The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-06-23

worse for their little nips They liked, how
ever, good qrality OF stimulant, and they
| were not ashamed Of Il.
Allen q. Thurman made no money in the
United States senate. II cost him more than
his salary to live at Washington, and his
honesty never has been questioned. He was
| rather the foe Of the lobbyists than their
friend, and good story has been told OF
how he circumvented railroad lobby few
years ago. think il was in connection with
the passage of the Thurman sinking fund
act The Gould Huntington lobby wanted
| 1t defeated, and think that both Jay Gould
and &. p, Huntington were here. They were
confident that they were going 10 defeat the
bill, and they claimed that they had forty
votes. II was near the last of the session and
| Thurman knew that he would have TO pass a
bill by midnight OF certain day or II
would not pass at all. The hours
we're rapidly passing and the fiji
clustering of the opponents Of the bill prom
Ised to defeat it, when Thurman arose with
a roll call of the $ nate in his hand and said:
Mr. President, understand that the oppo-
nents Of this bill are confident of victory.
| They claim they have enough votes pledged
TO defeat the bill, and have here a rol call
OF the senate, with the names checked upon
1t OF the senator's who we are well advised
are relied upon 10y the agents Of this power
tul lobby 10 vote against it," He then said
J in substance that he would watch the voting
upon the bill with great interest and he
would like TO see how well the vote would
tally with the list with which he had been
furnished. The vote was taken. If the SEN
ators had pledged themselves 10 vote against
the bill they saw they could not do il under
such a suspicion, and they changed their
votes The result was the bill passed the
senate. IL passed the house 1t became a
law. Jay Gould left Washington, and l
think he has been content since then to let
his agents manage his congressional business
| came across letter the other day which
was printed some years ago and which was
signed by ex-senator Allen, of Chillicothe
| 1t certfies TO young Allen Thurmans charac-
ter aud advises his admission to the bar. The
original of the letter exists among the archives
of the old court house at Chillicothe 1t
reads as follows:
| / hereby certify that Allen G.. Thurman is a
person Of good moral character; that he has re
sided in this state for the last fourteen years
that he has regularly and attentvely studied the
law, under my direction, in this place, for and
during the term of about two years previous 10
the LIST of December last, aud that believe him
TO be person of sufficient knowledge and ability
10 discharge the duties Of an attorney and coun.
selor at law. WILLIAM ALLEN,
Attorney at Law.
Chill.cothe, O., June 0, 1895.
Hon. Allen G. Thurman was admitted to
the bar in that city in the old court house,
soon to be torn down, Oh the 10Th day Of
June, 1885, just fifty years ago, and in his
early days was a regular attendant at the
court of the county. During the ten years
preceding his election TO the national con-
gress he did not miss one term Of court
1t was his hard work at the law that broke
down his health. He was in with his uncle
William Allen as partner, and Allen devoted
all his time 10 politics and left all the bust
ness to Thurman He had four counties in his
circuit, and he rode from one court to another
on horseback. 1t is said that he worked
about eighteen hours day at study or prac-
tice, and that he rarely slept more than six.
He lost his first law case, but the circum-
stances were such that it was no fault of his
that he did so.
tice, and at one time it is said that he was
hauled up by William d. Wesson, the MAYOR
Of Chillicothc, for swearing. The charge for
profanity at this time was "a dollar an oath.
Wesson had had a friendly chat of an hour
with Thurman and upon getting back to his
Office after it had sent Thurman judgment
pf fines of Sl7 for fifteen oaths and the cost of
prosecution. Thurman went with police
man 10 NELSON'S Office and said he wanted TO
try the case himself "All right" said the
mayor; "tle recorder is ready to hear YOU
"Well," said Thurman, II move you to set
aside tins Judgment because you cannot try
man for Il crime unless he is present
II will set aside the Judgment" said the
mayor but we have had trial now and
the costs Will he more. You may go ahead
with the case"
"All right, replied Thurman; "but where
are the Witnesses
"You don't need any witnesses Mr.. Thur
man you know You swore those fifteen oaths,
and heard you. There is no use of any wit
nesSesn
well, then, move to qua,h the indct-
ment," said Thurman. "ln the first place,
man cannot toe made to commit himself, ana
in the second a judge cannot appear before
himself as witness"
This reply took all the ground from under
the mayor, and Thurman did not pay the
fine THOMAS J. TODD.