South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-18
Yarns From
Washington
BY Fred G. Kelly.

WASHINGTON. March 1S.-John
y. Tillman of Fayetteville. Ark, is an
ambitious person with cleanly CHS
elled. statesmanlike features, red hair
red hair with q romantic backward
sweep-and a disposition TO do those
things that he sets out to do.
Consequently, because he made "a
little agreement in his early boyhood
to come to congress he is coming to
congress.
More than so years ago pair of
youngsters. one Of them Tillman, sat
under a big oak tree and Off-handed-
ly made a bOyish compact to meet
some day in congress The plan en-
tered into lightly was not sealed in
blood. Huck Finn fashion. or any
thing like that; sti /. as Tillman look
ed at II. an agreement is an agree
ment. He took the thing seriously
and made up his mind TO keep the
tryst. Ever since that day under the
big oak tree he has conducted him
self as one having an appointment to
fulfil and eager To be on the way.
Both the young men who framed
the pledge became lawyers and each
served his district as prosecuting at
tOrney. Then one of the young men
blew up SO far as sticking to his
agreement was concerned. lie quit
thinking about congress and became
Now, almost anybody but Tillman
might have felt that he was released
from his covenant T1llman, how
ever, isn't that kind. When he tells
anybody he will meet him in con-
gress he carries out his part OF the
contract and goes to congress. If the
other fellow wants to fall short of
the arrangements, that is the other
fellows affair
So Tillman never Stacked up at all
when the other party to the bond
notified him that he had entered the
ministry and that all political plans
were declared off.
After serving as district prosecutor
Tillman became a circuit Judge and
then was honored by being elected
president of the University Of Ar
kansas-the same university he had
worked his way through as a boy by
means OF sweeping floors and per
forming various other services OF a
humble nature.
That might have been enough
honor for Tillman and doubtless
would have been. except for his
agreement. He had told his friend
he was going to be on hand at a Ger
tain place. and he meant to do just
that. When he began his campaign
last year he frankly told the voters
/ about his bOylSh compact, and put it
squarely up to them whether he
should be able TO keep his agreement
or not.
My daytime vision and my dream
by night" he freely admitted in "a
grand sweep of oratory. has been
the coveted privilege of representing
this district in the nations white-col-
umned capitol"
what else was there for the voters
TO do? You couldn't go 10 the polls
and force a man TO break a pledge,
could you?
Furthermore. Tfllman has a line of
talk that is extremely hard TO resist
For example. he was speaking with
great fervor one day OF his training
on the farm. And these words he
did say:
Il know what il is To toll and 10
suffer. I know the grinding eXactions
OF life on the farm. But II is not
bad training 10 be forced ont early
on November mornings and toast
your bare feet in the warm brown
leaves where the cow slept: TO be
thrilled by the amorous kisses OF the
June sun rs you trail the meek-evCc
mule up and down the long. but hot
corn rows: 20 get ont before daylight
and assault the feeble minded calf
with his foamy lips glued 10 the full
udder. his little tail wiggling in
speechless bliss. and wrench him
away from his partial mamma. sub
hitting meantime q his butting or
his kicks you tether him 10 the rail
fence. preparatory 20 securing the
family's share OF his mothers morn
ing Offering. and 70 coax the warm
milk from the black-and-white Hol-
stein and from "a half dozen young
Jerseys. full of fdgets and brain
storms: 90 convey while il il yet dark
substantial refreshments 10 IS smelly
razOrbacks. odOrous as an emancipa-
ton day picnic; 20 administer 70 the
lowly mule. 20 corn him and fodder
him and finally 10 take your life in
your hand. and with currycomb and
brush 20 massage his finching sides
and manicure his treacherous hOofs
When a man can summon so much
eloQuence in regard 20 the feeding OF
a few farm animals. what may he
not be expected TO say when he gets
up in the house of representatives
some day TO discuss the state or the
I-nior9