Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1919 — Father to the Man [ARTICLE]

Father to the Man

By ARCHEY CAMERON NEW

(Copyright, 1918. by McCluie Newspaper Syndicate.) .c ./ "Bosh, you deflr little goose I” , And then, having mildlj?. rebuked herC CnHet Danbury leaned' over and tried to* gather the dainty little creature at Ms side fntwhts arms. —Hut she' wriffgled away and faced him with a .determined look in her big brown eyes. Tiii not a little goose,” she retort- • jM»utmgly. “And father Is right. YoTTre a man-nnd politics is a man’sgame, a man’s duty. You ought to pitch in—you're a Republitgim’’ '•On election day,"-he admitted, ‘‘but ordinarily a plain everyday business man. And Ini no speaker. I —I” “That’s it” she took him up quickly. “You're afraid. Carter—please—for my sake. I've told him you're sensible, a fine*'n; tt.” T“' ' - Danbury frowned. _ "’V “But.” he argued, “dearest, I can’t take orders. 1 don't like--'' He hesitated I ,rTearftil lest he might offend this daughter of Colonel Reuben Thomas, the -“big" btiss; — “I fletCt like being bossed. I don’t tike the petty artifices these —politicians resort to. Xo gel votes.” ■ "l’,t:t it’s ' necessary," she argued l<ti< k. -“There insist lie leaders.” Danbury smiled. When Dorothy Thomas looked like that she reflected every feature <>f her father's inflexible Oos* his wrinkles. Danljjtry_ sought to sodthe her, but to no avail. • Phase. C:.rt< r," she persisted, "If you love me, try it. You—might like It." “AH right,” he gate in, and again leaned 'over towards her. this time to Meet a delicious kiss full upon his lips, “lint mind now, all I’m to do is to offer my -services. I’ll not be to blame if they refuse them and— I hope they A keen-eyed ytnnigistrxsTdTTrairfticetD Girt er Danbury the following morn-ing-across his flat-topped desk and . stroked his bristling white goatee, as lie listened to the. other attentively. They were closeted alone in the inner sanctum of the campaign headquarters of "William Westlake, the People’s Choice for ITiithd - States Senator.” Then the “Oracle 11 ’ spoke. "So my (laughter persuaded you, , eh?” queried the Republican severely. “See here, toung man, you can’t take up this business as a fad. Once in love, you have to stick,” Something in the co 1o n et*s“to n e stung Danbury to the quick and he leaned over the desk angrily. _ “I'm not a faddist, Colonel Thomas, ho retorted hotly. “I've just held.jilpof_, from politics because—well, because I wanted to keep my independence, my ideals. Rut I'll stick." “Huh!” grunted the, other.. “I suppose • you realize l‘m the parly’s leader?'' . . “Yes," was Ctfrter’s smiling rejoi ndor. ‘’The papers have tofd me' that much." J “WeTT. they haven't told you alt,” shot buck the colonel. “I expect to -ha-ve-w orders“WyedflL“Phe- wkmei pushed a button and soother man entere<l“the "dfli<‘e."Burke. this is Mr. Danbury. How are you fixed for speakers tonight nt 'Hirst End hall?’’ "Only yourself and Westlake so far,” answered the’ other, respectfully. “Then put him on, too,” ordered the colonel, crisply. The'fi its the other rethe room, he turned again to Danbury. “Be there at eight. And tnind, don't get rambunctious, young •feller. Ise diplomacy. There’ll be a lot of foreigners there, and we want to handie them gently. G’by.” Carter Danbury was facing his first political audience, and yet he felt cooler thap he had expected. .He had followed the candidate, West lake, who now sat behind him. on the stage, with Colonel Thomas, wiping his perspiring brow and spiirking grandiloquently at the sea pf upturned faces And much to Carter’s surprise, as he proceeded, he vyas frequently applauded. This added to hrs courage and he now leaned over to deliver his final philippic. “"And. fellow Americans,” he orated, “this is an American age. There can be no divided allegiance. We have Come to the day when there shall be an American race, an American nation —for Americans only. We shall preserve our high ideals sacredly, and to those who are not with us in spirit, I say? we say ‘get out.’ Mr. Westlake stands for the principle ‘pass prosperity afound,’ but we, don’t propose to pass it around the world. And we don’t propose, therefore, to allow those men upon our shores who will accumulate a fortune here by the grace of our institutions and then spread it abroad. To those who visit our shores with that -end Jn view, there can be but ope .greeting,'Keep out.”’ Danbury felt several tugs at hist coat from behind and, wheeling about, took the assembled politicians by surprise. ' “You needn’t pull toy coat?' he thundered, then waved his hand towards the vast audience. “My remarks are intended for Americans, and I know there Is not an American out there who doesn’t echo that thought * And if there is one who is not American present, I say to him ‘get out? Gentlemen. I pledge our candidate to full support of true Americanism in congress.” ' / Danbury turned to resume his seat and was struck, with the angry tenor pf the crowd on the stage. Wh*t had * • _ . * ■ . • . ■* - -1 ■ .

lie said? 1 What had he Then: later, as he left tip) hall, Ills cheeflfql farewell to Colonel was unsweryd by <: swrte grunt. , _ The next he wa« still at when Dorothy'informed litin that’ her father "Had refused him admission to the house. , T, Tie hurried to campaign headqnarters and was told Colonial Th<-mns qouhln'f "see him»—Hie committee was in session. "Where was he :ts.sTghed to spt'ak that night?” he inquired, and was surprised to 1< arn he was on the blacklist. "Why?” he demanded. The clerk couldn't tell him. Then Danbury heatedly forced his way into the eommittw room, and with. blazing eyefl confronted Coionel Thomas. ■ . •’Colonel Thomas.” he began, "what is the trouble around here? What have I done?” “What have you done?” echoed "Too bkiine much. You’ve tuiiuMi me. After-that fool speech of yours I’ll be. lucky to jtet ten votes, in the Fourth district. We re spending a thousand dollars today to deny your statements.’ “.To deny your Americanism?" demanded Carter, and he now turned wrathfully towards the candidate. “Why not call a spade a spade? See here, you call yourself statesmen. I call you traitors. ¥You’re afraid to acknowledge the country who gave you ibirth, who gives you a living, t< back it up to the full, just*becausfe it might lose you votes. You’re \yellow —yellower than those poor people whose vofes you're after. They’re Americans ■—every one of them. And they're glad of it. They, or their forbears came to this country to seek liberty, to seek the right to live and enjoy our freedom. And now they’re prohd of it —they, who have been—here months —while you, who Irnve enjoyed those rights ail your lives, mid yuut people before you, haven’t courage enough to protect the country that protects you. Who’s the worse—they with their hopes, their ideals, or you who turn your backs upon the. hopes mid ideals yotir forefathers fought for and left to your keeping? Where’s your Americanism —the Americanism- of courage, of decency, of truth? And now, Colonel Thomas, you didn’t want inejtp enter this campaigp—afrahU wouldn’t stick. But I'm just beginning to see my duty —1 want to stick —I demand the right To stick. And upon the members of this committee to sustain me with --theH* v-ifltfiSrr DaD-L or.. hot ? At the end ofkthe table a tall, whitehaired old man, who stroked his bristling white goatee, rose and rapped for order. Then he bent his full gaze on Danbury. "You do,” he answered, sharply, qnd then the corners of his mouth quivered. "Gentlemen of the committee, the son again Trs-fatheb to the man. I -was the one who ptilled-his coat last night, and I rise with shame to acknowledge it. Either we’re Americans, we’re Gm! only knows what—and I prefer the former.” He turned to DanTrary: 7~YTtits back, suh, my grandfather’s father gave him his swo’d. ‘Keep this, my son,’ says he, ‘an’ nevah use it except foah two purposes, eithah t’ kill some beastly enemy, or t’ kill ypself fo’ah not doin’ it.’ An’ if I hail that swo’d now, suh, I’d feel mighty tempted t’ use it on myjself. But I’ll do th’ next best thing.” He turned again to the' committee. “Gentlemen, I move th’ committee extend a risin’ vote of invitation to ouah fi ii nd. Mr. ut’-, speak at th’ big meetin’ at th’ Academy tonight- AYhat’s youa lx pffgasuah? u Xs the members of the committee rose to their feet, en masse, the qplonel turned his back on them and motioned xo Danbury to come to him. “You’ve seen th’ vote. Carter,” he whispered, flaying his hands affectionately on the young man’s shoulder. “And you know what it means. But,” and his voice sank lower still, “come up t’ th’ house t’ dinner before you go. Dorothy—might like to haVe you.”