Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-01-06
Historic Slips of the Tongues
Breaks of Montana Celebrities

stood two years ago. until it became q
by-word. Today you still hear it repeat
ed in mockery and jest.
"Where Leave Themselves"
Before prohibition, some spirit Of re-
form or civic righteousness prompted the
closing Of Butte saloons at midnight
The matter was before the council fol
action and the chamber was packed
Charlie Smith, proprietor of one of the
largest saloons in Butte, the Board OF
Trade, was chosen as spokesman for the
saloon men who were fighting the move
Smith had a high standing for honesty
and general good citizenship. Later in G
fit of dependency he committed suicide
Charles command of the English Ian
guage had never been any too good anc
in the excitement he handled 1T rathe
roughly as follows:
Mister Mayor ask you? We're is dt
poor man going to go on a colt inter
night? l ask you? We're is he going t.
go NIT his nickle? Huh? | ask YOU
Huh? He is goin' we're it is warm. Yes
We're he gets a pig schooner ov beer unc
a pig free lunch. Yes. You close de
saloon and he car go to hell and freeze
Yes.
We're goes de miner ven he comes of
shift at 4:30, at night in de morning.
We're is der streed cars at 40 below zero
l ask you? Huh? We're is der streed cars
Der amt any streed carsl He come by
my saloon und wait und get warm. Mis-
ter Mayor If you close de saloon, I ask
you, we're are de miners coming off shift
going to leave demselves?" In spite Of
the fervid plea the ordinance passed anc
saloons closed at midnight until they
were closed permanently by prohibition
Charlie died but his speech outlived him
and is still quoted.
mo Man At All"
AT n time warning mining factions
had secured injunctions closing many
Butte mines and there was an under.
ground warfare which had caused trag-
edies. Men were out of work. Discon-
tent was general. A mass meeting was
called, with Ed Long, president Of the
Miners union presiding, on the court
house steps. A vast throng filled Granite
street. Long was a pretty good i'm
promptu speaker but he was excited.
Some people have protested at my
presiding at this meeting" he said. but
l am going to preside Just the same. The
miners of this lamp are the ones most
deeply concerned. / am accused of being
everything undesirable. Some people say
| am an Amalgamated man, others are
spreading the report that / am a Heinzt
man, or a Clark man. AS a matter OF
TACT i am no man at ALL" The slip II
which he evidently meant to say that ht
was mo mans man, at ALL" released thu
tension. The CROWD laughed uproariously
and good humor prevailed. Every one
enjoyed the joke but Ed. The blundel
really saved the day. When people laugh
they do not fight. Speakers from various
sides appeared and from the meeting was
developed an entering wedge which ulti.
mately led to a satisfactory truce anc
armistice in the troubled condition.
1.-THE Wild Charged"
Every year, pretty regularly the late
John Mcguire, manager Of the Mcguire
theater In Butte, got into financial diff.
cultles. Jim Murray was holding the
sack and 1T relieved the pressure to give
him q benefit" 1t was no trouble &c
raise $4,000 or $4,000 with local talent
and visiting artists at $3.50 a seat. The
house was always packed. Friends would
buy S25 or $50 worth Of tickets Just tc
help John out. Invariably John was or
the bill to recite his favorite, "Tht
Charge of the Light Brigade" John had
been slipping out pretty regularly tina
night to DAILY Brothers saloon and wher
his turn came he was, in vulgar par
lance. pretty well organized. But ht
started off bravely and was going or
high when he forgot his lines.
Wnen snail their glory q
Oh, the wild charge they made
Desperately he tried tt think Of the
next line. then repeated
"Ohl observation-disclosures
You could hear a pin drop. The pause
was awkward and painful. Then out OF
the gallery in piercing and clear tone
a little Irishman with the brogue Of
Armagh, piped:
Il should say it was a wild charged A
dollar and a half to hear an ould foo
like you" Pandemonium followed. Ma
guire never recited that poem again
Years after from the audience in a Lo:
Angeles theater I saw Mcguire sitting ii
a box in evening dress. Frank Foley, the
inimitable Irish comedian, told the story
and brought down the house and Ma
guire seemed to enjoy 1t hugely.
"Me, Paul Davis"
Paul Davis, wealthy and eccentric, OPP
Grated a saloon, dance hall, theater anc
hurdy-gurdy house on Main street IL
Butte 40 years ago, a few doors from
where the First National bank nov
stands. In all arguments he would ex.
citedly exclaim. Vat? Me, Paul Davis?'
until the boys began repeating 1t. On
day Paul had an argument With a fellow
business man who finally losing contro
OF himself gave Paul a "cussing out,