The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-19
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BH JAZZ y. HOUSE
tTren r1aaaslDhia Public Lsdsss.)
NEIGHBoRHOoD NOTES.
Andrew jackson Harmon.

Andrew jackson Harmon was one
Of the characters of our neighbor-
birth and a Democrat by profession,
who farmed little as a side line.
While he was classified as q farmer,
in reality he was an agriculturist-
Which is to say he never permitted
the active practice of agronomy to in
terfere with the duty he owed his gov
eminent. He put in most of his time
talking politics, and If the neighbors
were all busy he mounted his horse
and rode until he found a man idle
of the neighborhood stories that he
was once seen sixteen miles from
home at sunset of a bitter winters
day engaged in a violent discussion of
the iniQuities of a protective tariff
with a man who was splitting wood
by the roadside. The man had gone
out to do his evening chores" and
Harmon had ridden UP and started
an argument.
Harmon was a sawed-off little man
OF slight build, whose whiSkerS were
reminiscent of General Grants. He
wore habitually frock coat, the tail
of which tapped against his legs mid
way between his knees and his ankles.
He had a good frock coat in which he
arrayed himself for "'literaries,"
dances. spelling schools. county con-
ventions and when he sailed forth
for the purpose of stirring up an argu-
ment. He had an old and rusty gar
| ment of the same length which he
wore about his work on the farm.
But, summer or winter, no day or &C.
| casion which demanded a coat found
him garbed in any garment other than
a frock. Another sartorial idiosyn-
Grassy which distinguished Harmon
the local vernacular, a boiled" shirt,
he wore cuffs with it. He owned a
| beautiful pair of detachable cuffs, and
| they lent distinction to many local
| festivities otherwise undistinguished.
In our neighborhood it was not diff
cult to locate a sovereign citizen who
owned a white or "boiled" shirt. 1t
was a rough, elemental community,
! which was proud to make certain
| concessions to the fundamental nice
| ties. But those VINO owned both shirt
and cuffs were indeed rare enough.
| 1t was the general opinion that had
Harmon been a Republican he might
have gone to congress. But the polit-
ical prejudices of the district were
such and the Republican majority sc
overwhelming no Democrat had much
chance. The theory that he might
have gone to congress was based not
on his personal popularity. but on hi.
eloquence as a public speaker. He
was fairly well educated, exceedingly
well informed and had a command
of good English that was little shor
| of marvellous. And he had the gift o.
convincing talk. Given a chance a
the weakened Republicans from &
! public rostrum, and he nearly Away:
succeeded in breaking the Republican
lines. He never made a speech, ne
| matter what it's ostensible subject
without referring in a friendly, init.
mate and approving way to Thomas
Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and job
C. Calhoun. Occasionally he referred
to Daniel Webster; but Webster, hav-
| ing been Wing, Harmon's political
prejudices would not permit him to
give Webster publicity equivalent to
J that which he bestowed upon the
heroes of the Democratic party.
| Harmon had a certain power ovel
| the weak-kneed Republicans; but he
never could do anything on his owr
account. Being Democrat and dis.
liked not only by the Republicans bu
by many of his own party as well, he
never achieved real political distino-
| ton. Once his party leaders ran him
for justice of the peace; but he was
beaten overwhelmingly. and his
services in an official capacity wee
| school board in the district in which
he lived. AS a delicate recognition Of
the fact that he had once run for JUS
tice of the peace, the neighborhood
called him Squire" to his face. But
behind his back it called him Jack
| or "O1d Jack"
| Harmon was the most arrant OF
physical towards. Being forever in
violent and bitter political discussion,
| he was likewise ever in a quarrel with
| some one. AS he was exceedingly
abusive and insulting in his argu-
ments, he was always tempting some
partisan of the opposite faith to chas-
| tise him. But his skill and strategy in
avoiding physical encounter were so
superlative as to match his eloquence
from the rostrum. If strong bluff
failed to stop his adversary. Harmon
would pose majestically and say: 81
have heart disease. The doctors say