The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-09-20
GEDDEs' RECORD.
A vallandighammer of the Worst Stripe
who is Seeking to Get Into Congress by
Republican Votes.

Special Correspondence of the Herald.
MANSFIELD, sept. 14-There is going to bt
as lively q fight for the seat in Congress from
this, the Fourteenth District, as was eyel
seen in Ohio. Hon. r. A. Horr, of Yelling
ton, brother of the Michigan humorist, i;
the candidate of the Republicans, and Judge
G.. w. Geddes, of this city, is the Democratic
Il nominee
Judge Geddes, the Democratic nominee, is
SLEEK POLITICIAN,
Cunning as a fox, smooth talker and an
artful dodger, he has a way Of appearing on
the popular sides of questions. A whig up
to 1854, he went over to the Democrats and
remained with them until 1861, when he iden-
titled himself with the war party and was by
It elected Common Pleas Judge. In the Sec
ond year of the war there came reverses to
the Union side, for 'Mars Is as fickle as for
tune" In those dark days, when the Demo-
Gratis were proclaiming against all war meas
ures and denouncing Lincoln and his "hire-
ling dogs" Judge Geddes left the Union
party and was from that time identified with
the Vallandigham Democracy. The tide of
battle rose and fell. Now there was hope and
victory appeared probable, and again, when
the enemy was cutting their way into the
very heart OF the loyal North, there was de-
spair. But on the 9Th OF July, 1868, there
came to Mansfield most glorious news from
Mead's army. The Union hosts had won the
day at Gettysburg. There was Joy through
the city all day. A pole was raised in the
afternoon and flags and banners appeared
| everywhere. There were illuminations and
| bonfires at night and thousands met on the
square to JOLLY. Here the late L. B. Matson
spoke words of cheer that were music for the
multitude. Colonel Barnabas Burns, always
q Democrat, but q war man, mounted the
platform and proclaimed the purpose Of the
people to sustain the Governmentin Its efforts
to put down the rebellion, even though his
party had nominated the traitor vallandig-
ham. Up to this time, say the reports of
that memorable meeting, all was harmonious
but at this point Janus faced traitor at
tempted to take the platform. put there was
indignation when the red lights reflected the
familiar face of Judge Geddes, the rene
gade. The worst of confusion followed, the
crowd shouting: mo Vallandigham men
wanted hereP' "ShermanIn "Captain Burnsp'
"Pat him outr' etc. Sherman vainly strove
to quiet the tumult which continued until
Geddes retired. That very night news came
| that Vicksburg had also fallen.
Attention is now directed to these exciting
incidents because Judge Geddes is now work
ing the northern part Of the district claiming
that he was q war Democrat and is now as
near Republican as a man can be and not
be one. Said lifelong acquaintance of
Judge Geddes to day. ''The Judge can fill
| fha Iii for arv cop stitnapov Tn 1So0 ha ~ .
in an overwhelming Democratic district and
could safely csvort about to every pole
raising and indulge in abuse OF Garfield
without fear OF defeat. He is now in a district
where !, 200 Republican voters are required
to elect him. Now his speeches are charac-
tcrized by honeyed words for the Republicans.
| lie spoke the other night at Wellington, and
represented himself as about the only friend
the soldiers ever had, and sadly bemoaned
the loss of Garfield, leaving the inference that
| they were near and dear friends. He read
extracts from Republican papers published
at the time, 10 prove that he was a war Dem
ocrat, and these are very effective. The fact
is these extracts are taken from papers print
ed about the time he was elected Judge by
the Union party. ] know he voted and sup
ported vallandigham," continued my inform
ant, ''and his cant about Garfield only Illus
trates his demagogicsl nature. have heard
him say that lie believed Garfield wrote the
MoreY letter, and hundreds have heard him
say on the streets of Mansfield that Garfield
was a periurer and thlef-that he stole the
sSe9 His sons, with his knowledge and con-
sent, assisted in
PLAsTERISe THE CITY WITH 329
and distributed with their fathers team the
Truth publication, containing the infamous
Morey letter. He never would haye allowed
this had he thought that he would soon be
in Republican District"
have. talked with several here who say
they often heard Geddes denounce Garfield
for having stolen $500. There is no doubt
anywhere here that he voted for Vallandigham
for Governor, and no one disputes that he
left the Union party and Joined the Demo-
Gratis In 1862, the year after he was elected
Judge. In 1856 he was again a candidate on
the Democratic ticket for Judge and was de-
feated. although the district was largely
Democratic, and the strongest argument
against him at that time was that he was q
vaIlandigham Democrat.
This is the home of
HON. BARNABAs BURNS,
who has frequently been a candidate fol
Office. He was defeated by Geddes In 1915
because the cry was raised against him that
he had refused to vote for VaIlandigham. II
seems that when Burns went up to vote he
took his scissors and publicly cut yallandig-
hams name out of his ticket saying that he
would not vote for a convicted traitor. They
say that up in Huron county there are Re
publicans who intend to vote for Geddes in
stead Of Mr.. Horr. II they would come down
to Mansfield and look up the record, It Il
more than possible they would change theil
intention
Said Chairman Sewell of the Republican
committee to-day. "There are no Republican:
in Richland county who viii vote for de-
famer of Garfield. Judge Geddes has all his
life been an enemy of the Republican party
of this county, and has spent his time and
money to defeat every Republican who evel
ran for office, whether he was a one-leggec
soldier or q civilian" There are a larg,
number Of Democrats, and some Of them ART