The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-01-10

like lantern swinging on a dark
night, like the eerie, nightmare
sound of the first coyote GILL you
ever heard on a lonely ride home,
with the moon half hidden under
the moving clouds.
l was sitting in the Press club
on recent Sunday evening. There
were couple of correspondents
there but the place was almost de-
serted. A heavy set fellow carrying
walkingstick came in.
or course we began heckling him
a little. But he's equal to II. Leon
Henderson Is one of the New Deal
ers who has managed to hold his
ground, winning hate from some, re-
spect from others who disagree with
him all down the line. III never
forget one occasion in which he fg-
ured. ! can't mention the names of
the men present but they were all
legitimate contenders for nominal
ton OF the presidency Of the United
States. And Henderson offered a 10
to l bet that none of them would be
candidates. One, only, got furious
and when 1t was his turn to speak,
launched into one Of his famous in
vectives against Henderson and all
his works. II was a good show but
Henderson proved right In the end.
He won the bet.
TALK ABOUT CRANKs
Well, what we said to Henderson
that Sunday night and what he said
In reply wasn't particularly impor-
tant until we got to talking about
the cranks trying to see govern
ment officials with plans for saving
the world.
\ Then somebody said 10 Handler
son: Have you met the man who
Ia communicating with Marsf"
Before he could answer, one of
the cynical listeners who insisted
that the administration was trying
to get US into war, piped up:
II thought you folks were already
In communication with Mars"
mo-" Henderson answered, quick
as whistle, I'VE aren't trying to
communicate with the god of war,
we are trying to keep away from
him."
Mr.. Henderson left. Representa-
tive Tinkham Of Massachusetts
came in. We greeted him. He said
he'd been away.
Naturally the talk turned to
boards. For Representative Tink-
ham has a famous beard. A fine
Wavy hirsute decoration that makes
him look as friendly as some of the
kindly animals you've seen with SIM
ilar appendages. Boards are no
longer the style. I often regret il
and have always believed that
their absence was due to one of two
things: moral cowardice on the part
OF those who fear to be different or,
as In my own case, an inability to
raise a crop of whiskers that would
look like anything but a wheatfield
in the dust bowl
TINKHAM WELL KNOWN
But Representative Tinkham is
more than beard. He is q Wash
ington institution. When the gov
eminent purchased a well-known
apartment house in the capital, in
which he has had his bachelor quar-
tiers for years, and turned the build
ing into one OF the alphabetical agen-
cies, Mr.. Tinkham stood on his
legal rights and refused TO move
out.
There he remained among his tro-
phies-heads of wild water-buffalo
which he had outfaced in the junples
lions that he had not only out
bearded but beaded; tigers, eIe-
plants, tusks and all-and of course.
his own much-photographed beard.
However, it is not merely the fact
that Representative Tinkham has
faced beasts in the jungle that has
made him famous. He has faced
opposition for his seat in congress
since 1918 and has never been de-
feated. And he does II without max
ing a speech. Perhaps he is sue
cessful because he has never made
a speech. Like the growing of a
beard, that method Is different.
And Representative Tinkham has
another distinction. He is a MEM
Der OF the opposition, II not the '1oy-
al opposition" an opposition which
ne considers Is based on loyalty
loyalty to his state and his nation.
1T may be too late to keep US out
OF war;" he said, but am going
to fight TO do it,"
And with that he turned on his
heel and with his whiskers waving
like the defiant plume on the hat az
Cyrano de Bergerac, he staIked out
OF our presence, the tails of the
strange, half-length pea-jacket he
wears for an overcoat, tapping IN
the breeze.