Just Chums

Forrest C. (for nothing) Donnell, a slender, blond, sobersided citizen with a dignified cowlick, and Lawrence McDaniel, a short, huge, chuckle-jowled citizen with a merry eye, have known each other for nearly 40 years. Both were born in Missouri's northwest corner, the rolling prairies of the Platte River country. They met as legal eaglets at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. Both, on graduation, went to St. Louis to practice. Both became members of the same Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in a "nice" residential district; both joined the same Scottish Rite Masonic lodge; both became trustees of the church and members of the Salvation Army's board. Mrs. Donnell and Mrs. McDaniel for 23 years have been members of the same Mother-craft club, and their children belong to the same church clubs and Sunday School.

For eleven years--1923-34--balding, spectacled McDaniel was one of Donnell's star pupils in a Sunday School men's Bible class held in the church basement. Around an old borrowed piano the class sang hymns before & after the weekly lecture, McDaniel's rolling bass harmonizing with Donnell's baritone. Serious, somewhat prissy Bible-Teacher Donnell permitted no antics, and caper-cutting Pupil McDaniel was a good boy in class. When the church trustees needed money, they raised it by holding humorous mock trials in which the legal chums and such pupils as square-jibbed, religious Branch Rickey, vice president of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, debated such subjects as "To bob or not to bob" (when bobbed-hair was a grave matter); "Resolved, the hen is flightier than the Ford," etc. These debates were considered so funny that the group toured Missouri for years, the spontaneously funny McDaniel roaring at his own gags; grave, reserved Donnell making his points with a lemony smile. When Donnell became Inspector-General of the Scottish Rite lodge, McDaniel eulogized his friend in a tribute that was held to be the exhaustive last word.

The two had one difference: Donnell was a Republican, McDaniel a Democrat. They became opposing Gubernatorial candidates last fall; McDaniel, backed by unsavory machine politicos, was expected to win handily. He lost by 3,613 votes, and the raging machine contested the election. Inauguration Day (Jan. 13) came & went; still the Democratic machine tools refused to seat Donnell. Democratic Governor Lloyd Crow Stark, furious at his party, stayed on overtime while the case went to the Supreme Court. Citizens everywhere spat disgust at the Democratic legislature; some of it spattered on uncomfortable, friendly Lawrence McDaniel. At an advertising club's satirical dinner (Jan. 31) the chums were asked to pose together. Genial McDaniel was willing; Donnell declined. The chums were chums no longer. Last week the Supreme Court held for Republican Donnell; and as Jefferson City jammed up for the Donnell inaugural, roly-poly Mr. McDaniel saw the end of a beautiful friendship.

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