Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-12-22
"NINE CHEERS FOR OLD ZIM.p
OR BREAKING DOWN THE SYSTEM.

"NINE CHEERS FOR OLD ZIM.w
OR BREAKING DOWN THE SYSTEM.
Tn remote county of Pennsylvania the
scene is laid. The time was the year
1912, when party spirit rose to 102 deg.
in the shade in every hamlet the length
and breadth of Uncle Sans glorious do
main. The respective political parties
met in uvcntion at Bugsburg (the coun-
ty seat, and made their nominations for
county officers. AS there were many as
pirants for the few nominations, it follows
as matter of course that there were
some bitter isappointments--to no one
more so than to 'old Zim, who was conf
dent of getting nomination for Sheriff.
Zimmerman, or old Zim,' as he was fa-
military called, was miserly old codger,
who was well to do in the world, yet he
had an almighty thirst for office, and he
was up at every convention for nomina-
tion for something, from time whereof the
memory of man runneth not to tho CON
traY. lie vas reputed wealthy-that
is, he owned farm, and had money, but
he never showed the color of it, except he
unfortunately got on spree, then he
would SOW it broadcast-but that was
only biennial occurrence.
A few evenings after the nominations
above named knot of the dissatisfied
and dissaifected were congregated at the
Blackhorse Tavern, discussing the merits
and dcmerits of the fortunate nominees.
'Gentlcmen, said old Zim, merit and
long service to the party is no recommen-
dation in this county. The wire workers
and schemcrs have it all their own way
'Ay,' responded one of the bar-room
loafers, they does the pickin' out and
they expects us to do the wotin,'
But, gentlemen continued Zim, they
will'fetch up against a snag or sawyer
one Of these days. Yes, gentlemen, by
the eternal, I'll upset their applicant and
spill all their peaches. I'll sec whether
it's the people, or set of broken down
political hacks as makes the county nomi-
nations. BY Judas, I'll break down the
systcm-I'll run as volunteer candidate
for sheriff, and if don't lay EN- out, then
my name amt Zimmerman, that all.
This determination was received with
favor by the crowd, and Zim sealed it by
spending a half for red-eye
Full soon he was in the field, announ
ced through card in both papers to his
fellow citizens, pledging himself to dis
charge the duties of the office with impair
tialty-in case lie aOas elected.
Right Justify did old Zim 90 to work,
and things appeared to go on swimming
ly. He canyassed the county, and the
people were profuse in their promises of
doing their best for him. In one of his
peregrinations he met Wattles, the nomi-
nee of Zim's party, who was also on an
electioneering tour
tHa Wattles, said he, my fine feliew,
I'm sorry to see you allow yourself to be
the tool Of the unholy and corrupt cai,al
Il say am sorry see you sacrificed,
but you're bound to be beat. I'll show
them that the freemen of this county will
not bear dictation; so, my friend, if you
wish to save yourself from the disgrace
of a defeat, you had better resign in my
favor
Wattles expressed his conviction that
he should feel very much used up in such
an event, but at the Same time ne had
made up his mind to stand the hazard Of
tht die.
Election day at length came. and my
worthy friend, armed with a hat full of
tickets, stationed himself on the ground
ofhis own precinct, and commenced deal
ing out his tickets, and urging his claims
in the strongest kind of a way: miser as he
was, he made his friends swim in Monon-