The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-07-24
Working Hard With Richie
BY FREDERICK l. COLLINS
From series With The Governors in the Woman's
Home Companion published by permission).
BY FREDERICK L. COLLINS


ly, "but you have nothing on me. I'm
having stupid time, too"
AS a matter of fact, we were both
having a splendid time; the Cover
nor because he was working and l
because I was loafing. I had settled
gratefully into the lowest of the
leather-covered armchairs-I have
never given up hope of finding a real
ly comfortable one with a broken
spring! And was looking lazily out
over the low roofs of the old colonial
town, past the golden dome of the
Naval Academy, to the sunny blue
waters of Chesapeake Bay. All about
was history. The Capitol building in
which we sat was the sacred place in
which General George Washington
gave up his commission as Com
mander-in-C Chief of the Revolutionary
armies. The Senate Chamber on the
floor below remained as Washington
had left it: and the view from the
Capitol windows retained many of its
ancient aspects. For the great mad
world, in its rush from Baltimore to
Washington, has left the little town
of Annapolis unrailroaded and un-
touched. K; 49,,
All this was in colorful contrast to
the brisk, busy room in which l now
sat, and to the brisk, busy man who
dominated it. He was tall, straight,
vigorously impressive; a gray-haired
john Barrymore with eyeglasses; or
rather John Barrymore as he might
have looked if he had gone in for
real estate or automobiles instead of
Shakespeare. He moved quickly and
spoke brightly, as if he were in the
advertising business. A little too
handsome, little too slim-waisted-
and much too busy. But in spite of
all these things I liked him.
Richie had been clearing his desk
for gubernatorial action. And now,
l caught him in the ultra-modern act
Of pressing button.
"The legislature adjourned last
night" the Governor said by way of
explanation. Il have four hundred
odd bills before me which must be
signed or vetoed between now and
Monday"
"And you wish l were in South
Bend or kalamazoo"
Not at all-if you don't mind
having a stupid time. l just wished
to explain that l had been dividing
these bills by counties and depart
ments- and expect to spend the day
and most of the night listening to
reports"
"All right" I answered, "I'm ready
to hear the first report"
Good for you'll" exclaimed Richie.
And then to his secretary, who had
answered the bell: "Plese tell Judge
So-and-So that l am ready to see
him."
The Judge, a thoroughly ikable
youngish man, brought in a bunch Of
bills that included everything from
soldiers relief to licensing dogs. The
Governor began with the soldiers.
twenty-five thousand dollars for
taking care of wounded veterans!
There" he said, turning to me, sis
something a Governor is frequently
up against. I can't veto this bill. l
can't refuse to spend the peoples
money to help disabled soldiers. But
what good will twenty-five thousand
dollars do?
"And here's a bill for exetrminat-
ing mosquitoes. The State hasn't any
machinery for that work, nor any
money. I'm not sure that it has any
right. And yet, when I veto such
measure, go on record as an enemy
of the health Of the community.
But" said the Governor, cheerful
ly, things might be worse. This
same chap also wants US to license
dogs. Maybe, if we can't give him his
mosquitoes, we can let him have his
dogs. And anyhow, we're lot better
off than if he'd asked US to eXtermi-
nate dogs and license mosquitoes"
The Governors smile changes him
utterly. Without it, he is a hand
some man; but his assortment of
features is so conventionally perfect
that he is in danger of approaching
the Gibson man, healthily bronzed,
and grayed little by late hours and
hard work. With the smile, he is
just as good looking-and lot more
human. The heavy, dark eyebrows
jazz about merrily; the Grecian nose
unbends; and the pinch goes out of
the pince-nez! l wished that he
would keep right on smiling.
But
The telephone rang. eyes, this is
Richie talking. Oh, yes. But don't
bring a gang with you. I'd rather
you'd come by yourself and tell me
about it. l want to understand the
hill-ta1ly ahout II across tho tabIa-