The weekly soliphone., 1915-10-15
DANCED HIMSELF
INTO 0BSCURITY

Washington, Oct 12-Public men
frequently have talked themselves
out of office, especially those with
a gift of humor, but it remained
for Governor Major or Missouri to
dance himself out of a seat in the
senate.
Adam Bede of Minnesota was
once regarded as the wittiest man
in congress. The house longed to
hear him make a speech because he
invariably told a number of clever
stories that turned debate into a
vaudeville performance. His own
constituents also enjoyed his humor,
but at a time when his popularity
seemed at it's height the voters elect
ed a more serious man.
This has happened many times in
politics, but the case of Governor
Major stands alone. Six months
ago Major was being groomed by
the politicians of Missouri for the
democratic nomination for senator
against Senator Reed, the incum-
bent. Reed had become very I'M
popular. He was arbitrary and
radical. He had not been able to
get along very well with President
Wilson. He was not particularly
we'll liked in his own state. Cover
nor Major, however, was an ex-
tremely popular democrat in Mis-
souri,. He was young and vigorous
and a fine orator The crowds
were with him. Everyone knew
that he wanted to be senator and
most of the democrats were anxious
that his ambition should be real
lied. 1t was expected that in the
race against Reed in the democratic
primaries he would have an easy
victory.
LEARNED TO TANGO.
One day Major went to visit 8
million dollar clubhouse in ST
Louis, where the tango was all the
rage. He tried to dance and found
that his legs were fairly timber
The exercise fascinated him anC
the next day he took tango lesson
He became proficient in the one
step, hesitation and fox trot. SooI
he was considered the premier dan
Ger of Missouri. Wherever there
was dance, there was Major, the
center of festivities. All the news
papers commented upon the youns
governors proficiency in the dance
Instead of assigning the political re
porters to cover his movements
newspapers began to assign the so
ciety reporters. Experts discussed
the governors dancing ability from
an artistic standpoint. Instead o
spending all his time at the capita
fighting political battles, the young
governor devoted a considerable por
ton of his time to graceful wrest
ling with fair partners
NOT MENTIONED NOW.
/ No longer is Governor Majo
mentioned for the senatorial nomi
nation. Politicians concede that h
has danced himself out of the sen
atorship. Many of his friends ad
NIT that if he were nominated hi
, interest in the tango would be mad
political issue. The Missouri news
papers agree that it is hardly likel
that Major will figure in the mex
senatorial primaries, and it is tai
en- for granted that Reed will b
nominated by the democrats. VIII
proficiency in tn etango shout
disqualify a man for public office
not known, and the fact is state
merely for what it is worth.
Dudley Field Malone, collector {
the port of New York, is a prof
cient one-stepper, and so is JOSEF
E. Davies, chairman of the FEEDER;
trade commission. Cary Graysol
President Wilson's physician, ais
dances fairly we'll, but he is muc
better physician than a dance
Mayor Mitchell of New York dance
almost as we'll as Governor Majc
of Missouri, which means terps
chorean ability of a superlative de
: gree. Instead of the modern dance
disuualifying a man for office, es