The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-02-14

down on top Of Steb. and the IA
'sPerfidious Albion!'' shout6l the
Colonel, from inside the box. while
Sour Dam nailed the lid down with
ten penny nails and shout Of tri-
umph.
I, The box was speedily dispatched to
the depot.
''Now. gentlemen, charley
Baker, ''we have disposed Of the
county officers and all the editors.
The moral atmosphere Of Dakota
county is already purer. Our next
duty is to nominate i new ticket.
propose that we take ballot and that
each man Indicate on his ballot
his first choice for Judge Of Probate. Z
This proposition was generally ac-
cepted. \ hat was passed around and
the ballots collected. The tellers re-
ported that there were as many bal
lots as there were delegates present,
and that each ballot contained diff
erent name. Each member of the
convention had roted for himself.
It was then agreed that, in imita-
tion of an ancient Grecian example,
each man should vote on the same
ballot for a first choice and also for a
second choice, and that the one re-
ceiving, the most votes as second
choice would be the nominee. The
result OF this ballot was that John
Byers was nominated.
| There was no applause. An omi.
nous silence followed, interrupted on.
ly by some significant whispering be.
tween John Kennedy, lie DUO and
the Chairman. On a word from the
latter another box was brought in.
Byers broke for the door; but before
he could reach it a dozen of his late
competitors had hold Of him and not
witlstanding his violent protests he
was soon securely fastened down in
the box.
Charley Baker called for another
ballot. This time 'sOur Dan" was
the second choice. "Oh Lord!" cried
Dan. A pallor spread over his face,
and, ere the chair had finished an.
nouncing the result Of the vote, he
rushed for the door; but finding lie
Due standing guard over it. he bounc-
ed through the window, carrying the
sash with him, and streaked it for the
depot, shedding broken glass as he
ran. He bought ticket for Winona
and took the next train. He did not
get over his terror until the cars had
passed Lake City.
sis that the way the honors Of the
Peoples Party are received. Gen
lie Due. be good enough to post .
guard at that broken window
This order was promptly obeyed.
'sBring in some more boxes 7
cried Charley.
"Now, gentlemen" he continued
sit is very evident that we have tot
many candidates in proportion to oul
membership. wbllld recommend thai
the convention proceed to purge itsel1
of some of its superfluous aspirants
Let the men who are- not fit to hold
Office be shipped to D kDwn!"
4 wild yell greeted Is proposal
and then followed S1ucking scene
Every man grabbed his neighbo
and began to drag him to the neares
box; their struggles were dreadful t,
behold; the strongest won; but often
times when one had just deposited
his victim in box, some rival, VIII
saw in him possible competitor 10
a county office, would seize and pslSl
him in also. Cries, .groans. shrek
and curses filed the air. A consider
able part of the convention rushe,
for the door; but there committee
consisting Of lie Due and Charlie,
Baker met them armed with clubs, ,an'
as a condition Of letting them>out, ,ex
torted from each man solemn
affidavit that he would never run 70
Office again in Dakota county. It wa
pitiful to witness the struggles o
these poor creatures between thei
ambitions and their fears. Thei
fears however generally triumphed
and they affixed their signatures t.
the affidavits with trembling hands
and then fed away into the darkness
pursued by nameless terrors.
Still the work Of packing away pros
pective candidates continued, ami,
: an indescribable uproar; the shrek
and groans of the victims in the boxe
mingling with the hurrahs Of the raT
Idly diminishing force who were doin
the packing. It sounded like q me
nagerie at feeding time, and smel
nearly as bad.
/ Still Charley and lie Due guardea
, the door, occasionally opening it t
permit the express messengers to cal
~ out the boxes. Still the work 0
incarceration went on: until at las
J not more than half dozen RENAME
: Of the whole convention.
.Now't our time,''s said lie Due t
/. Charley.
5 They locked the door, and rushe
) on the remnant and in few moment
: they stood alone in the store. Th
! convention had disappeared.
"Hurrah for the tea-belt," erie
4 LIE Due.
II .Hurrah for the Offices erie
Charley.
7 I'VE want the 0ffices!" cried
: Due, quoting the platform Of the Pc
. pies party.
~ mo, said Charley, 1T should res