St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-09
Four permits; total cost. So, II
Dan Voorhees, as a Rail-splitter.

Dan Voorhees, as a Rail-Splitter.
Washington Cor. of Cleveland Leader.
Seeing Dan Voorhees, here at the capital
reminded me of story once heard Maj.
CaIkins tell in regard to one of Voorhees,
earlier campaigns for congress, in which
he ran against eX-COngresSman Tom Mel
son. Nelson and Voorhees, were stumping
the district together, making joint debates
at all the leading towns. They rode from
place to place in the same carriage, and one
morning, just before arriving at a certain
town, Voorhees, proposed that the next de-
bate should be somewhat denunciatory of
each other, with the previous engagement
that neither should get angry. To this
Nelson consented. They arrived at the
town, and VOORHEES, made the first speech.
1t was during the Lincoln campaign, and
Voorhees, drew contrast between Lincoln
and Nelson, saying in substance: ''Tom
Nelson and Abe Lincoln differ as widely as
the poles, and if you vote for one you must
vote against the other. Lincoln is plain,
honest raiI-splitter who has earned every
dollar he has ever made, and who owes his
success to his own efforts. He is an oppO-
nent of slavery and has nothing to do with
aristOcracy. Tom Nelson is a pampered
aristOcrat and the son of an ariStocrat. His
father was a nigger-keeper, and young Tom
has never dressed himself nor BACKED his
own boots since the day he was born. Now
as for:me, [ have always been plain, hard
working man. Go up to this little town of
Covington, in your own district where [
was raised, and the farmers will tell you
that all of their fences are made of the rails
which I myself split with these horny
hands. Vote forme; [ am one of your own
kind. What does this pampered son of lux
ury care for you or yours? Elected to con-
gress he will receive you with contempt
uous upturning of his ariStOcratic nose, and
will put you aside with Disguised wave of
that soft white hand which when not On
the stump you will find always encased in
kid gloves. [ am the man for the people! |!
I am the rail-splitter vote for me!'
With this VOORHEES, sat down amid ap-
plause and laughter, and Nelson, as he
arose, well-dressed and rather natty look
ing, was looked upon with evident disfa-
vor. He was an eloquent talker, however,
and he soon had the crowd with him. The
speeches were made Oh a stand under big
buttonWOOd tire, (which at this time was full
OF bitter balls of white fuz. CharacteriZing
Voorhees, speech in regard to himself as a
monumental lie made out OF solid blocks OF
pure birthstone faiSehOOd, ne called atten-
ton to the button-balls, and compared their
fuz to Voorhees, beard, which was then
as soft and fine as it is now red and coarse.
He spoke of Voorhees, reputation about
Covington, said he had investigated his
rail-splitting stories, and had found that the
only connection Dan VOORHEES, had ever
had with fence rails about his own town
was with the one rail on which he had been
ridden out OF it, carried by the leading poll
ticians Of his own party. This, though not
true, was home thrust, and the crowd
took it up and cheered long and loud, while
Voorhees, Flushed to his temples, and looked
very uncomfortable. Nelson then went ON
and thoroughly pulverized VOORHEES,. who,
having no chance to reply, was forced to
sit and listen to Nelson's stories. At last
the meeting was over. and the two set out
for the next town. For long time Voor-
hees was rather glum, and would say moth
ing. He saw, however, that it had been a
fair case of diamond cut diamond, and that
he had been beaten. During the rest of the
tour the campaign was fought On differ
ent principle.