daddy weren't."
}Luther almost pointed out that the reverend was only a few hundred yards away, but Tulsa May interrupted.
}"I enjoy political speeches, Mr. Bowman," she said.
}Luther wasn't sure if she'd misunderstood the older man's implication or was just too much of a lady to notice.
}"As a reporter for the Populist," she continued, "it's important that I take an interest in everything that makes news."
}Bowman appeared ready to give his opinion of young ladies who work for newspapers when, fortunately, young Fasel called out.
}"Looky, here comes our 'Voice in Washington.' So drunk, as usual, that he can hardly stand."
}Congressman Elias Curley had the long, lanky body of an Abraham Lincoln. Unfortunately, he also had the vices of Ulysses S. Grant. By the time his turn came at the podium, the congressman was somewhat unsteady on his feet and his nose could have been used as a beacon on a foggy night. Although there was some laughter and shaking of heads, the community forgave him because he said the things they wanted to hear.
}Curley cleared his throat loudly and raised his hands high over his head to capture the audience's attention. "We," he hollered out to the crowd, "in this great forty-sixth state of the United States, are a peace-loving people."
}There was a momentary pause as he cast his gaze across the crowd. Nodding heads were seen throughout the crowd and murmurs of approval could be heard everywhere.
}"There are those who would cry out for the blood of this country!" Again he hesitated, letting his words soak in. "Those who endeavor to steal our boys from their seats in the schoolroom and their places behind the plow." He paced unsteadily from one side of the podium to the other. "There are those who would send our boys to far-off places. Places we've never heard of," he yelled. "Places we can't even pronounce," he added more quietly.
}"The continent of Europe, my friends, is half a world away," Congressman Curley continued. "And the folks living there are a people of many languages and of many minds. If they have divided up in two camps and propose to destroy each other, what business is it of ours?"
}"Amen." Reverend Bruder's voice was heard plainly near the front of the crowd.
}"Whether the future of the Old World is ruled by the Kaiser and the Central Powers, or by England, France, and the Allies, will not amount to a hill of beans come harvesttime in Oklahoma!"
}The roar of the crowd was partly for his words and partly for the wild gesturing of his arms that nearly knocked him off balance.
}"I follow the lead of President Wilson," Curley declared. "I want an America of peace, an America of neutrality." The congressman paused to sigh with great drama. "That's what I want for America and that's what I want for Oklahoma. And now, my friends, if what you want is what I want, then I know come November you'll be marking your X in the box for me."
}The crowd roared its approval and Congressman Curley hurried to the side of the speaking platform where he sat down, apparently not a minute too soon.
}"I don't care how bad a drunk that man is," Carlisle Bowman declared. "He is just plain right and I'm voting for him again."
}"I sure ain't interested in fighting no war in Europe," Roscoe Nunley agreed.
}"But the war is coming," Tulsa May said. "We can't stay out of it much longer, it's coming right to our door."
}"That's nonsense, girl," Bowman assured them.
}"It's the truth," Tulsa May insisted. "I don't work on a paper without knowing what is going on. That sneaky submarine-boat strategy is killing as many Americans as it is Europeans."
}"Wilson said not to sail on European boats," Bowman protested.
}Tulsa May shook her head. "The submarine commanders can't even tell whose ship they're blowing up. They're hitting everything in the water."
}Luther nodded gravely. "What she's saying is true. When they fire off those torpedoes, they don't know if they're aiming at friend or foe, navy or
}Luther almost pointed out that the reverend was only a few hundred yards away, but Tulsa May interrupted.
}"I enjoy political speeches, Mr. Bowman," she said.
}Luther wasn't sure if she'd misunderstood the older man's implication or was just too much of a lady to notice.
}"As a reporter for the Populist," she continued, "it's important that I take an interest in everything that makes news."
}Bowman appeared ready to give his opinion of young ladies who work for newspapers when, fortunately, young Fasel called out.
}"Looky, here comes our 'Voice in Washington.' So drunk, as usual, that he can hardly stand."
}Congressman Elias Curley had the long, lanky body of an Abraham Lincoln. Unfortunately, he also had the vices of Ulysses S. Grant. By the time his turn came at the podium, the congressman was somewhat unsteady on his feet and his nose could have been used as a beacon on a foggy night. Although there was some laughter and shaking of heads, the community forgave him because he said the things they wanted to hear.
}Curley cleared his throat loudly and raised his hands high over his head to capture the audience's attention. "We," he hollered out to the crowd, "in this great forty-sixth state of the United States, are a peace-loving people."
}There was a momentary pause as he cast his gaze across the crowd. Nodding heads were seen throughout the crowd and murmurs of approval could be heard everywhere.
}"There are those who would cry out for the blood of this country!" Again he hesitated, letting his words soak in. "Those who endeavor to steal our boys from their seats in the schoolroom and their places behind the plow." He paced unsteadily from one side of the podium to the other. "There are those who would send our boys to far-off places. Places we've never heard of," he yelled. "Places we can't even pronounce," he added more quietly.
}"The continent of Europe, my friends, is half a world away," Congressman Curley continued. "And the folks living there are a people of many languages and of many minds. If they have divided up in two camps and propose to destroy each other, what business is it of ours?"
}"Amen." Reverend Bruder's voice was heard plainly near the front of the crowd.
}"Whether the future of the Old World is ruled by the Kaiser and the Central Powers, or by England, France, and the Allies, will not amount to a hill of beans come harvesttime in Oklahoma!"
}The roar of the crowd was partly for his words and partly for the wild gesturing of his arms that nearly knocked him off balance.
}"I follow the lead of President Wilson," Curley declared. "I want an America of peace, an America of neutrality." The congressman paused to sigh with great drama. "That's what I want for America and that's what I want for Oklahoma. And now, my friends, if what you want is what I want, then I know come November you'll be marking your X in the box for me."
}The crowd roared its approval and Congressman Curley hurried to the side of the speaking platform where he sat down, apparently not a minute too soon.
}"I don't care how bad a drunk that man is," Carlisle Bowman declared. "He is just plain right and I'm voting for him again."
}"I sure ain't interested in fighting no war in Europe," Roscoe Nunley agreed.
}"But the war is coming," Tulsa May said. "We can't stay out of it much longer, it's coming right to our door."
}"That's nonsense, girl," Bowman assured them.
}"It's the truth," Tulsa May insisted. "I don't work on a paper without knowing what is going on. That sneaky submarine-boat strategy is killing as many Americans as it is Europeans."
}"Wilson said not to sail on European boats," Bowman protested.
}Tulsa May shook her head. "The submarine commanders can't even tell whose ship they're blowing up. They're hitting everything in the water."
}Luther nodded gravely. "What she's saying is true. When they fire off those torpedoes, they don't know if they're aiming at friend or foe, navy or
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