Jimmie Higgins | Page 4

to hear a man who had a voice, and who would show
the meaning of this world-crisis to the working-people.
It was the party's Candidate for President. At this time only
congressional elections were pending, but this man had been Candidate
for President so often that every one thought of him in that role. You
might say that each of his campaigns lasted four years; he travelled
from one end of the land to the other, and counted by the millions those
who heard his burning, bitter message. It had chanced that the day
which the War-lords and Money-lords of Europe had chosen to drive
their slaves to slaughter was the day on which the Candidate had been
scheduled to speak in the Leesville Opera-house. No wonder the
Socialists of the little inland city were stirred!
Jimmie Higgins turned into "Tom's Buffeteria", and greeted the

proprietor, and seated himself on a stool in front of the counter, and
called for coffee, and helped himself to "sinkers"--which might have
been called "life-preservers", they were blown so full of air. He filled
his mouth, at the same time looking up to make sure that Tom had not
removed the card announcing the meeting; for Tom was a Catholic, and
one of the reasons that Jimmie went to his place was to involve him and
his patrons in arguments over exploitation, unearned increment and
surplus value.
But before a discussion could be started, it chanced that Jimmie
glanced about. In the back part of the room were four little tables,
covered with oil-cloth, where "short orders" were served; and at one of
those tables a man was seated. Jimmie took a glance at him, and started
so that he almost spilled his coffee. Impossible; and yet-- surely--who
could mistake that face? The face of a medieval churchman, lean,
ascetic, but with a modern touch of kindliness, and a bald dome on top
like a moon rising over the prairie. Jimmie started, then stared at the
picture of the Candidate which crowned the shelf of pies. He turned to
the man again; and the man glanced up, and his eyes met Jimmie's,
with their expression of amazement and awe. The whole story was
there, not to be misread--especially by a Candidate who travels about
the country making speeches, and being recognized every hour or so
from his pictures which have preceded him. A smile came to his face,
and Jimmie set down the coffee-cup from one trembling hand and the
"sinker" from the other, and rose from his stool.

IV

Jimmie would not have had the courage to advance, save for the other
man's smile--a smile that was weary, but candid and welcoming.
"Howdy do, Comrade?" said the man. He held out his hand, and the
moment of this clasp was the nearest to heaven that Jimmie Higgins
had ever known.
When he was able to find his voice, it was only to exclaim, "You wasn't

due till five-forty-two!"
As if the Candidate had not known that! He explained that he had
missed his sleep the night before, and had come on ahead so as to
snatch a bit during the day. "I see," said Jimmie; and then, "I knowed
you by your picture."
"Yes?" said the other, patiently.
And Jimmie groped round in his addled head for something really
worth while. "You'll want to see the Committee?"
"No," said the other, "I want to finish this first." And he took a sip from
a glass of milk, and a bite out of a sandwich, and chewed.
So utterly rattled was Jimmie he sat there like a num-skull, unable to
find a word, while the man finished his repast. When it was over,
Jimmie said again--he could do no better--"You want to see the
Committee?"
"No," was the reply, "I want to sit here--and perhaps talk to you,
Comrade--Comrade--?"
"Higgins," said Jimmie.
"Comrade Higgins--that is, if you have time."
"Oh, sure!" exclaimed Jimmie. "I got all the time there is. But the
Committee--"
"Never mind the Committee, Comrade. Do you know how many
Committees I have met on this trip?"
Jimmie did not know; nor did he have the courage to ask.
"Probably you never thought how it is to be a Candidate," continued the
other. "You go from place to place, and make the same speech every
night, and it seems as if you slept in the same hotel every night, and
almost as if you met the same Committee. But you have to remember

that your speech is new to each audience, and you have to make it as if
you had never made it before; also you have to remember that the
Committee is made up of devoted comrades who are giving everything
for the cause, so you don't tell them that