Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-05-16
CHAPTER TX.
Colonel Todhunter Takes the Stump In
Rural Missouri.

is he WAS unanimously chosen
by the Hon. William J. Strickand's
managers to invade the Iancey strong
holds throughout the state.
"Todhunter's a champion vote Setter,
Strickland" said old Governor Leslie,
land that's mighty rare gift. Any
ordinary spelbinder can keep cand-
dates own friends in line during a
campaign and get 'em to the polls on
election day. But it takes man of
uncommon qualities to steal friends
away from the other fellow. Todhun-
ter's that sort of man. He's a natural
born campaigner. and the sooner we
put him right on the firing line the bet
ter
This fitted in admirably with the
colonel's own wishes. 1t was at the
big barbecue in Dunklin county. where
he met the redoubtable Bedford Giles
on the stump. that Colonel Todhunter
made himself famous throughout the
length and breadth of Missouri.
Bedford Giles was probably the
finest living master of the old school
Of perfervid political oratory that once
% powerfully swayed the minds Of
men I'm tile south and middle west. 1t
may be true that he lacked the sense
Of humor: but. offsetting this delin-
quency. he possessed a sort of leOnine
earnestness that had never failed to
score tremendously in the campaigns
Of which he was conspicuous figure.
ne u
Bedford Giles was In itself sufficient
to concentrate MissOurians at one
given point from radius of twenty
miles around. And they were never
disappointed. because this renowned
spelIbinder. in his temperament rant
ing tragedian Of the old Edwin For
rest type. Invariably tore their emo
tional beings to tatters and left them
convinced for all time that they had
assuredly been listening to the most
irresistible orator Of their day.
Against this man was Colonel Tod
hunter pitted on the day of the bar
becue, and the certainty Of witnessing
4 great encounter attracted to the
y acene Of their meeting the biggest
crowd ever assembled at political
gathering in that county. Enthusiasm
was at fever heat. The fact that it
was largely Yancey enthusiasm placed
the colonel at q decided disadvantage.
but instead Of depressing his daunt-
less soul this seemed rather to key
him up to his best lighting mood.
During the forenoon. as was not I'M
common, there had been generous
dow Of good liquor. The orators of
the. day were naturally expected to
give 4 satisfying account of them
selves In disposing OF this democratic
output. Both were seasoned veterans
at the task.
1t was q popularity Of Bedford
Giles. however. that when he reached
q certain stage of exhilaration his
mental horizon 40 widened and his
imagination took such wings to itself
that his spellbinding eloquence scared
more In the, realm of fancy than of
fact. His figures of speech became
overwhelming In bold poesy Of concep-
ton and application. and. for the time
being. the sonorous rounding out of
his excited thought into splendid SEN
fences was Of far more Importance in
his estimation than the structure of
truth upon which they were supposed
to he based. His Missouri hearers en-
joyed this phase Of his oratory .keenly.
By the time he was primed to such
gorgeous flights they. too. were SINH
larry primed to accompany him. SO
that the conclusion Of one of Bedford
Giles speeches never failed to witness
a scene OF magnificent emotional pro.
portions.
Upon this occasion. mellow as q
peach. Bedford Giles fairly outdid him
self In his barbecue tribute to the vir.
tues Of the Hon. Stephen X. Yam
cey. Now, in reality. Yancey was not
candidate of the magnetic" class
He had many friends. he was known as
a steadfast party man. and it was con
coded that he possessed particularly
shrewd knack Of always ''lining up
with the stronger faction in party d.
visions. 1t requires more than these
things. however. to make of candi
date one Of those formidable political
figures for whom the party rank and
file delight to cheer for sheer love and
affections sake as the old phrase
has ii.
But Bedford Giles. the cookies of his
heart warmed by liberal rotations
idealized the Hon. Stephen X. Yancey
and the peroration Of his speech was
one of the finest and most typical ex-
amples of Gi!esinn eloquence
Il am not asking you. my fellow cit.
izens." he declared sonorously. Ito nom
mate Stephen X. Yancey to the proud
Office of chief executive of the imperial
commonwealth Of Missouri mt the sacri
fee of others equally deserving. No
my friends. If This were the case |
should not fee the supreme confidence
that DO now feel in vnnr ""ti~" ~-'i