The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1926-04-09
GOOD MORNING, Mr.. PRESIDENT"
By Michael Gold

By Michael Gold
He was an old Iowa farmer: he looked like many other
old Iowa farmers slow gnared hands, glasses suspenders
sharp white mOustache blue suspicious eyes, Congress
Shoes and twangy voice always complaining. He
train bound for Washington, D. c.
When do reach the capital, porer?" he asked as
ne stared for the fteth time at his silver onion watch
Iuh-morrer mawnn' at seven, Boss said the porter
Thanks" The owan shut his tight mouth tighter; but
his heart beat fast.
Seven o'clock in the mOrningl After all these years.
And at ten o'clock he would stand in line the White House.
and shake the presidents hand My ands NV stars and
snakes that enuf make Americans heart beat
My congressman has arranged it ALL the old man proud
Y conhded to another old man in the smoking I'm
agOng shake the presidents hand Yes sir and I've been
waiting for this moment for fifty years
Then he told about his father who had shaken the hand
OF President Grant and how had been the proudest memory
OF his life 1t had made him outstanding member of the
community; 1t had even gained him election
shall.
Since I've been boy of ten and heard my father tell
about President Grant vowed to git Washington and do
the he did if took everv cent had said the old
lowan i tell you, it's the proudest moment of nv life I'm
agog to step shake his hand like this and just say few
words Good morning Mr. President I've voted the straight
republican ticket for the past forty years
He'll be glad hear it, said the other old man What
tns country needs lot good republicans Reckon the
trip from Iowa costing quite penny tho amt 9"
tVanged the lowan shrly
AS matter OF fact the trip taking every cent he
had He too old work. and his farm was NOT his
S0SCu 10 the NIT his wife had died
she had dropped like overworked animal in the harness
his two sons had away from the farm because Of the
orudgery and he never heard from them He had run slave
farm on which he had been the principal slave Now he
worked OUT and DID, and penness but glory he would shake
the presidents hand! ~ ~
his would make up for everything: for the years Of
orudgery ignorance, and isolation; for the pennvoeezn
years that had killed his wife and driven away his sons and
twisted and ruined his body Yes it would paw
his is the way Yankees think They despise ROYALTY
and T ?e9 VIII European wO[shppers of King George of Eng
ey would all go hungry naked and cold to shake the rs
Je mana. Ies SIR Nothing concrete is gained; man
JUGS not become wiser, nOber richer bv the art hut
1t satShes something in the Yankee soul The Aunkev IN i
peaPS VI the romantic, the damn fool cant 6oure
Out know the way to corrupt a staunch labor leader
- ~ permit MN to shake the presidents hand The trick
WORKS equally well with the leaders of NEGROES onrasJ
farmers, rustAattened little business men and 49,
doleS Who politely agate for the abolition of child IaL
ana Such measures All of them would and do srrender b
% OF honor tor the privilege of shaking the presidents
self unable to- ~ '0u'Se'i' must confess my
ne tram reached Washington The old Iowa farmer ,. /
y ms congressman and taken to the White House line
.L lonq thousand other Yankees WAITING 70 shall
the president hand This amazed him he had JJ
ton ieo ana unique ambi-
H. After four hours and forty years Of waiting his tr -
he lame at last he was suddenly showed from behind
nc IouChed cold, cammy hand he sa1,, GvJ -. -.
SMILE and blur of frockcoat S,d5I Il 80 PeSoental
- - confused among thousand other conf,aJ v
eS II mad all taken second this consunnati &C ian
time OF sacred yearning - me
olon even get chance to tell him I'd voted +;1
uOnGan tor forty years. the old Iovan gn 3
,t Ola Yankee as they passed out on tba Ia,. 1i
TT eAReIed by the fat secret service men l''
hat Nat all there is to the story Except that OUGHT
o the OLD farmer died six months later. nob; - o
matter with him, the doctor said hut - much the
Ill ms interest in life Nothing more to live I 70 nave lost