The Osceola times., 1884-12-27
A Powerful Speech.

] once knew ntn VINO was nODn
ated by his fellow citizens for certain
Office and finally elected without having
expended cent for that purpose. Ii,
was very eccentric, but he made good
officer. When he beard that he was
nominated, ne went up, as he ssid, into
the mountains to do some assessment
work on a couple ofclaims.
He got lost and didn't get his bear.
ings until day or two after election
Then he came into town hungry, greasy
and ragged, but unpledged.
He found that he was elected, and in
answer TO telegram started off for
Frisco to see dy ing relative. He did
not get back until the first of January
Then he fled his bond and sailed into
the office. He fired several seden.
tary deputies who had been in the
place for twenty years just because they
were good workers" That is. hey were
good workers at the polls. They saved
all their energies for the campaign, and
so they only had vitality enough left to
draw their salaries during the balance
OF the two years.
This man raised the county scrip
from sixty 10 ninety-five in less than
two years, and still they busted him in
the next convention. He was too ecc n
tric. One delegate asked what in Sam
Hill would become of the country if
every candidate should skin out during
the campaign and rusticate in the noun
tains while the battle was being fought.
Says he, II am a delegate from the
precinct of Rawhide Buttes, and | calk-
late that know what | am talkin'
about. Gentlemen of the convention,
just suppose that everybody, from the
president of the United States down,
was to git the nomination and then
light out like house afire and never
come back till it was time to file his
bond; what's going to become of us COM
mon drunkards to whom election is an
oasis in the bad lands, an orange grove
in the alkali flats?
"Mr. Chairman, there's millions of
dollars in this broad land waiting for
the high tide of election day to come
and float 'em down to where you and /,
Mr.. Chairman, as well as other parched
and patriotic inebriates; eau git hold
of 'em.
Gentlemen, we talk about striHgency
and shrinkage of values, and all such
funny business as that; but that's some
thing don't know blamed thing
about What ! can grapple with is this:
III our county offices are worth 100000,
and there are other little after-claps and
soft snaps, and walk overs, worth say
$4,000, and the boys, say, are willing to
90 the fair thing, say, blow in fifteen
per cent. to the central committee, and
what they feel like on the outside, then
politics, instead of burden and a re-
proach, becomes pleasing duty, a JOY
lives might otherwise be dreary mono
tone.
'Mr. Chairman, the past tw o years has
wrecked four campaign saloons, and
timer who socked his wife's fortune in
to campaign torches, is now in a land
where torchlights is no good Over
come by dull market, financial de-
preston and reserved central commit
tee, he ate package of Rough on Rats,
and passed up the fiune. He is now at
rest over yonder.
"Such instances would be common if
we encouraged the eccentric economy of
official cranks. 1t is an evil that is
gnawing at the vitals of the republic.
We must squench it or ge; left. There
are millions of dollars in this country.
Mr.. Chairman. that if we keep it out of
the campaign. will get into the hands of
the working classes, and then you and
|, Mr.. Chairman, and gentleman of
the convention, can starve 10 death.
Keep the campaign money, away from
the soulless hired men, gentlemen, or
good bye John.
Mr.. Chairman, excuse my emotion
II is almighty seldom that / make a
speech. but when do, strive to get
there with both feet. We must either
work the campaign funds into their legit-
innate channels, or every blamed patriot
within the sound of my voice will have
to fasten on tin bill and rustic for an
gle worms amongst the hens. You hear
me?"
Terrific applause. during which the
delicate odor of enthusiasm was noticed
on the breath of tie entire delegation. !