Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-09-22
Tunllin's Victory

The present heated politics i,lgn
recalls story told of the spi con-
test fer Congress in the iifties in the
old Cherokee District between Lewis
Tumlin and William Henry Styles.
The whole country was at the time agi-
tated over the Clayton Bulwer treaty,
which was then pending. Styles and
Tumlin 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 as its
representative learned man, and one
well posted on the current news of this
country and the old world
why" said lie in one of his joint dis
| cussions, Eve want man in Congress
who is sufficiently posted to protect us
from the aggrcssiveness and grasping
methods of England. We want man
who can vote intelligently on the issues
arising from this great treaty which is
now pending between the two countries.
This my friend Tumln can't do /
will submit to him single question,
and if he answers it from his seat with
out being informed [ 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 undistnrbed and answered
with sneering smile, but yenturcd no
further response.
All, continued the speaker, turning
to the audience, "he don't know. Now
l leave it to you to say whether or not
your representative in Congress should
know the situation Of Liverpool"
This seemed a clincler, and Styles
sat down with an air of triumph As
he passed Tumlin it is said the latter
remarked to him. soto vocc:
"Styles, think that was d-n mean; ;
You know amt no geologist"
But it came Iumlin'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-
cceded to locate il to the satisfaction of
the audience. But" said he, at
| would make no difference if l didn't
! know it. There is one thing that do
know, and that is my people and my
district. Now | want to ask my friend
Styles a simple question, which the
representative Of this district in Con
gress ought to be able to answer, and if
he does 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 proceed.
Where, sir" continued Tumlin, rails
ing his voice to a high pitch and level
ing his finger at his opponent, "where,
sir. is Coopers Creek?"
Styles became confused, and did not
venture reply. The audience accepted
the point as good one. for everyone
knew that Cooper's Creek watered the
most prominent section Of the county.
"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 man who knows all about
England and nothing about his district,
or one who knows every cow-path in
the district, and every creek that should
he cleaned by Congressional appropria-
ton"
The victory was Tnmlin's. He had
carried the day. and his triumphant
election followed. History says that
the old Cherokee District was well rep
resented in Congress during his term.
80 1fInUf1 Constitution