Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-12-12
votine Under Difficulties.


amusing sketch of the purity of the elective
franchise in the state of Ohio. We should like
to have grasped the hand of the patriotic fel-
low who was SO anxious TO vote the s.tig whck
et," if it were not fer the fact, that he finally
backed out.
SIN the north west portion of the State OF
Chic, in the county of AugIaize, there is
township, the citizens of which are principally
German, and notwithstanding their esweet
accent. they are all Democrats of the regular
unterrifed stripe. From the time of the cree
tion OF the county mp to 1852, there never
had been wing vote cast in the township spo-
ken Of, although there were over six hundred
voters; but at the fall election Of that year,
upon counting the ballots, it appeared that
there was one regular s'rlight-oUt whig ticket,
and they dare not pass it by. This caused
great connection; their escutcheon was dim
med there was giig amongst them; that
blot must be wiped out, and with their cour
age Dutch of coarse) up to fever heat in the
shade. they went to work slyly TO find the man
who lad dared to vote the zig Diciet;' hut
their iabors were unsuccessful. Ia the mean
time another year rolled rosed, and the good
.bceples' were again assembled at the election
precinct. It had not been forgotten, however,
that at the last election somo one had voted
the Wig Diekct; and it was now the subject
of open remark and wonder.
.Eshilc they were having an outdoor dis
cussion of the subject, Sam Starrett, late
immigrant from the eastern shore of Maryland,
came along and demanded the cause of the
commoton.
..Fell, We vas wondering who it wat Yo-
ted Wig dicket at the last election, said an old
Dutcaman.
ssIs was me, Sam said, and it want no bo-
dy else.''
81 dinks not,'' said the old Dutchman, and
the balance shook their heads incredulously.
-. tell you, it was, thougl," said Sam,
pu!llsg ont a " big ticket .Sand may / be chaw-
ed tls, if aint going to do it again. l am 60
in- to vote ties, (holding ont the ticket,) and
yoi4it open, too. III let you know that am
an .9alerjcaa Citieea, and I'll vote inst as /
please. and you can't help it by Jemimal' ~
SO in he went to deposit his ballot. There
sat tue three old Dutch judges of election,
Il
word Sam handed over his ticket, open. One
Of the old judges took it a few seconds, hand
ed it back toward the independent voter, and
said
,.Yaw, dat ish Wig dicket.''
"Weu, put it in the box said Sam.
..Vat you say % said tho old Dutchman,
his eyes big with surprise ''put him in de
box s''
Eyes, stree, put it in the box am goin'
to vote it -
s.Oh nix goof, nix goot dat ish zig dick
ct,'' said the old Dutchman shaking his head.
s.Wen, I reckon / know it is a Whig ticket,
and want you to put it in the box, darnation
quick"
..No, no, dat ish not goot; dat ish a Wig
dcket we not take him any more,'' said the
old Judge, turning to receive sgoot dickets'
from some of his German friends.
Sam went out and cursed till all was blue
said he had come thar to vote, he'd he fam-
| bergasted if he want goin' to vote in spite cf
| all the Dutch in the township. So, after cool
ing off little, he again went in and rendered
his ticket, very neatly rolled up. The old judge
took it again, and notwithstanding Sans de-
demurring, unrolled it and looked it over !;
then turning to Sam in manner and tone not
to be misunderstood, said
es1 tells you dqt ish zig dicisst; dat il ish
mir goot and dat tce not take ham any more ~
sam again retired, cursing all democrats
generally, and the Dutch in particular, and as
signing the hottest corners OF the brin-
stone region; and was going ON to curse eve
nv body that didn't curse them, when lie was
interrupted by an old Dutchman in the crowd,
With aads civ
ssSam Starrett, L tellsyo vat it ish, if you
viii vote Dimercrat dicket, and leef der gonn-
ty We sils You 50 much monish as daAes you
we're You cum ID vrom.''
Sam scratched his head, studied awhile,
and then said that as he had come thar to vote
and want goin' away without votin', he CUES
| sed he d do it.
Again Sam made his appearance before the
| Judges, and rendered his vote. The same old
Judge took it. and looking it over quietly,
turned to Sam and said
| e.Yaw, dat ish goot; dat ish Dimercratic
dicket u and dropped it into the box.
| sit is only further necessary to say that Sam
| went back to the eastern shore at the expense
of the township; and that, at thet election
and ever since, that German township has
been o. x.
That is what call preserving the purity Of
! elections.
I. 70 A dandy asked barber if he had eve
shaved amonkey.