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Show FUN IN POLITICS. Den Butler is the most entertaining man on the stump I ever listened to. He has a quaint, jet forcible way of saying things, and what he says is just what you were not prepared for. He was stumping Massachusetts during the gubernatorial campaign ia which he was the candidate of the Peoples party, and one evening it was his fortune to address an open air meeting in the city of Lawrence. That city is noted for its tough element, an element ele-ment always present at a political gathering gather-ing for the purpose of having some fun. They thought a good deal of Ben, but they liked to have a little sport with the old man. Butler was in the midst of one of his fiery invectives against the Prohibitory party Bare-headed and with arms extended, he shouted: "Gentlemen of Lawrence, I ask you, what would these weak-kneed Prohibitionists Prohibi-tionists give us if by some strange fatality they came into power? I tell " just at that minute a paper bag filled with water struck the orator on the side of the head, and poured its flood down his 6now-white bosom, lie never flinched, but wiping the water from his face, he asrain stretched forth his hands and said: "Gentlemen, your answer is more eloquent than words. It is water ordinary water they'd give us, while our parched throats are calling for beer." They tell me that Susan B. Anthony was never "rattled" but once while addressing a meeting. It happened in this way. Susan was speaking before what was supposed sup-posed to be an audience of the "best society" in the city of Buffalo, New York, apd for half an hour had dwelt upon the great ability of women to cope with the affairs of state or nation. She was closing one of her flights of fancy somewhat in this way: "But they tell us that the polling precincts are no places for women; that they will encounter there all the rough elements of ward politics. Nonsense! Of you Task what has woman to fear by associating with true Americans; what has she to fear by being present at a place where are exercised the highest rights of American citizenship; again I ask, what has woman to fear?" "Rats!" The reply came sharp and clear from the gallery, tho house was instantly in an uproar and Susan B. gracefully retired until the storm was over. It is quite likely you remember that an attempt was made some time ago to get John L. Sullivan into shape for the congressional congres-sional nomination Irom the "Democratic Fourth" in Boston. That is "Pat" Collins' old district solid Democratic every time. Some of the brightest young Irish Americans Ameri-cans in the "Huh" were serious about his running and even went so far as to send a committee to John L. to see if he would accept ac-cept the nomination provided it were tendered ten-dered him. Sullivan was found in one of the city saloons regaling himself with gm fizz aud soda crackers. The committee entered and stated the object of the visit. The big fellow fel-low wasn't in the least bit surprised at the suggestion of such an honor. He leaned one elbow on the bar, stuck his right thumb in his vest at the armpit, and thus replied: "I thank you for de honor. I don't want it nohow. A place like that is fitted for them duffers who knows no more than to take it. Let's have a drink." The committee drank, t and John L.'s polical star has never been seen since. Ex-Governor Thayer of Nebraska is a man who likes political glory. He, therefore, never loses an opportunity to push himself to the front in order to get it. It was during' the week of gubernatorial nomination in Lincoln, Nebraska, a few years ago, that this incident occurred. All the candidates had headquarters at the Capital Cap-ital hotel, Thayer among the. rest. Just at evening the Midway band, of Kearney, Neb., marched up to the hotel, and started U ULl V.UUUI 1(1 VllUl VS. V UV.1V M- 1SI. Vlf VUV V. the candidates. Jack was a little slow in coming out, but Thayer was on deck and being anxious to impress the people with his popularity, stepped out on the veranda ver-anda and began bowing his acknowledgements acknowledge-ments of the honor intended for auother. But the bandmaster was cqubl to the emergency. emer-gency. At a given signal, the band stopped the patriotic oir and started the oia familiar "Down Went McGinty." The crowd howled in appreciation, and Thayer crawled in out of sight at. once. lie never appeared at another serenade during the week. Hall. |