Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-04-20
A Youthful P0litIcian---How He Man
aged Greeley and Tilden.

When the New 0rk CONSTITUTIONAL
Convention met in 1867, Luther Caldwell
was elected clerk. Soon after he had
taken his seat, shrewd little shaver
from Brooklyn approached him and
asked for the appointment OF messenger
boy. Caldwell recognized him as a
former page in the Assembly. The boy
said he was having hard time Of it, and
if Caldwell would give him the position
it would be big thing for him.
But" answered the clerk, the APP
pointment lays with Mr.. Wheeler, the
President.
What can / do to reach him. the
boy inquired.
s.The best thing you could do would be
to secure the influence OF two prominent
members of the Convention. Ii they should
ask your appointment, Mr.. Wheeler
would surely grant It,
"But how can i fetch them? / don't
know any of them, said the boy. And
who are the best men for me to tackiegn
"Ahr' exclaimed the genial clerk,
now you ask me too much. You must
use your own judgment and depend upon
your own exertlons. f
As the clerk entered the Convention 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 blotter. when Mr.. Greeley
finished his first page of manuscript,
down went the blotter. A little white
fist rubbed ii over the ink. The page was
removed and 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 APP
piled the blotter, and finally produced
envelopes already stamped for the use OF
the great man.
That afternoon, Mr.. Greeley arose. In
piping tone Of voice, he said:
"Mr. Clark, who has the appointment
of the messenger boys in this conven-
ton ?'
1.-THE President of the convention, Will.
lam III. Wheeler" was the reply.
WELL" continued Horace, a Here is a
bright little boy, who is one Of the incest
and most useful liule boys that ever
saw. Most little boys spend their time
skylarking or playing marbles, but this
little boy is an industrious and service
able little boy, and want to have him
appointed messenger"
The clerk said that if Mr.. Greeley
would state his wishes to Mr.. Wheeler in
| writing he would doubtless crafty him
by the appointment. AT the close of the
days session, the boy shook letter from
Mr.. Greeley in Caldwell's face, saying:
swell, I've nailed one OF the old roosters.
Now I'm going for another one"
| On the following day the boy appeared
at the desk OF the Hon. Samuel j. 1ildeH,
| blotter in hand. Uncle Sammy was pol
ished off in the most approved style. The
boy was unremitting 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 nessen-
gers in this convention"
MIR. Wheeler" was the answer.
abr Uncle Sammy uttered. Well,
here is little fellow whose refined man
ners and womanly face have both inter-
estcd and quite won my heart. should
like to have him appointed messenger"
The clerk suggested that letter from a
gentleman Of such high standing at the
bar would have great weight with Mr.
Wheeler despite Mr.. Tilden's political
antagonism. That evening the little fell
low with the womanly face shook Uncle
Sammy's letter of recommendation in
Caldwell's face, shouting, I've nailed
the other old rooster. Now you fix things
with old man Wheeler and then I'll be all
right"
The clerk handed Mr.. Wheeler the let
tiers. The boy got the appointment, but
he managed to get assigned to some triv-
ial post outside the chamber, and both
Uncle Sammy and Uncle Horace frequent
ly wondered what had become of the nice
little boy with refined manners and
womanly face.
Such is the story as told by Clerk Cald-
well recently He adds the boy was al
terward elected TO the Assembly from
Brooklyn. His name was Henry j. Gull
len.-N. Y. Express E