Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-03

IbHl bdpHey 1bne covers inc
earth like tho dew on an autumn's
morning.
Unlike most public mon. bits tai
ents run in three directions. Some
prominent servants of the people
either tend one way or another.
They lack tact. or do not know how
to use their force OF diplomacy. They
are like molaSscs-thick at times.
thin at times. There is no positive
cohesiveness. so that when Il man
claims TO lie statesman. he Is moth
Ing else; If he Is. according to his
own choice. politician. hc never gets
anywhere else. lie is either a pes
slmist or plain. common slob, on
the one side. or. on the other side.
lie Is nothing but a statesman. such
as Lodge or Reed or even a Lloyd
George. They can't play but onc
part
Shakespearc's wcii-known Seven
Ages must have hecn written with
Biii Dhhney in mind. For Bill is "A
statesman, politician and a dtplo-
mat.
When things get dull around Rich
mond Bill steps down from his ccrie
Ia the big Chamber OF Commerce
building. gets some expense money
from the treasurer and hics him
out in search of Il convention And
he generally lands them all. That is
diplomacy. Then he goes after the
CITY Council for funds. and gets il
and that is the politician. Then. at
ter these prclimiuarics have been
taken care OF. Bin gets somebody to
name lot OF reception committees
10 do the entertaining after III. dole
gates arrive. and that is statesman
ship.
Gets the Worst Of II.
In the long run. Bin gets tho worst
OF 1T. Tor he may bring "a convention
here that's hardly worth while going
after. and he gets slammed around
by his constituents, and President
Marcusc has to hand him Il few good
words OF advice. Eill. unlike most
folks. is Il good advice takcr He is
a good listener, but that is when he
Is asleep, and. accordingly, lie hears
little, for he sleeps less.
Bill achieved his greatness through
experience and the exercise OF tact.
He started his public career as man
aScr OF the annex to the City HALL
then located in a little hole In the
wall on Main Street. Just east of
Ninth. There the old wights Of CIV
Council. i'll the prime old days Of Cap
tam John y. Curtis. Chris Manning
anu ON lilckS used To gather, and
H!il learned the game of politics from
its fountain hcad--at first hand.
What that crowd didn't know about
the game would iii a book smaller
than the Warrock Richardson Al.
manac.
The bee buzZcd so loud and so long
that bill couldn't sleep nights. So
ne started To run for the Board Of
Aldermen from Madison Ward lie
did not con;ne his campaigning to
his own ward. but. in company with
Captain Curtis and Chris. he made
speeches all over Marshall and JEFF
ierson Wards, and then went out into
Clyde Saunders hailiwick in Clay
Ward, and Harry IIuhcrs precincts
In Monroe Ward. and got Henry Beck
and Gilhcr, Pollock 10 help him out
~ jackson Ward. DICK Ferguson
and Billy Bradley helped him in Man
chester, and hc won out
Too Good for CT, Council.
History shows that 1911 was too
good for city Council. so he sold his
cigar emporium on Main Street and
retired from the Board OF Aldermen
and wen; after big things in the true
way OF real statesmen. lie Eot his
friends III the Cha mbcr Of Commerce.
Including Gus Royal. to tell the
world that there was but one man
within q thousand radius of
capitol square as bright and as smart
as he. And the chamber WAS at that
time looking for II bright young man
10 take up the cudScl for big bust.
ness.
II was Bits job To put Richmond