The Detroit times., 1916-08-28
The Man Who Knew the
Relation of a Bandaged
Thumb To a Cheap Horse

We were talking with horse-trader-
the David Harum in his locality-and he
was relating some of his experiences, all
interesting, every one.
He told us that farmer friend Of his
was standing out by his gate one day,
when a stranger came along, driving
what the horse-trader described as "the
most beautiful piece of horse flesh he had
ever seen."
The stranger wanted TO sell the horse,
and the farmer friend was in the market
for horse.
The farmer accepted the strangers in
vitation to get in and take ride and the
horse dashed along the country roads at
q good three-minute clip.
At point on the road they met the
horse-trader and the farmer friend asked
the traders opinion of the animal he was
about to buy.
The trader got in and took ride.
''The beast was beauty" said the
trader, telling us the story. He was a
fine locker. glossy coat, beautiful stife
action and all that, and couldn't figure
out why the fellow wanted to part with
the horse at the price mentioned.
I'VE drove back to where we had left
my farmer friend in the road, and had
counted on advising him to buy the horse
and buy it quickly, when ! happened to
notice for the first time that the stranger
had his thumb done up in bandage.
$50, as got out of the buggy, said to
my friend, I don't believe you want this
horse unless you want to buy halter
puller and run the risk every time you
hitch him up of having your hand pulled
off,
'The stranger knew me, it seems, and
kind of smiled and said: 1 knew the jig
was up the minute | saw your eye light
on that bandage. That's all the matter
with this horse. gentlemen; he's halter
puller and the worst ever saw. When
he pretty near yanked my thumb out of
the socket this morning, | made up my
mind I'd drive him till l sold him. l see
that had better be going on"
The horse-trader's yarn was recalled
by pamphlet addressed to this desk by
Allan l.. Benson, Socialist candidate for
president of the United States.
Just now the country is pretty well
satisfied with the way things are going.
1t is termed prosperous, with all the
factories humming, everybody with Job.
merchants doing a good business and the
banks handling lots of money.
1t is a pretty hard matter to get any,
body enthused over the presidency in
times that are prosperous" but the
Socialist candidate for president isn't so
sure that all is as well as We think il is.
The Times has conceded this prosper
ity."
The Times has expressed the view that
Woodrow Wilson should be kept right
where he Is, but has expressed the view,
also, that the country would be safe if
given into the hands of Charles r.
Hughes.
The Times has found it hard TO get
fussed up over the matter of the next
president with two good men represent
ing the two big parties.
But there is the view of the Socialist
candidate. which, in spirit of fairness
toward our readers, is deserving a place
In this column.
We reproduce it, therefore, in full:
what DO you care whether the chief OF N.
Cosst and Gcodetic Survey is scientist or a
horse doctorf
what do you " the national wealth Ia.
Increased fcrty-ons billions since Mr. Wilson he
came president Have you any OF the bltliona
Morgan and Rockefeller have got a good many
cf the mitltonf that make up these billions hu,
esvs ,yon sot anything from your work but :
sss.s 10 tA... matter. b.c.u.. Mr.. Hu.s.,