Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-01-07
Watertown POstmastership.

EDITOR REPUBLICAN.-In the Nilvau-
kse Sentinel of the S0th of Dec appears
an article on the WATERFOWL Postmaster
ship, portion of which l will here re-
produce: "When Gen, Bragg first be-
came candidate for Congress, this
individual (Charles Gardner) played a
very conspicuous part in determining
the result. He resided in the north wards
of the city which are in Dodge county
By his efforts that assembly district sent
Bragg delegates to The Shebeygan con-
vention. The soidity of Dodge county,
the home of S. D. Burchard, Bragg,s
leading competitor, was thereby broken.
and the break really resulted in Bragg's
first nomination"
! wish to aow give the ''inside" of how
it became possible for Gardner to render
this great service to Gen. Bragg At
this time the bond question was at fever
heat, aad was used on all possible occa
Sous TO make or uanaks aspiranW for
political position. Gen. Bragg had been
blowing long and deep in the Fifth and
Sixth wards, but without effect;ng any
thing--all the prominent democrats favor
ing S. D. Burchard, frst, last and all the
time. On the day previous to the time
forgholding the csucuses Mr.. Burchard
was in the city and iE the evening with
some Dodge County friends stepped into
Cech's saloon to rest and refresh him
self. The writer happening also to be in
the place was invited by Mr.. B. to "sit
down and haye something 1t is per-
haps needless to state that the invitation
was cheertully accepted, bat not a word
passed between us in regard to the I'M
pending caucuses. And right here
| would insert that bad, in a quiet
way, (not residing in the district) under.
taken to do something for Bragg but with
out receiving the least encouragement;
everybody was in favor of Burchard, and
no argument would avail anything.
Chas Gardner, seeing me in the company
of Mr.. Burchard, then and there invent
ed the only way by which the Fifth and
Sixth wards could be carried for Gen.
Bragg, He (Gardner) Immediately left
Cech's, and rushing around among the
other saloons soon gathered together a
considerable crowd of Fifth and Sixth
warders, and marching them to the front
of Cech's, where they could see Mr.
Burchard, his friends and the writer sit
ting at the table, he (Gardner) addressed
them in substance, as follows: ''See
that, see that bond holder, who does not
even live in cur district, contracting to
deliver the Fifth and Sixth wards to
Burchard, this arch couspirator, assisted
by that most wicked Of bondholders, old
Dennis, (Mr d. had also spoken a good
word fer Bragg whenever opportunity
ofered) contracting to deliver your votes
to Sam. Burchard Men OF the Fifth and
Sixth wards, will you quietly submit to
such a damnable conspiracy? will you
consent to become the slaves of these
he artless bondholders? Answer: No,
Never" This scene was actually enact
ed about as above described. The fol-
lowing evening the Union Lesguers and
their sympathizsrs were out in force at the
caucuses aud the friends Of Burchard
Nessrs. Herman, Schmutzler, Salick,
Habbegger, Bsckman, &C., we're most
beautifully scooped "Well beat you.
didn't I?p was the only satisfaction
these leading democrats ever received at
he hands of Gardner on giving vent to
their Indignation.
This was how Charley Gardner was
was enabled to render Gen. Bragg the
great service. And Chas. Gardner ad-
mitted to me about one year ago that he
had thus far not been manly enough to
tell Gen. Bragg hoW the thing was done.
F. P. BROOK.