Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-09-11
NE WAS THE ORIGINAL "osJecy oR.'

beers Of the Illinois Legislature.
In the early history of Illinois one
OF its southern counties again and
again elected TO the Legislature a Ia
with the suggestive name of Gram
mar. With such a name n natural
ly associates education, culture and
some degree Of refinement but John
Grammar, whose long period Of ser
vice in the Illinois legislature termi
mated more than half q century ago,
could neither read nor write, while
his name corresponded with his
rough. pioneer surroundings. He
was elected 10 the first territorial legis-
lature Of Illinois in 1872. but unfor-
tunately, in the then new, unsettled
state of the country, this honor found
him without a suit Of clothes lit for a
handkerchief TO appear in. But
whatever may have been lacking in
John Grammar's make up he was GER
tainly not deficient in "a peculiar kind
Of energy, and to overcome the n
obstacle that stood between him and
his entraAe upon public life he. with
the aid of his stalwart boys, gathered
a large quantity Of hazeinuts, and
took them on a long journey TO the
Ohio saline, where they were ex-
changed for a kind OF blue cloth, call
ed ''strouding, that was chiefly used
by the Indians for breechclouts. I'm
mediately upon Grammar's return
with his hard earned purchase the
neighbour women were called upon TO
assist in making the new garments,
but, to the disappointment Of all %
cerned, the discovery was made that
the pattern was provokingly scanL
The amateur tailoresses measured the
the cloth first lengthwise, then cross
wise, and finally cornerwise, but in
no way could enough be found for a
coat and pantaloons. There was no
time to repair the mischief. SO the wo-
men, presumably at the suggestion of
Grammar, whose subsequent history
proved him to be full of expedients,
finally decided TO make what in his
day was called "A "bobtailed" coat, to
be worn overa long pair of ''leggins,"
the latter made also from the strouding.
Accordingly, with coat shortened
below, and leggins, which correspond
ed TO pantaloons, shortened above,
and undergarments made from the
skins Of wild ANIMALS, Grammar first
appeared at Kaskaskia, the original
capital OF Illinois. Whatever the rela-
tive importance Of Illinois capital city
in 1872, its hotel accommodations
must have been extremely limited, as
the honorable members of the legisla-
ture wereall compelled to sleepin one
room. True, both branches Of the
Legislature at the period referred to
contained a total Of but twelve mem
bers; nevertheless twelve persons in
n sleeping room must have made a
nights rest anything but refreshing.
John Grammar, while unable to
read and write, vas nevertheless the
possessor Of much native shrewdness,
and soon developed into a genuine
politician with a burning desire to
continue in public life. This desire he
chose to crafty by remaining in the
Legislature as long as possible. But to
remain in the legislature the n thing
needfpl above all else was 10 retain ia
vor with his constituents. To retain
this favor John Grammar early in his
Legislative career adopted the plan Of
opposing every new measure propos-
ed. He shrewdly reasoned that if the
measured passed and became a popu-
Jar law no one would take the trouble
to inquire who opposed it, II, how.
ever, the measure after its passage be-
came for any reason unpopular the
people would be sure to find out what
members supported it and refuse long
err 10 give them their ~suifrages. In
the event of a bill failing to pass and
subsequently finding favor with his
constituents, Grammar, when a candi.
date for reelection, excused himself
by saying hat had he known their
wishes in the matter his vote would
have been cast in support of the meas.
ure instead Of against it; finally he
promised, il reelected. TO give the
matter his hearty Endorsement should
it again come up for consideration.
This general plan Of opposing all new
measures in a little time came TO be
the usual practice of many Legislators,
but the originator Of this method,
hence the first "objector," was John
G. Grammar -(licupo Trihunp