Gov. Stubbs Visits Howard & Moline (1910)

[genealogynut]

Kansas City Star
June 16, 1910

(This article was contributed by our forum member, Jody)

STUBBS WALKED FIVE MILES

A Motorcar Breakdown Didn't Keep Him From Howard, Kas

The Christmas Farmhouse Supplied A Team Of Mules and The Big Crowd Waiting at the Courthouse Wasn't Disappointed


Howard, Kas, June 15-------Had it not been that Govenor Stubbs is much the same kind of walker and has the same amount of tireless energy and determination that President Roosevelt posseses, the people of Howard and the farmers hereabouts would have been deprived of hearing him speak this afternoon.  As it was the governor walked five miles under the hot noonday sun along a dusty road and then rode behind a mule team for six miles more, arriving in Howard about an hour late, but found the courtroom crowded to the doors.  This display of unexpected energy was caused by the breaking down of a motor car eleven miles east of Howard.

The governor, accompanied by  R. J. Hopkins, candidate for lieutenant govenor, and a reporter for The Star, left Neodesha shortly before 9 o'clock this morning in P. S. Young's motor car.  It was their intention to drive forty miles to Howard.  Everything went beautifully for the first twenty-nine miles.  The morning air was fresh and delicious.  The govenor was in constant admiration of the beautiful scenery of Wilson County.  The rural telephone had been working, however, and the farmers knew of the governor's coming.  As the motor car sped by, cornfields where men were at work there was a raising of straw hats and "Hurrah for Stubbs."  Others who happened to be near the fence stepped through and flagged the car, insisting upon shaking the govenor's hand.

STRUCK A HIDDEN STUMP

At just about noon there was a sudden bump; some part of the mechanism beneath the car had struck a stump concealed by weeds.  Mr. Young made an examination and found several hours would be required to make repairs.

"Then, I'll walk.  It's noon now, but I may be able to make the eleven miles in time to talk to them a little while," said the govenor.

"I'm with you, governor," said Mr. Hopkins as he trudged on behind.

For five miles they kicked up the dust.  At every step the sun seemed to get hotter and hotter.  Suddenly Govenor Stubbs who was setting the pace, saw a farmhouse ahead.  Everything about the place indicated prosperity and success.  They walked across the long yard and the governor knocked at the front door.  Two women of pleasing appearances appeared.

"My name is Stubbs," he said. "Our motor car has broken down east of here and I would like to see if we can get some conveyance to take us to Howard."

"Not Governor Stubbs!" exclaimed the elder of the two women.

"Yes," was the answer.

"You certainly can," said the elderly woman.  "But have you had any dinner?"

The governor and Mr. Hopkins acknowledged that they had not eaten since early morning.  The governor asked permission to wash his hands.  At the same moment he saw through the door in the kitchen, a tin wash basin and the customary roller towel.

"This will do," he said as he stepped into as spotless a kitchen as one ever saw.  Within a few minutes the govenor and Mr. Hopkins were seated in front of fried chicken, new peas, home grown, eggs just from the nest, and such strawberries as a person rarely finds in the city.

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

"Our names are Christmas," said one of the women.  Our men folks have all gone to Howard to hear you speak.  We think it's a pretty good joke that we have seen the governor first."

"Then you are the merriest and the best Christmas I ever saw," answered the governor.

In the meantime Clarence Christmas, a son, who was plowing corn, was sent for.  He unhooked his mules from the plow and hitched them to a buggy, changed his clothes, and they were off.  There were times when Clarence did not urge the mules fast enough to suit the governor.   In life Govenor Stubbs started his career as a railroad contractor with one team of mules.  His experience stood him in good stead today.

When the animals lagged the govenor took the reins and gave a peculiar kind of whoop that sent them forward like jack rabbits with their ears laid back.  When the governor arrived at the Elk County courthouse he found the spacious courtroom completely filled with men and women.  If his walk and drive had in any way fatigued him he did not show it.  He told his hearers of the difficulties that had to be overcome to get there and how glad he was that a pair of mules had made it possible for him to talk to the people of Elk County.  Nearly everyone who attended the meeting expressed surprise at the large number of farmers who were there.  Their teams occupied nearly all the hitching space around the courthouse square and the town livery stables were overcrowded. The cause of the surprise of the large farmer attendance, was not that the farmers are not generally for Stubbs, but because right now is supposed to be their very busiest time.  Those who have wheat are preparing for harvest within a day or two, and those who have corn are supposed to be in the field making up for lost time caused by wet weather.

Moline, Kas.,     June 15-------Govenor Stubbs spoke here tonight to a large crowd.  Two years ago Ellk County gave Govenor  a majority of three hundred over Mr. Leland at the primary election.  It is hard to find anyone, even if he is for Wagstaff, who will not admit that Govenor Stubbs will materially increase his majority of two years ago next August.  Those who have studied the conditions say that the Wagstaff warcry of "revison of taxes downward" has fallen flat and that the good the governor has accomplished in his eighteen months in office is all that is being discussed.  The govenor's speeches in Howard and here at Moline tonight have done him much good.  In the street discussion after the meetings there was consensus of opinion that the governor's attitude of in no way attempting to defend his administration had been beneficial.  The people seem to like it when he says:

"In my first term I have done the best that I know how and if it hasn't suited you, fire me and get someone else on the job."

State Senoator John Denton from this district  met Govenor Stubbs at Howard and accompanied him to Moline.  The senator is enthusiastically for Stubbs, saying that he will swell his three hundred majority in Elk County of two years ago to five hundred.  The governor and his party were driven from Howard to Moline in motor cars, the one in which the govenor rode driven by Charles Plowman, making the ten miles in less than thirty minutes.

Added Note:   The 2 Crismas ladies that were at home (Melissa Jane Crismas, who was Clarence's mother, and Mabel Crismas, his sister)  Clarence was 21 years of age at the time.