Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of the many facets of Fool Killer lore. FOR PART ONE, INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT IN THE 1850s, CLICK HERE.
PART 72 – Some of the Fool Killer’s targets on both sides of the aisle in the June of 1914 edition of James Larkin Pearson’s version of the folk figure.
*** Tycoon John D. Rockefeller, Jr. for his role in the Ludlow Miner Massacre back in April. A few lines from that condemnation – “Who trains the guns on helpless ones, til precious blood in rivers runs? John D. Jr.” (also as Johndee Junior).
*** The Dick Act, which was named after Charles Dick when it passed back in 1903. It granted presidents certain powers when it came to activating militias. Some feared that President Woodrow Wilson would use the Dick Act to start drafting American men to serve in the military.
*** Tycoons (he often called them Plutocrats) who spent more money on paintings of the Madonna and Child than they ever spent feeding and clothing real, live mothers and their children.
*** William Jennings Bryan, three-time loser as the Democrat nominee for president, for supporting the possibility of voting by mail.
*** People who didn’t want women to gain the right to vote.
SOME OF THE FOOL KILLER’S PITHIER REMARKS THIS TIME AROUND:
“Every Mexican rebel is to have a plot of ground when Villa wins says the Philadelphia North American (newspaper). About four feet by six, I suppose.”
“Some people are not ashamed to do a lot of things they would be ashamed to be caught doing.”
“The Lord buried Moses where the people couldn’t find him and the people buried Bill Taft where the Lord couldn’t find him.” Referring to the electoral drubbing that Republican former President William Howard Taft took back in the 1912 election, when he lost to Democrat Woodrow Wilson AND former Republican President Theodore Roosevelt’s Third Party campaign.
As I always say, it’s fascinating to read this old publication and its odd mix of viewpoints – even the ones you disagree with.
FOR MY LOOK AT JOE MAGARAC, THE STEEL MILL VERSION OF JOHN HENRY AND PAUL BUNYAN, CLICK HERE
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Logged, thanks!
Fascinating.
Thank you!
You post on the fool killer and I post on a particular fool (or at least on his refusal to shut up when he should remain silent).
Ha! Great contrast!