Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-05-18
NEW SERIES.-VOL. 1, NO. 40.
A Youthful Politician. How He Man.
aged Greeley and Tilden.

When the New York Constitutions
convention met in 1867, Luther Cald
well was elected clerk. Soon after
he had taken his seat, shrewd little
shaver from Brooklyn approached
him and asked for the appointment oi
messenger boy. Caldwell recognized
him as former page in the Assem-
bly,. The bay said he was having q
hard time of it, and il Caldwell would
give him the position it would be d
big thing for him.
But" answered the clerk, ~the ap-
pointment lays with Mr.. Wheeler, the
president"
What can I do to reach him." the
boy inquired.
"The best thing you could do
would be to secure the influence oil
two prominent members of the con-
vention. II they should ask your ap-
pointment, Mr.. Wheeler would surely
grant it."
"But how can 1 fetch them?
don't know any Of them," said the
boy" "And who are the best men
for me to tackle?"
"Ah!" exclaimed the genial clerk
"now you ask me too much You
must use your own judgment and de-
pend upon your own exertions."
AS the clerk entered the conven-
ton on the following morning he saw
the Hon. Horace Greeley in his seat
writing busily. At his side stood the
Brooklyn boy, with snow white blot
ter. When Mr.. Greeley finished his
first page Of manuscript, down went
the blotter. A little white fist rub
bed it over the ink. The page was
removed and a clean sheet laid in its
place by the same little hand. The
great newspaper editor looked up and
saw an innocent boyish face. gazing
upon him in admiration, seemingly
only too happy to be Of service to
him. As fast as the sheets were filled
the nimble fingers applied the blotter,
and finally produced envelopes al
ready stamped for the use of the
great man.
That afternoon, Mr. Greeley arose.
In piping tone Of voice, he said:
~Mr. Clerk, who has the appoint
msnt Of the messenger boys in this
convention?"
"The president of the convention
William H. Wheeler" was the reply
"Well," continued Horace. @here is
a bright little boy, who is one Of the
incest and most useful little boys thai
1 ever saw. Most little boys spend
their time skylarking or playing mar
bles, but this little boy is an industri.
Gus and serviceable little boy, and
want to have him appointed messsn.
ger.
TIE clerk said that il Mr.. Greeley
would state his wishes to Mr.. Wheel
er in writing he would doubtless
crafty him by the appointment. Al
the close OF the days session, the boy
shook letter from Mr.. Greeley in
Caldwelrs face, saying: We'll, I've
nailed one OF the old roosters. Now
I'm going for another one"
On the following day the boy ap.
peared at the desk OF the Hon. San
uel j. Tilden, blotter in hand. Uncle
Sammy was polished OF in the most
approved style. The boy was unre-
hitting in his attentions, and Sammy
was wonderfully pleased. Just before
the adjournment he arose and began
to twirl his glasses in his fingers.
@Ah, Mr.. Clerk" he said, who is
vested with the appointment of mes
sengers i'm this convention?"
"Mr. Wheeler" was the answer.
"Ahl" Uncle Sammy uttered. well,
here is a little fellow whose refined
manners and womanly face have both
interested and quite won my heart.
should like to have him appointed
a messenger"
The clerk suggested that a letter
from a gentleman OF such high stand
ing at the bar would have great
weight with Mr.. Wheeler, despite Mr..
rilden's political antagonism. That
evening the little fellow with the
womanly face shook Uncle Sammy's
letter OF recommendation in Cald-
wells face. shouting, ~Pv nailed the
other rooster. Now you fix things
with the old man Wheeler and then
Til be all right"
The clerk handed Mr.. Wheeler the
letters. The boy got the appoint
ment, but he managed to get assign
ed to some trivial post outside the
chamber, and both Uncle Sammy and
Uncle Horace frequently wondered
what had become of the nice little
boy with refined manners and wom-
anly face.
Such is the story as told by Clerk
Caldwell recently. He adds he was
afterward elected to the Assembly
from Brooklyn. His name was Hen
-. D..n~-