The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-05-14
A Political "Reminiscences.
For the Lancaster Gazette.
Chase and Ford.

Editors Gazette "A late nun.
ber Of the Cincinnati Chronicle
contained the following from ii
correspondent, writing from Mans
field, the former residence OF the
late ex Governor Ford:
Ford's love of good story or
practical joke was proyerbiaI, and
he would never let an opportunity
pass 10 relate the Que and perpe-
lrate the other. lie was not par.
ticular. either. as to the direction
his shafts Of wit took and friends
and foes have often been his vic.
tlms, with apparent equal relish
10 himself One oil his cruelest
jokes is represented TO have been
played off on Chief Justice Chase
during the famous Chase cumpai IN
in this State. Chase and Ford
were jointly canvassiug the State
as candidates for Governor aud
Lieutenant Governor. .' .a .
They had addressed several
large meetings. Chase always lead
ing, and Ford following Ford
had noticed that Chase always
made the same speech, wit scarce
ly a variation, at all the meetings.
One day, at u very large meeting
somewhere in Southern Ohio,
Chase proposed that Ford should
lead off, which he with grcaS APP
parent reluctance did. What was
Chase's astonisbmentto 10 hear Ford
make his (Chase's) own speech
throughout, word for word Chase
was nonplussed He had, in com
mon parIance, "laid himself out
cn that speech (nnd a big speech
it was,) and had no other to ial
back on. After Ford sat dowr
Mr.. Chase, arose, painfully en- bar
rasscd, ard after a iew common
place and rambling remarks plead
cd indispositiOn, and retired.
olds and Stinchcomb.
In The spring of 1862, or 1853
DR. OLDS wrote cut O Campuigr
speech, and sent II copy of it to J
| w. STINCHcoMB, then residing a
NJ. GIlead, who was rather "lakeI
with it, and read it attentiveIy
several times, thus becoming ia
miliar with the positions assumed
and tho arguments used to sustain
them. Later in the season, DIR
Olds and Vallandigham we're post
ed to speak at Mt. GIead. Val
failed to respond 10 the call. TIL,
meeting was large and entbusas
tic, OIds was inspirited, aid anx
ious to produce an impression fav
orable to himself, then expectin!
to be candidate for Governor u
not u very remote period. urgeC
Stinehcomb to open the meeting
saying he could always do bette
Ito follow another than TO lead OF
himself. Odds 10 this evinced hi
cunning. lie knew that Stinch
comb bad not made the slightes
preparation, and as consequence,
would make n short and discursiv,
speech which he would follow will
the speech he had been prunin,
and correcting for months, ant
thus create for himself capital fo
n Gubernatorial nomination. -
Stinchcomb opened the meeting
} with speech Of some twenty min
J utes, and then introduced the Doc
tor, who, by the delivery OF hi
speech, won golden opinions.
} The next day, at Marion, Stinch
: comb, at the urgent request OF tn
q Doctor, again addressed the meet
y ing first, the Doctor closing. TIL
meeting was small and but 'littI
spirit evinced. The Doctor wa
depressed, but on the morning q
the next day, when be saw th
. hordes of the unterjfed pourinI
: into Bucyrus, (whero, in the Ian
!; guage of stumpers, they had
rousing meeting) he thought h
, could SEQ in ihe dim distance y
! the future Gubernatotial Chair
his face became radiant with hsmilet
: and in the blandest manner agai
D insisted on Stincbcomb openin
the meeting. Stinchcomb did nc
come up to tho work kindly. Old
urged. s. was still reluctant
Odds turned and said to him