St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-03
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE.
A Truthful Dakota Editor Tells of
His Wild Adventures.
Estelline Bell

Estelline Bell.
A friend came to us recently and asked
If we would accept the nomination for JUS
tice of the peace if it was rendered. We
felt flattered, and have taken up more room
on the sidewalk since. We saw that we
were appreciated, but nevertheless felt
called upon to refuse because we really had
no suitable place to keep the nomination
and knew we could not get it anyway.
We were never drawn into the whlrl of
political excitement but once. A year ago
last fall during long and particularly Wig
orous campaign we were found mixing in
the hottest of the fight with our name on
the ticket for one of the important offices.
1t was the position of coroner. Some time
before election few warm friends. ably
seconded by some Of our worst enemies,
placed our name on about two-thirdS of the
tickets. with fatal results.
The canvass made against us was re-
markable for bitterness, no money or means
being spared to bring about our defeat.
p While we stood there in the Office at the
ghostly hour of midnight setting up solid
BREWER editorials on the situation, our op-
ponent tramped around his open barrel
with wide single, shovelling out great
piles of coin. Our past record was raked
up and truths told about us which we never
supposed any one in this part of the cOun-
try knew. All to no avail. however, as we
had the unspeakable pleasure of showing
our INSCRIPTIONS opponent under to the
tune of forty-fve majority.
AS the smoke of battle drifted away we
began to look up the pay good all-round
coroner, who was not afraid to work up
business, usually got. We found that the
coroner was paid wholly by fees. that he
could expect nothing from heartless gov
eminent until he should sit on a case and
bring in a verdict that 1--WE find the de-
ceased came to his death from causes I'M
known to this jury" Then we turned
hungrily and eXpectantly to the records
There we found, that although the county
had been organized several years that a
death had never vet occurred in it. This
was discouraging.
A glance at the future was equally dis
heartenmg. As far as we could see there
was not man in the county with anything
about him to indicate that be would crawl
off i'll some shady spot and die alone. or
even that he would playfully pump his
neighbOr full of lead. The community
appeared to be against the honest hard
working coroner.
When we saw how matters stood we
sioners and said: Gentlemen. there seems
to be no encouragement for the coroner, no
kind word for him, there is nothing to slim
ulate young and ambitious coroner anX-
iOus to rise in the world and sit on men,
Der Of the legislature or circuit judge,
nothing to lead him to believe that
his efforts are appreciated, therefore, you
may have our resignation. if you want it. !"
The head commissioner said that while
they had no personal use for it, nevertheless
they would take it. So we passed it over
and they appointed the rival we had buried
so deeply at the polls.
Since this experience we have rather
Stunned than sought political preterment.
we have been content to rub our fingers
over piece of chalk and stand at the case
setting up local items by ear and deep-laid
editorials with only suggestion of copy
plated on the blank side of a wrapper
snatched ruthlessly from the person of a
Quarto exchange.