Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1912 — KENTUCKY POET [ARTICLE]

KENTUCKY POET

Pays Tribute to the Strenuous Colonel and His Hat. Washington, D. C., March 13. Senator-elect Ollie James of Kentucky today received from Rev. C. C. Carroll of Owensboro, Ky., the subjoined, entitled: MY HAT. Hey, PARD, put her thar, And put her hard; This hat? well, yes, ’ This old hat will do Iguess, Good old servicable tile, Is it going out of style? Well, friend, I guess I’ll wear This old lid until the end, Many a day on the old rancho I’ve slaped this hat 4 And my good poncho Across the eyes of a bucking bronfcho. In old New York and on the plain It shelters me from sun and rain; In San Antonio, at San Juan, This same old head gear I had on. No matter wherg I went, by cracky, Dressed in broadcloth or in khaki, Cheered by soldier or by jacky, Without this bld hat I’ve never gone. In the White House it passed muster, 1 wore it as a past trust buster, I wore it when the Russ and Japs Were holding theirs’ tight in their laps; On the ocean, in the jungle, I have never made a bungle; I met the. lions teeth to teeth With the brim turned back from beneath; I kept it on when I took my leave In Egypt from the fezzed Khedive. With the,, French President’s chapeau Was this old hat content to go. I let the King in London town And Bill, the Kaisei;, wear a crown, But I just pulled this old hat down Across my brow a little lower, And was just Colonel Theodore; Just THEOdore, from Heaven hurled As the gift of God unto the world. Nay, Bard —think of the disgrace That Billy Taft would have the face To want to stay in my place. If any said I’d never try’er For the Third Term, he’s a liar.. And by Jim That’s him. It hurts me, Pard, that Wm. Howard Should take advantage, like a coward, Of my absence, with my machine To keep my office —Pard, that’s

mean; And gol ding; When I thought of that blame thing I chucked this old hat in the ring. And by creation, The Colonel’s after the nomination, I’m the man to ride old Jumbo, I’m the righteous razzle dazzle, I’ve got ’em licke’o now to a frazzle. Lyman Abbott’s a little tame. I had to get back in the game. A man is needed in the saddle, And Bill’s too fat to ride astraddle; It’s only principle, you see, Bor me to ride the G. O. P.’