The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-07-05

When a good listener goes out t
meet or travel with men who ar
leaders and thinkers, he picks "
some interesting jokes and is a poo
pal If he doesn't bring some of then
home with him.
On the Presidents train last weel
there was something doing all tn
time and good history and good joke
being recited, but one pair of ear
does not get them all, nor one PAL
of eyes get all the details.
| The Presidents train was mad,
up of one decorated engine and ter
coaches, the first three next to thu
engine being occupied by the rail
road men, and the others by guests
newspaper men, one car for type
writer's, one or two for local visitor
such as governors, and their staffs
congressman and the leaders in state
affairs, and last the Presidents car
Frank Gooding, for a third Of 9
century an outstanding character in
southern Idaho, and for long time
f1ercely fighting the railroads, is now
in the United States senate special
izing on the tariff and railroad rates
His onslaughts on the rail rates have
become as pronounced as we're Sen
ator Heyburn's attacks on the adul-
iteration of foods when he was work
ing on the pure food bill that had
been a joke in the senate for fifty
years until he concentrated on it and
wore out his life getting it written
into law. What he did to bad food,
Senator Gooding is trying to do to
high rates, and railroad men say he
doesn't stick to the truth. Gooding
says of the railroad men that they
lie-Gooding talks United States"
so they all understand him.
Joel Priest draws a salary from
the Oregon Short Line as Indus
trial Agent" whatever that is, and
he is industrious to the steenth de-
gree. Whenever and wherever men
assemble, there one will find Joel
Priest, and wherever he is, there
will be jokes. If you are in trouble,
Joel will condole with you in great
sincerity, and then he will cheer you
up with some sort of joke that
banishes dull care and trouble.
Wherever he moves he is suggesting,
pointing out significant things, get
ting men together, doing little SER
vices and great ones for both friends
and the other fellows.
When President Harding was in
Pocatello recently and the time was
approaching for the train to start
north, men gathered in and chatted
and visited and sat at dinner. Joel
Priest looked around for somebody
he could take to dinner and invited
Senator Gooding, Senator John Hart
Senator (Editorl Yeaman and Byrd
Trego, and seated them at a table
for four, and the following dialog
occurred:
Priest: "Sit down, fellows, sit
down and enjoy life. l am going to
be busy for few minutes but you
go ON eating and l will look after
some of these other folks
Gooding: Thank you Joe. Thank
you"
Joe: Remember, boys, this is on
me- Waiter, bring the checks to
me for these four guests
Yeaman: Thank you, Joe; you
are a generous host
In the meantime the waiter laid
QOWH ll6 Du0uuO IAdt lOOhOQ lihO
gold leaf, and each guest began look |
ing down the list of good things.
Joe: Boys, l came back to say
that you can have all you want to
eat this time, because, you know,
am paying for it and it doesn't |
matter"
Voices, laughing: That's fine, Joe.
Well take the whole list and ask the
waiter if there is wine list besides"
Joe, returning again: "Oh well, of
course, anything within reason, say
Up to sixty cents"
After burst of laughter from the
punch, Gooding said, tits kind OF
you Joe, to pay for our dinners, but
don't know of any reason why you
should take us all under your wing
his way. We are all able to pay"
Joe, confidentially: ooh l want to
10 it, you are such fine fellows.
)ut it in my expense account any
way, and get it all back from the
GoOding: THAT swells the oper-
ting expense and makes the cost of
he dinners show up in the freight
ill eh?"
voice: well, Joe, we won't try
o eat all there is in the car. We
lon't want to complicate matters
nd raise the rates"
BY this time the waiter set down
ONE head lettuce for Gooding and
'rego, and the Presidents Secre-
airy, Mr.. Christian, came along and
owing said, Senator Gooding, the
resident invites you to have lunch
nth him.
Gooding: THANK you; 1 will be
light in. Excuse me- boys; an invi-
alton from the President is equiva-
INT to a command. so I will leave
ou."
Joel, passing: $50! / lose one of
ly guests. Well, l save part of the ,
Expense bill and get milder freight
ate for all of us. Waiter, cancel
enator Gooding's order for the rest ,
it. I get off for half rate on it
ont I?''
Eleven years ago when President I
aft was in Pocatello and the train1 }
as getting out of town, Mr.. Good
lg did not fare so well. He walked :