, 1922-08-16
HON. BEAR GEORGE
DENIES HE PLAYS
TOO MUCH POKER

Did or did not the Hon. Bear
George" Mcclellan play too much po-
ker while a member. of the legisla-
ture and senate,
This is the burning question owe in
Washable county where this original
and picturesque old timer is a candi-
date fol the senate on the republican
ticket.
His qualifications, it appears, are
not the issue. His reelection de-
ponds solely upon whether he is able
to convince the voters that he was
not sitting up with a sick friend when
he should have been looking after
their interests.
Now, the Hon. Bear George is too
honest to deny that he does play po-
ker. He goes further and declares
not only that he enjoys poker tre-
mendously but that the man who has
experienced the thrill of draw
ing to a bob-tail flush and filling, has
missed something. What he does not
concede, and resents the imputation
strongly, is that either his own bust
ness or that of his constituents has
ever suffered through his liking for
this diversion.
This old timer, who is one of the
outstanding figures in northern Wy
oming and who occupies a good-sized
place in the States history through
his share in the development of the
Ten Sleep country, was in Cody on
Sunday and expressed himself as be-
ing both hurt and astonished that a
question like this should have inject
ed itself INTO his campaign for the
senate.
The nan responsible, he states, is
a comparative newcomer and one
who has been a disturbing element
among the friendly people of Washa-
kie county since his arrival. Nor has
this person, who does not play poker,
been a success in any If his undertake
ings.
Mr.. Mcclellan said of the tale
which is being assiduously circulated:
Il heard of the story but paid no
attention to 1t, as l thought after
living in Washable county for 81
years and having served one term in
the house and foul in the senate that
the people knew me well enough not
to make a denial necessary.
But l have learned recently that
the newcomers who do moi know me,
the Nebraskans and middle west peo-
pie who are settling the county, are
believing it. Frankly, l am hurt and
amazed.
Il paved the way for those who are
now attempting to libel and discredit
me.
Il opened the country to the stock
men by Kidding the range of predatory
animals-wolves, coyotes, lions and
bobcats.
81 broke broncs for $50 a month
and now own the ranch where i work
ed and about 1900 head of the finest
Hereford cattle in the state. / own
1000 acres of irrigated land in the
vicinity of Worland.
could a man who neglected his
puoihcSo vi the DuoiHcSS Vi OtutTS W
play poker accumulate this amount of
property, / ask you?
Washable county is very close to
my heart. / love it and its people. /
would not neglect it's interests n
quicker than I would my own, and that
is never. do what have to do un-
til it is finished. If there is any place
in the world l want to see prosper it
is the country in which ! have spent
the best years of my life.
For this reason and because I'M
derstand both the needs of the stock
man and the agriculturist l feel that
| am well qualified to represent them
and l cannot think that the people of
Washable county are going to turn
me down on the strength of the alb
surd and untruthi,ul story that l neg
lect their business at the capital to
play poker!"