Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-30
THE STRAIN Or oRAToRY
Presidents Breakdown Calls to Col.
MecsIn's Mind the Experiences Of
Other Public Men - Blaine
stronq TIL Burchardized
BY GEORGE NOx MCCAIN
DREsIDENT WILSON'S abandonr

DRESIDENT WILSON'S abandonment Of
his tour as a result Of physical and
nervous exhaustion is not surprising to
those acquainted with the demands of such
an undertaking. The only wonder is that at
his age Mr.. Wilson stood the strain as long
as he did.
political campaign Of speaking, daily
conferences, receptions and handshaking Is
an ordeal never to be forgotten by a public
man.
James G.. Blaine was the only candidate
I ever knew who emerged from a strenuous
speaking tour apparently none the worse for
wear. Blaine got back to New York in
good shape physically to run up against the
Burchard incident. 1t gave him a lot Of
mental worry, more than he ever experienced
during the entire course Of his pre- election
campaign.
Most campaigners suffer from straining OF
the vocal cords and bronchial trouble. Mr..
Blaine never experienced any difficulty from
that cause. He and the late General Thomas
j. Stewart, adjutant general Of Pennsylva-
mia, had voices that were similar in tonal
quality. It was a peculiarly mellow, far
reaching voice, flexible and easily adapted to
varying modes of expression. Blaine was
wonder in the matter of statistics; Tom
Stewart was unexcelled In anecdote and elo-
quence, as those who heard him will testify.
GENERAL STEWART used to tell
~ funny incident of General Hastings's
campaign for Governor in 1894.
After the second week of his state tour
the generals, voice began to show signs of
strain. This was due to open air speaking
and short talks from the rear end of the
train.
DIR. John v Shoemaker, afterward pres
ident of the Medico Chirurgical Hospital,
was telegraphed for at the end of the second
week. 1t was only by his constant attention
that Hastings was enabled to complete his
tour. His throat required attention before
every important speaking engagement.
At Norristown, at the old Hartranft Ho-
tel, orders were given that no one should be
admitted to the generals room. This was
to afford him a brief rest before one of his
campaign addresses and enable Doctor Shoe
maker to spray and treat his throat. One
admirer from the country managed to get
past the guard at the door, mount the stairs
and get inside Hastings's room.
According to Stewart, the man had barely
time, as the ditty runs, ITO walk right in
and turn around and walk right out again."
He was in high dudgeon when he reached
the street.
did y see hlm?' eagerly inquired a fell
low Republican.
Sure 1 did"
''What did he say?'
Not a durn word" was the disgusted
reply. There was some feller up there with
q hose pumpin' wind r water into him, I
dunno which, an I didn't get chance to
say blame word"
HIRAM HORTER, Jr., one of the tip
IL slaves of Common Pleas Court No. 1, is
one of the court attaches who alternate in
calling the vote in the official count now in
progress before Judges Audenried and Fer
guson.
Mr.. Horter, who comes from an old Phil
adelphia family and is son Of the late State
Senator Hiram Horter, who was a member
of the Senate back in 1875, is the possessor
of an unusually clear, resonant voice.
1t is a carefully trained voice. For years,
until he retired some time ago, he was a
member of the quartet choir of the Chestnut
Street Baptist Church as tenor soloist.
Some years ago he had an experience that
taught him the value of not overworking his
gift. The officers of the church persuaded
him to act as chorister for the Sunday
school, OF course, his work was a success
too much so, in fact. His enthusiasm led
him to overdo it and he was compelled ulti-
mately to resign his position and refrain
from singing for nearly two years.
T DO NOT recall two men more alike in
L facial resemblance than Judge William @.
Ferguson and the late Senator George W.
Delamater, of Crawford county, one-t time
candidate for Governor.
The resemblance is startling at a little
distance. 1t has been noted by others who
knew George Wallace Delamater when he
was in the Senate In the sessions of 1887
and 1889.
Delamater was candidate for Governor
in 1890 against Robert e. Pattison, who
defeated him by majority of more than
10000 votes. Delamater's defeat was large
ly due to the attacks made on his political
record by Senator Lewis Emery. Delama-
ter and Emery were not only political but
personal enemies.
In the light of the nation wide prohibi-
tion triumph this year it is interesting to
note that in the Delamater campaign of
nearly thirty years ago John D. Gill, the
Prohibition candidate, polled more than
1000 votes.
TEORGE PEARSON, prothonotary of the
0Supreme Court for the western district
for twenty six years, Is the latest Of the
prominent figures IN political life of gen.
Grafton ago to solve the great mystery. He
was found dead beside the railway tracks
near Pittsburgh, not far from his home.
Pearson, a newspaper man with a liking
for politics, came from Mercer county as
reading clerk in the House of Representa-
tives at Harrisburg in 1881. he was big
physically and mentally and possessed of
the qualities that win with men.
When General James A. Beaver was
elected Governor George Pearson became his
private secretary.
. General Beaver, despite the fact that as
candidate for Governor Robert u. Pattison
had defeated him in 1882 by more than
| 40 900 votes, was not widely known to the
| politicians of the state, though popular with
| the old soldiers. Pearson had his work cut