STRIP
the shirt off'n my back and head per-
cession wavin' 1t for a Strickland ban.
ner II you asked me to. whether
thought It was the best thing to do TN.
der the circumstances or not. But
bid you remember. Bill, that warned
you in time. It'll be your fault II you
have occasion to regret havin' brought
me In from the pasture and stacked
me up against these here bang tailed
city thoroughbreds. suh!'
s'Ill take the chances, old fellow
said the candidate his eyes twinkling
. ~You Just oblige me now for old
friendships sake and I'll be respOnsi.
BILE for everything that happens after
ward. ! amt the least bit afraid"
"I'll eat my hat II ] don't wish
could say the same. subj calculated
Colonel Todhunter. vehement panic
IN his tone. 'I'm skeered to the mar
row. sub. because I'm out O. my baili
wick and up against proposition that
1 don't know any more about n q hog
knows about holiday. sub. And
you're a-goin' to discover. sub, before
we get through with this piece Of fool
ishness that had mighty good rea
sons for helm skeered too"
'4Ehucks. you old warhorse!" laughed
Colonel Bill Strickland. "Once you
get into the fight you'll warm up like
q two-year-old and show these st
Louis folks what real Missouri Dem
ocrat is. You're going to make the
hit Of your life. sir"
sAlaybe I am and maybe l amt
Bill Strickland" quoth Colonel Tod
hunter modify. But all ask at the
finish Ia that you'll remember Il
want me that made the prediction
sub. I'm natural born opumist
sub. but that don't necessarily NEAR
that I'm u natural born jackass at al
on all subjects. as some folks seen
to think subj
And in this frame Of mind Colone
TOdhunter returned into the genera
headquarters offices and was intro
duced to his Nineveh friends st
Louis hackers and campaign staff.
A quiet young newspaper man wht
happened to I've drifting through thu
rooms seemed Instantly impressed by
NOloueI per
sonality. He studied the colonel in
tently. growing appreciation in hi
thoughtful and latently humorou!
eyes.
After exchanging a few words witt
this new addition to the Strickland
forces the journalist went into one o.
the private telephone booths at ths
end Of the reception room and called
mp his paper Then he came back t.
Colonel Todhunter. engaging him II
conversation. A few minutes later {
second man casually appeared and un
Obtrusively stationed himself where h
had good front view of the colonel
who was being deftly led into poltica
dissertation by his new acquaintance
Colone Bill Strickland. passin:
through tie main room at one moment
saw the two with their heads toSeth
er. Something like Il CLEAN of laugh
ter leaped into his ewes. and he nod