Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-09-02
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POLITICIANS AND THINGS
BY w. Y. Morgan in Hutch
inson News

hummer OF great men on THIS fhcl
fic exposition circuit, in addition e
the noted Kansans whom have
mentioned as being In our party
The arrangements OF these fairs
have secured the attendance OF all
the prominent people possible. Gov.
ernors have been as common as cat
fish In the Kaw. An ex-president
of the United States. Colonel Roose-
welt, and a near-president. Colonel
Bryan, have been stopping at our
hotels. Congressman are plentiful
and actors and financiers are thick.
The main travelled road for tourists
has been to the Coast and along
with the numerous citizens on foot
are a large proportion who are
prominent at home but who have to
tip the waiter to get any recogni-
ti0n here of their rightful rank.
Mr.. Bryan came to see us at the
Kansas building in Frisco. He is
older and fatter and balder than
he was in the days when he was
leading the army Of 16 to /, but he
Is fine chap, as democratic in man
ner as he is in politics, and as kind
ly in his smile as might be expected
In the author of the prince of
Peace" Large crowds heard Mr..
Bryan at Frisco and San Diego as he
eloquently pleaded the cause for
which he now stands. But there
was no enthusiasm, no rushing to
get him to kiss the baby, no strug-
gle to shake his hand. 1t must seem
strange to Mr.. Bryan but possibly
he has had so much of the enthus-
iasm in his political life that he
likes the comparative rest which
public seems willing to grant him.
/ stopped at the same hotel with
Col. Roosevelt at Frisco and again
.Ht San Diego. l saw the large
crowds which gathered to hear him
discuss public questions. He was
always escorted by soldiers and sur
rounded by politicians. But the
people who heretofore had gone
Fluney over the Col0nel's appearance,
were no more excited over him this
time than they were over the avia-
tor, and not near as anxious to see
him perform as they we're the life
saving crew which the United
States government has in its exhibit
on the water front. When the col
onel appeared in public there would
be a faint cheer, OF would go his
hat and he would bow to the right
and the left, and show his teeth,
Just as in the good old days, but no
one was hurt in the rush, and the
once admiring crowd turned the
other way to watch the Japanese
and Chinese girls IN their native
costumes. In his case, as in 'Bry-
ans, the people are stiIl friendly
but they restrain their exhibition OF
enthusiasm too we'll for the differ
emce not to be noticeable.
In the languid talk of politics
which naturally followed these two
leaders, there was little new. The
Progressive party is strong in Call
fornia, this being the only state
where they elected a governor last
yer. The Proggressives do not know
what They will do next. OF course
I heard no direct talk from the Colo
mel on the subject but after he had
passed on to the next stop the news
paper men and friends who had
talked with him said he wanted to
tie in the Republican party next
time and would be unless the door
was slammed in his face, and even
in that event he might kick in the
door and help take charge OF the
campaign. There was one point on
which he was very empnatle. ne
thinks President Wilson has mis-
managed foreign affairs and that his
home economic policy is failure.
He wants to help in the work OF put
ting the ex in front of the Presi-
dents title at the end of his four
years.
l sat at lunch by the side OF Gov
ernor johnson, Of California, he that
was the running mate of Roosevelt
in 1912. Somehow l had supposed
Johnson would have fierce mus
tache and a wild glare in his eyes.
On the contrary he is smiling and
friendly chap, with a pleasant way
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