The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-02-10
MIKE wALsH's CANDIDATE.
How Mike Made n Colored Mans Canvass
for Third Assistant Doorkeeper his Per-
sonaI Matter.

How Mike Made n Colored Mans Canvass
for Third Assistant Doorkeeper his Per-
sonnI Matter.
Did you ever happen to hear how
Mike Walsh conducted canvass for his
candidate for doorkeeper, once when he
was in the Assembly3 says correspon-
dent of the Albany journal Once
when poor Mike came to the Assembly
to be sworn in as legislator, he was
met at the Delavan or at the Mansion
House of those days, by colored gem
tleman of fine address, who requested
his influence in getting him appointed
third assistant doorkeeper. The Office
seeker was received with that urbanity
with which Mike treated everybody, and
after he had exhibited sundry indorse-
ments from several prominent citizens,
he produced, evidently as his best card,
raphy, which he informed his listener
was his own letter addressed to the As
sembly in behalf of his own nomination.
Mike took it, hastily read sentence or
two, and then, lighting fresh cigar, to
the delight of the would-be doorkeeper,
proceeded toread the whole of it. When
he got through he was taken with a
hearty fit of laughter, and on coming
out OF it, to the joyful astonishment Of
the other, he said "Mr. Bensen, leave
your canvass in my hands. I'll make it
a personal matter" Mr.. Bensen wrung
his benefactor's hand and departed. In
the evening at the caucus Mike present
ed no name for doorkeeper, or for first.
second, or third assistant doorkeeper.
Poor Bensen, who, from his place in the
gentlemen's gallery in the Assembly
chamber, saw the prize whichh coveted,
and the obtaining of which for him Hon.
Mr.. Walsh, from New York, had prom
ised to make ga personal matter"
given to another was sorely angered and
grieved. Mike spied him, and lust as
soon as the caucus was adjourned, but
persed, he asked for order, and ex-
claimed in a loud voice eff Mr.. Ben
sen, who was candidate for third assis-
tant doorkeeper, is in the building, he
is wanted at the clerks desk" The
caucus saw that something good was up,
and not man moved from his place.
Presently the mystifed Bensen ap-
peared, and in response to Mikes re-
quest took his place at the clerks desk.
Mike rose and with great show of SOL
emnity informed the caucus that he had
personal explanation to make to them
and to late candidate for the third as
sistant doorkeepership. Then, turning
to Bensen, he said something to this
effect: Mr.. Bensen, on the occasion
of your coming to see me this morning
and asking my humble influence to Sc
cure You the position pn which You had
focu sed, informed yon that I would
make your candidacy my personal mat
ter. Mr.. Bensen, have done so. Be-
lieve me, sir, haven't met Democrat
since l parted with you but have taken
him by the button hole and said, with
earnest voice and moist eye: "What-
ever you do tonight, don't vote for Ben
sen for third assistant doorkeeper." To
a man, Benson, they said they would go
back on Bensen, and for the kindness
thus shown me by my fellows I am, I
hope, duly grateful. This is one of the
proudest moments of my life, for I re-
alize as 1 never did before the sincerity
and warmth of my political f,iends in
their relations to me.
BY this time the defeated candidate,
the perspiration running down his face,
was so torn with his emotions that lie
didn't know whether he was afoot or
horseback. He probably realized only
this one thing clearly-that public life
had lost all its charm for him. The call
Gus, too, was in state of complete be-
wilderment, since nearly every man
composing it had, indeed, gone back on
Bensen at the earnest solicitation of
Walsh, while Walsh now admitted that
he had promised to make Bensen's cam
vess his "personal matter" When Mike
had got to this point in his speech, he
requested one of the boys on the floor to
bring him a glass of water. When it
was brought he drank with great delib-
Grafton, wiped his mouth very slowly,
aud then, in the midst of the most in
tense silence, took from one of his breast
pockets Bensen's letter and read it
aloud. He had pleasing, sympathetic
voice, and the letter, good in itself, gain
ed immensely in Mixes rendering of it.
When he had concluded he suddenly
struck an attitude and vehemently ex-
claimed, with the letter held high in
air: 81 tell thee, Bensen, that when
had read that eloquent document three
or fonr times the conviction with which
L became possessed on first reading il
deepened and crystallized until it took
shape in the resolve that would not in
suit such an accomplished scholar, such
an eloquent and polished writer, and
such an earnest and effective patriot by
rendering him the comparatively incon.
seqnential recognition that attaches tc
the Office of third assistant doorkeeper.
No, Bensen, could not do it, I-could
-not-do-it. Justice to thee as pc.
culiarly gifted individual and to the
policy of the party whom we both sc
absorbingly love alike forbid it."
The caucus just howled, and even
Bensen himself joined in the bursts Of
laughter that set the pendents of the
big chandelier jingling. The next day
the Senate proceeded to elect officers
and Mike, when the Office of third as
sistant doorkeeper was reached, amid ap
plause which the speaker did not try tc
check, moved to substitute for the
Democratic caucus nomination "the
name of Mr.. Bensen." The caucus
Nominee, by Mikes arrangement, was
man of straw, and his motion was car
ried by acclamation. The performance
was brought to a fit termination b,
Mikes rushing from his seat to thu
lobby, and profusely and with the ut
most ostentation congratulating the re
assured, the proud, the happy Bensen.