The Washington times., 1933-03-30

possible vote they went to ex-
tremeS which in retrospect
must seem very amusing to
them both.
I know that one day while
driving the Red Peril" up a
country road. Dick Connell
stopped Unexpectedly in front
of q schoolhouse, got. out of
the car and backoned Franklin
to follow him inside.
Addressed Pupils
Once indoors Mr.. Connell re-
moved his hat with a great
flourish and addressing himself
to the teacher began: Madam,
1 am running for Congress in
this district and I should like
the privilege of addressing your
pupils for a few minutes. I
promise will not discuss poll
tics but will only speak of
patriotism and the American
flag" The speech was given q
most courteous reception, al
legiance was pledged to the
flag, and Richard Connell beat
a dignified retreat with Frank
lin at his heels completely be-
wildered over what he felt was
a battling waste of superb ora
tory. will you tell me-" he
asked Mr.. -Connell. "why you
spent 10 minutes talking to a
collection of youngsters who
haven't even a vote?" Gladly"
Richard Connell accommodated,
IT started running for Con-
gress ten years ago and have
been running unSuccesstully
ever since. But I calculate that
during the last ten years and
those I expect I shall have to
put in in the future, I will
have spoken to enough children
in this district to give me a
majority when they grow up
and eventually to elect me to
office" Franklin, sorely as they
needed the time, could find no
quarrel with Mr.. Connell'S logic,
and it was a good thing that
he did not indulge in too much
Raging on the subject, for not
many days later he was to in
volve them in an excursion that
took much longer and did them
less good.
Armed With Cigars
They set out early one after
noon, armed with a fresh sup
ply of cigars, to bring the votes
of a doubtful section into line.
They stopped at each farm
house urging everyone in sight
to vote for them if they were
interested in good government
and fair representation. They
shook hands all around, patted
the babies, admired the land
scape and departed, thoroughly
satified that if promises counted
for anything, the section was
theirs So it might have been
if they hadn't missed the road
earlier in the day and done
their campaigning in the wrong
State:, but as it turned out
these two New York nominees
had spent the better part OF
four hours exhorting the citi-
zens of Connecticut to rally
around them at the polls.
Fortunately, as it turned out,
neither the addition nor the
loss of these votes would have
swung the balance of power for
much to every ones surprise,
Franklin was elected by a ma
iority of LAO. although ordl'
narily the Democratic candl-
date trailed behind by at least
$500.
When the news of F'ranklin's
victory was brought to Big
Tim" Sullivan at his Tammany
headquarters. he quite naturally
made immediate inquiry into
the history of the "phenomeon
who had unexpectedly carried
his district for Democracy.
A Distant Relative
All that he was able to dis
cover apparently was that
Franklin was distant rela-
tive of Theodore Roosevelt, a
piece of news which must have
struck terror to his heart for
he turned to his henchmen
and made a comment which
thereafter one heard quoted for
years to come. "You know
these Roosevelts." he remarked
facetiously. "this fellow is still
young. Wouldn't it be safer
to drown him before he grows
up? If you don't. he'll cause
trouble sure as shootin' before
he's much older"
It almost looked as if his
prophecy had come to pass
when only a little while after
Franklin had been seated the
question as to who was to sue
ceed Chauncey M. Depew
came up before the legislature.
Boss" Murphy, in spite of
the storm of protest that was
gathering. insisted upon sub
mitting the name of Sheehan.
Franklin was one of the op-
posing Senators who refused to
stop thinking and do as he was
told. On the contrary he set