Los Angeles Herald, Volume XXX, Number 141, 23 February 1903 — Saw a Better Man [ARTICLE]

Saw a Better Man

\Vh'?n a prominent Tammany mar returns from a trip to Europe he always boasts of an Interview with Richard Croker, but no one has yet retailed to the reporters a story that Mr. Croker is veryfond of tilling. According to this story, during a particularly hot contest for a seat In parliament from a certain borough, the strength of th» Liberal candidate was about equal to that of the Conservative contestant. When election day arrived, suffrage was exercised early In most eases, ar.d the place had been pretty well polled by an hour l>sfore closing time. Then the Liberal candidate discovered that the town barber had r.ot voted. To ttae barber shop the Liberal candidate went and was shaved. Politics was not n etitioned until the customer was paying the barber, when the candidate f-aid. a? he handed out a flve-pound note: "There is not much time left for voting. Keep the change." "It's a good man you are, the best I've siien this day," Replied the barber. "I'll ' be over shortly. i Hardly had (h» Libera', candldato '■ stepped out of the shop when the Conservative stepped In. He was shaved without reference to politics, and, In pay- , ir.g, proffered a ter.-pound note, with the . casual remark: "The polls'close soon. Never mind the change." When the barber arrived at the town • hall, he had Just time to declare htm--1 self for the Conservative- The Liberal, 1 who was standing beside him when he ( voted, hissed: "Didn't you tell me not half an hour i ag>o that I was a good man, the beet you • had seen this day?" "I did," an.swered the barber, "but I've seen or.e twice as good slr.ee."—St. Louli I Star.