The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-07-29
Tumlin's Victory.

The present heated political campaign}
recalls story told of the spirited con1
test for congress in the fifties in the old
Cherokee district between Lewis Tumlini
and William Henry Styles. The whole,
country was at the time a9itated overl
the Clayton-Bhwer treaty, which was,
then pending. Styles and Franklin
were speaking from every stump in the
district, and the former laid great stress
on the idea that it was necessary that
the district choose rs its representative
a learned man and one well posted on
the current news of this country andA
the old world.
why" said he in one of his joint dis-f
cussions, eve want man in congress-
who is sufficiently posted to protect US
from the aggressiveness and grasping
methods of England We want mani
who can vote intelligently on the issues
arising from this great treaty which Isl
now pending between the two countries
This my friend Tumlin can't do. will
submit to him a single question, and ifi
he answers it from his seat without be-
ing informed 1 Will agree to come
down"
All eyes were on Tumlin as the speaker
turned to him and pointing at HIM
asked:
where is Liverpool, sir?''
Tumlin sat undisturbed and answered
with a sneering smile, but ventured no.
further response. !
"Ah," continued the speaker, turning
to the audience, ''he don't know. Now.
leave it to you to say whether or not
your representative in congress should
know the situation of Liverpoolr'
This seemed clincher, and Styles
sat down with an air of triumph. As hei
passed Tumlin it is said that the latter
remarked to him. soto voce:
"Styles, think that was d-n mean5
you know amt no geologist."
But it came Tumlin's time to reply,;
and he was equal to the occasion. He
scorned the imputation that he did not
know where Liverpool was, and pro-
ceeded to locate it, to the satisfaction of
the audience. But" said he, sit
would make no difference if l didn't
know it. There is one thing that l do,
know, and that is my people and nv
district Now l want to ask my friend
Styles simple question, which the rep
resentative of this district in congress
ought to be able to answer, and if hei
does so at once, right from his seat and,
without information, / will promise to-
come right down and ask you to vote.
for him."
Attention was now directed to Styles,
who eyed the speaker complacently, and
good-humoredly nodded for him to pro-
ceed.
"Where, SIR" continued Tumlin,'
rising his voice to a high pitch and
leveling his finger at his opponent.
''where, sir, is Cooper's creek?"
Styles became confused. and did not
venture reply. The audience accepted.
the point as a good one. for everyone.
knew that Cooper's creek watered the
most prominent section of the country.
'.Ah. you see," he concluded. he
don't know anything about the county
that he wants to represent. Now,
leave it to you to say whether it is best
to elect a man who knows all abouE
England and nothing about his district.
or one who knows every cow-path in
the district and every creek that should
be cleaned by congressional appropria-
tion."
The victory was Tumlin's. He had.
carried the day, and his triumphant
election followed. History says that the
old Cherokee district was well repre-
sented in congress during his term
atlanta Constitution.