The Topeka state journal., 1922-11-02
By A. L. sHULTZ.

state wide interest in the Buck
foot" Davis title which has been men
toned so prominently in the state
wide campaign has brought to light
the human interest story of dreary
life and bright light ambitions of the
Democrat nominee for governor.
From every section of the state in the
last few weeks has come a request for
a story of the title which the Bourbon
nominee won more than quarter of
a century ago
IT was bacl, in the magic days fol-
lowing Populism and fifteen cent corn
that the present Democratic nominee
for governor wagered a bit of his
hard earned farm credit for chance
at easy life on the paved streets and
possible few thousand dollars OF easy
money. The big temptation came to
Jonathan Davis in the period follow
ing the trouble days before the tele-
phone. free mail delivery and the
thrills of hot and cold water for daily
baths invaded the rural precincts.
Jonathan Davis. who displayed the
natural hums tendency, bet on the
sure thing. The mere fact that he
Lost merely gave color to the thoroly
human story.
4 Foot Race King.
In the late COS Bud Gillett was a
foot race king. His ability won re-
nown in the state long before the
telephone came to the office of the
small country town dailies- G1llett
could clip a fraction off ten seconds
and his speed held much of the tense
interest which the new voter has
since placed in motor car or the air
plane. So when Bud Gillett dropped
into the rather colorless life of the
little town of Bronson it was JON
athan Davis among other interested
citizens who held their breath as the
foot race demon cut off 100 yards in
ten seconds flat by stop watch.
One day a challenge came to Gillett
from an unknown speed demon in
Webb City, Mo. But Gillett was pup,
bling, over with sad story. He had
speed to burn. Yet speed without
cash didn't mean much in matching
championship race.
So the sad story was carried to
Garcia. The fact that jonathan Davis,
earnest, solemn, serious minded farm
er of the state legislature was stand
ing first in line at the city gate may
have been merely an incident In
later months Jonathan Davis rather
befuddled mind led him to believe
that he had been selected to stand
at the gate. But just the same ne
was there.
Gillett and his manager had a Won
derful story. There was lot OF peo-
pie who wanted to bet on the race.
Winning was merely an incident. 1t
was like taking the rattle from the
baby. Fact is Gillett and his manager
seemed to express sympathy for the
Missouri challenger. But in order to
make the betting lively and in order
to give the race the proper action
and color it was necessary that some
one stand in the betting arena with
a Lot of Long Green Kale.
Davis Was Selected.
Jonathan Davis was selected to
walk up and bet the Bank Roll.
When Jonathan Davis protested that
he had merely his herds and his crops
the race king and his manager waved
it all aside. They told him of the big
commissions on all bets and the Sure
Thing of the race. In ten minutes he
might make more money than the
profits from two years crops. Temp
tation tugged and pulled at Jonathan
Davis heart. Farm drudgery wasn't
all the story books said Milking the
cows and tilling the soil wasn't all
poetry. Sometimes there were dong.
sad years when the net returns were
not flat. From the lobby of the
Throop hotel in Topeka Jonathan
Davis as a member of the Legislature
had contentedly picked his teeth and
had observed the white lights and the
Light of Ease and Comfort.
Jonathan Davis was good farmer.
But he was human.
He saw where a. little ready cash
properly wrapped in a napkin and de-
posted with the stake holder would
come back with much extra gold. So
Jonathan Davis wired to his banker
in the little home town and told him
he might suddenly need some Ready
Cash.
When the day of the bg event ap-
preached Jonathan Davis journeyed
into Missouri and drew a draft for
5000. A telegram gave assurance
that the draft was good. Jonathan
Davis received a reassuring pat on
the back as he approached the care
fully selected stake holder. There
was another declaration of faith. Bud
Gillett could win in a wheel chair.
1t was shooting fish in a barrel. 1t
was merely necessary for Jonathan
Davis to stand at the wire and greet