Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 186, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 December 1922 — Page 8

8

A Hoosier Chronide By MEREDITH NICHOLSON Novel in thè Times Series of Fiction Stories by Indiana TVriters (Copyright, 1012. by Meredith Nicholson.)

Ab they gathered in thè convention hall many of thè delegates were un able to adjuat themselves to thè fa - that Bassett had not 4nly failed o electlon as delegatea from his own county, but that he was not even present as a spectator of thè conven fon. The scene was set, thè curtain 1-ad rlsen, but Hamlet carne not to thè platform before thè castle. Many men sought Harwood and inqulred in awed whispers as to Bassett’s whereubouts, but he grave evasive answers. He knew, however, that Bassett had taken an early moraing tram for Waupegan, accompanied by Fitch. tfceir purpose being to discuss in peace and quiet thè legai proceeding begun to gain control of thè Courier. The few trled and trusted Bassett men who knew exactly Bassett’s plans for thè convention listened in silence to thè hubbub occasioned by their chief’s absence; eilence was a distinguishing trait of Bassett’s lieutenants. Among thè uninitiated there were thoee who fondly belleved that Bassett was kllled, not scotched, and they said among themselves that thè party and thè State were well rid of him. Thatcher was to be reckoned wlth, but he waa no worse than Bassett; with euch cogitations they comforted themselves amid thè noise and confusion. A young woman reporter, traversing thè galleries to note thè names and gowns of thè ladies present, sought Mrs. Bassett for Information as to her husband'e whereabouts. When Mrs. Bassett hesitated dicreetly, Marian rose promptly to thè occasion: "Papa’s gone ftshing,” she replied uavely. Thla was not elow to reach thè floor. ‘‘Papa’s gone flshing,” 'gained wide currency as thè answer to thè most lnteresting question of thè day. The Hon. Isaac Pettit, seated majestlcally with thè Fraser County dele- ; gation, tested thè accoustics of thè hall at thè flrst opportunity. While thè chairman of thè State centrai ! committee was endeavoring to present I as thè temporary chairman of thè convention a patriot known as thè “War Eagle of thè Wabash,” thè gentleman from Fraser insisted upon recognition. "'Who is that preposterous fat man?” demanded Mrs. Owen, plying her paim-leaf fan vlgorously. "That’s Mr. Pettit. from our town," said Mrs. Bassett. "He's an editor and lecturer.” "He’s thè man that defeated papa 1 in our primarie?.” added Marian : cheerfully. “He's awfully funny, everybody says, and I suppose hls defeatlng papa was a Joke. He’s going to say eomething funny now.’* ✓““"He doesn’t need to.” said Sylvia. : not thè least lnterested of thè spcrtatore. ‘‘They are laughing before he , begins.”

The chairman of thè State committee felgned not to hear or see thè delegate from Fraser. but Mr. Pettit contlnued to Importune thè chair amid much laughter and coufusion. The chairman had hardened his heart, but thè voice of thè gentleman from Fraser alone above thè tumuli, and In a moment of comparative cairn be addressed thè chair unrecogtilzed and unpermitted. "I beg to cali your attention, sir. to thè presence In thè gallery of many of thè fair daughters of thè old Hoosier State. (Applause.) They hover above us like guardian angels. ’They .have come in thè splrit that brought their sisters of old to watch true knights battio in thè tourr.ey. As a mark of respect to these ladies who do un no much honor, I ask thè chair to request gentlemen to desist from smoking and that thè sergeant-at-arms be ordered to enforce thè rulc fhroughout our delibc-rations.” (Longcontlnued appiause.) The State chairman was annoyed and showed bis annoyance. He had been about to lngratiate hlmself with thè ladies by making this requt unprompted; he made lt now. hot thè gentleman from Fraser sat down consclous that thè renewed appiause was hls. "Why don’t they keep on smoking?” aslced Mrs. Owen. "The hall couldn’t be any fuller of smoke than It is now.” "If they would all put on'their coats thè room would be more beautiful.” said Marian. "They always say thè Republicans are much more gentlemen than thè Democrats.” "Huah, Marian; some one might hear you,” Mrs. Bassett cautloned. The permanent chairman now disclosed was a man of business, who thanked thè convention briefly and went to work. By thè tlme thè committe on resolutions had presented thè platform (on whlch Basnett and Harwood hai collaborated) thè convention enjoyed lts first sensation as Thatcher anpeared, movdng slowlj- down thè crowded ma'n alsle to joln thè uelegaGon of his county. Hls friends had planned a demonstration for his entrance. and In calllng lt an ovation thè newspapers hardly nmgnffled lts apspontaneity and volume. The man who had undertaken thè hercuiean task of drivlng Morton Bassett out of politica was entltled to consideratlon. and his appearance undoubtedly lnterrupted thè business of thè convention for fully Ave mlnutes. Thatcher bowed and waved hls hand as he sat down. The eordlallty of hls reception both pleased and embarrassed him He fanned hlmself with hls hat and felgned lndlffcrence to thè admiratlon of hls countryanen “Papa always gets more appiause than that," Marian remarked to Sylvia. “I was at thè state convention two years ago and father carne In late, just as Mr. Thatcher did. They always come In late aster all thè stupld speechea have been mafie; they’re aurer to etlr up a big rumpus that way." Sylvia pavé erious heed to these transactlons of history. Her knowledge of politics was largely derlvetl from lectures she had heard at college and from a dlligent reafiing of nbwspapere. The report of thè committee on resolutions —a succinct document to each of whose paragraphs thè delegatea rose in stormy approvai—had Just been read. “I don’t aee how y*** can listen to auch stuff," said a lull In thè shouting. "It'e thè plat-

form and they don’t mean a word of t. There’s Colonel Ramsay of Vurora—thè men with white hair who ias just come on thè stage. He had iinner at our house once and he’s perfectly lovely. He’s a beautiful speaker, but they don't let him speak any more because he was a gold bug —whatever that is. They say Colonel Ramsay has stopped gold-bugging now and wants to be Governor. Sylvia, all chese men that don’t want to be United States Senator want to be Governor. Isn’t it funny? I don’t see why silver money isn’t just as good as any other kind, do you?” "They told me at college,” said Sylvia, "but it’s rather complicateci. Why didn’t your father come to thè convention even if he wasn't a delegate? He could have sat in thè gallery; I suppose a lot of those men down there are not really delegates.” “Oh, that wouldn’t be papa’s w r ay of doing things. I wish he had come; just on mama’s account; she takes everything so hard. If papa ever did half thè naughty things they say he does he’d be in thè penitentiary good and tight. I should like to marry a publie man; if I trusted a man enougìt to marry him I shouldn’t be jarred a bit by what thè newspaper said oi him. I like politics; I don’t know what it’s all about, but 1 think thè men are ever so lnteresting.” “I think so too,” said Sylvia; “only I don’t understand why they make so much noise and do so little. That platform they read a little bit ago seemed splendici. I read a lot of politicai platforms once in college—they were part of thè course—and that was thè best one I ever heard. It declared for laws against child labor, and I'm Inteiested in that; and for juvenile courts and a lot of thè new enlightened things. It was all fine.” "Do you think so? It sounded just like a trombone solo to me. Mr. Harwood was on that committee. Didn’t you hear his nume read? He's one of these high brows in politics, and father's going to. push him forward so he can accomplish thè noble things that interest him. Father told me Mr. Harwood would be a delegate to thè convention. That’s thè reason 1 wanted to come. I liope he will make a speecbrftiey say he’s one >i thè best of thè younger men. I hetird him tlie opera house ..t Fraserville in thè last campaign and hé kept me awake, I can teli you. And funny! You wouldn't think ho could be funny.” "Oh. I can see that he has humor — thè lines around his mouth show that.”

Thev had discussed thè convention and its possibilities at Mrs. Owen’s breakfast table and with thè mqrnlng iiewspapers as their texts. Sylvia had gained thè impression that Bassett hacl met a serious defeat in thè choìce uf delegates. and she had been con•cious that Mrs. Bassett was distressed by thè newspaper accounts of it. Marian bubbled on elucidatlvely, answertng all of Sylvia’s quostions. • Don’t you think that because papa in’t bere he won’t be heard from; I think I know papa bettor than that. He didn't think this convention would imount *o pnouph for him to trouble with it. I told Aunt Sally not to talk much before mother about papa and politics; you will notice that Aunt Sally turned thè subject severa! times hls ntorn'ng. That. lawsult Mr. Thatcher brought against papa and Aunt Sally ma le her pretty liot, but papa will fìx that up all rlght. Papa always fixes up everything,” she lonciuded admiringly. It was in Syivia’s mtnd that she was wltnessing a scene of thè national drama and that these men beneath her in thè noisy hall were engaged upon rnatters more or less remotely related to thè business of self govemment. Her gravity amused Mrs. Owen. “Don’t you worry. Sylvia; they are all kind to their families and most of ’etn earn an honest living. I've attcnded lots of conventions of al! parties and all about alike; there are more standing collare in a Republican convention and more whissers when thè prohlbitionists get together, but they’re all mostly cornled and human. A few fellows witn brains In their lieads run all thè rest.” “Look, Marian. Mr. Harwood seems to be gettlng ready to do somethlng,” said Sylvia. "I wonder what that raper is he has in his hand. He's been holding it all moming.” Harwood sat immediately under them. Several times men had passed notes to him, whereupon he had risen and searched out thè wrlter to •rive his answer with a nod or shake of thè head. In thè middle of thè hall a delegate now drew attention to hlmself by rising upon a chair; he held a piece of paper in his hand and waved it; and thè chairman promptly took cognizance of him. The chairman referrerk to him as thè gentleman from Pulaskif but he might have been thè gentleman from Vallombrosa for all that any one cared. The convention was annoyed that a gentleman from Pulaski County should have dared to flou risii manuscript when there were innumerablo orators present fully prepared to speak extempore on any subject. For all that any one knew, thè gentleman from Pulaskl might be prlrned wtth a speech on thè chinch bug or thè Jewish kritarchy; a man with* a sheet of paper in his hand was a formidable person, if not indeed a foe of manklnd f and he was certainly not to be countenanced or encouraged lo a hot hall on a day of June. Yet all et her human beings save thè gentleman from Pulaski were as nothing. it reemed, to thè chairman. Thf Tali, est Delegate, around whose leali fortn a frock hung like a fold of night, and who flung back from a white bro-.v an immense quantity of hair, sought to relieve thè convention of thè eight and sound of person from Pulaski. The Tallcst Delegate was calieri smartly to order; he rebelled, but when threatened with thè ser-geant-at-arms subsided amid jeers. The gentleman from Pulaski was indulged to thè fullest extent by thè chairman, to whom it had occurred suddenly that thè aisles. must be cleared. The aisles were cleared and delegates were obllged to flnd their seats before thè unknown gentleman fromgPulaski was allowed to proceed. Ever®*be War Eagle had recelvedgoo

DOINGS OF THE DUFFS—

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THEM DAYS IS GONE FOREVER—

YOO KIDS CAjO’T SK/VTE ATT A.LL- OF COORSe I’M OUT OF TOACTICB* I’LL BET YOU U)AS THE CAT’S THEM EtAff ìS V AHeM.-JOST VOUR GY& AfviD MY SKAT£S ARO DUU, MEOU) IM — f

ToS E PUNtf* 1 M rfIAMD WHIPSoCKET-i | Q)M DreoF*s f/~ / Xìi , (./l J !/ j WERE I- TO SOME T/ME DDfc/NG* THE THE TWO AM PS £££%? WHO HAVE BEEN THE T O WAI /M TO DjcßT DOfé THER. WAY OUT OF THE OAIL. WITH A PUTTY KNIFE

such consideration. The gentleman frorn Pulaski calmly waited for a completar sllence than thè day liad known. Ten men In thè hall kaew what was coming—not more; Miss Rose Farrell had typed ten copies of thè memorandum which Harwood held In his hamll The gentleman from Pulaski did not aster all referto his manuscript; he spoke In a high, penetrt.tlng voice that reaohed thè fartheat corner of

OUT OUR WAY-By WILLIAMS

THE OLD HOME TOWN—By STANLEY

thè hall, reclting from memory: “Be it resolved by thls convention that, whereas two years henco lt wiìl be thè privllege and duty of thè Indiana Democracy to elect a United States Senator to All thè seat now occupied by a Republlcan, we, thè delegates bere assembled, do hereby pledge thè party’ support for thè office of Senatori Congress to thè Hon. Edward Thatcoerof Marion County.”

THE IKDIANAPOLIS TIMES

There was a moment’s awed cairn before thè storni broke; Thatcher ì-ose in his seat to look at thè strange gentleman from Pulaski who had thus flung his name into thè arena. Thatcher men rose and clamored blindly for recognltion, without thè faintest idea of -what they should do if haply thè co.d eye of thè chairman fell upon The gallerie joined in thè uprchr; thè band*began to play "On thè

Olivia Is in thè Dark, Too ■

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Liberate Tliis On Yonr Lute

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Banks of thè Wabash.” and was with diffìculty stopped; a few voices cried “Bassett,” but cries of “Thatcher” rose in a rnighty roar and drowned them. The chairman hammered monotonously for order; Mr. Daniel Harwood might have been seen to thrust his memorandum into his t.rousers pocket; he bent forward in his seat with his eye upon tbe chairman. The Hon. Isaac Pett.it had been for a mo-

FRECKLES AXD HIS FRIENDS—By BLOSSER

OUB BOAKDING HOUSE—By AHERN

ment nonplussed; he was unacquainted with thè gentleman from Pulaski, nor had he known that an effort was to be made to commit thè convention to Thatcher’s candidacy; stili thè ione of thè resolution was friendly. Thatcher, rising to his feet, was noisily cheered; his face was red and his manner betokened anger; but a#er glauchi g helplessly over thè hall he sank into his seat. The chairman thumped

DEC. 14, 1922

—By ALLMAN

—By AL POSEN

with his gavel; it seemed for a moment that he had "lost control of thè convention, and now thè Hon. - ' Isaac Peltit was observed deinanding to be heaid. The chairman lifted his hand and thè noise died away. It lay in'his power to ignore thè resolution wholiy or torule it out of order; thè chairman was apparently in no baste do anything. (To Be ronfinoli#