Gunnison news-champion., 1917-10-05
And there came a MAN!

And there came MAN,
Along about this time last year h.
amb.ct over the horizon. The Demo
cratic party was confronted witt
What might politically be termed q
hiatus on its ticket. In fact, ther,
was 1 decidedly aching void. Arnica
and lIniment were loudly demanded to
quell the ache. The regular nomine.
Tor secretary OF state, owing to pres
Of private business, was compelled to
withdraw from the race.
And the election only three week
off,
Ensued a tremendous scurrying for
an eleventh-hour candidate. Yea, al
most a midnight candidate, for It
looked as if nothing but a midnight
providers dark lantern and jimmy
would avail The thing appeared a
ty-one days, Sundays counted, in which
TO campaign. II was 4 game few men
would care to playa dead mans
hand against a cold brick. But then
there were few men like Jimmy MOL
and
He owned certain assets held by no
other. He could show a long and
decent career as newspaper man, his
Democracy could not be questioned
and he felt ne could rely on Friends
he had won among the editors Of
Colorado. Once before he had held
political Office and acquitted himself
crcditably- had been secretary Of
the Denver Fire and Police Board
Besides, he possessed ambition, ener-
~ and a hopeful spirit. Usually
though, these three attributes trot to
gcthcr.
Anyway, h. accepted the place or
the ticket
And election day only three week
of,
Then, indeed, did the i-Told- You So
pcssimists come to sit and scoff. How
ever, as they later remained TO grovel
and pray, they have long since beer
forgiven. They predicted raucously
and anon, that Jimmy wouldn't have
as much chance as Kaiser Bill in Lon
don. He'd run like a string halted
spawned. lococd, wheezy critter. But
as was said, they later prayed away
their sins as false prophets.
But the editors stuck by Jimmy. He
didn't have much money-if any news
paper man ever had. that n. NJ. has
thus far been able to keep the secret
hidden in his breast. Nor did the edi-
tors want Jimmie's money-what little
he had. There is a well known free
mansonry of the town and out which
applies to all newspaper folk. They
! positively will not loot each other
Indeed, in certain papers of consid-
cradle circulation, too, Jimmy was re-
ferred to feelingly as "The Shoestring
Candidate" This because his chances
and funds were both regarded as
slightly frayed.
And next the people fell in line
and the people, after all, do the vot-
ing and electing. They liked Jimmy's
nerve-the courage which could ac-
cept what others were inclined to turn
away from. This was before they
even saw Jimmy. When they glimpsed
him, they liked him for what he was.
They elected him by majority
which couldn't be walked around in a
weck-and, what is more to the point,
they have been glad of it ever since!
But before the scoffers started pray
ing they let out one more wall. They
referred to Jimmy as political acct
| dent.
Well, well, the political accident has
made good. The people of Colorado
would appreciate few more such
accidents, calamities, catastrophes,
or whatever they are. 1t is said that
| lightning never strikes in the same
place twice, but if it was lightning
| political lightning-that struck Jim.
my holland and knocked him into the
/ secretary of states office, then the
Colorado public would dearly love q
few more bolts right smack in the
same spot.
Go into the secretary of states Of
flee these days and note the changes
over other years-well, say, over two
years ago. There's a hum in the at
mosphere, the vibration of work be-
ing done quietly and effectively, Of
the public being served properly and
quickly, an electrical something which
heralds that "the right stuff is going
on"
Hundreds come to this corner Of
the state house daily, thousands dur
ing the week. Practically it is the
peoples clearing house on all of their
state business. Usually there's a line
in front of each window, while clerks
and bookkeepers maintain correct tab,
and stenographers behind the scenes
click off scores of letters.
But under Jimmy all this has been
systematized, until those who come
are served speedily and depart as
speedily after offering up a brief but
touching paean in praise of the peo-
ple-for voting right once, at least.
With less office funds to 90 on
than previous secretaries, Jimmy has
accomplished these things-and with
out goading or abusing his office
force either On the cont,,,,, I. :,