St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-07
POLITICAL POTTER.

A Minneapolis gentleman, who has
recently returned from visit to lndi-
ana, met while there a gentleman who
years ago resided at Mount Vernon. o.,
the original home of Secretary Win
dom. Speaking of the career of that
welI-known gentleman, he said:
Billy Window made the first new
pair of pantaloOns for me that l bought
in this country after coming from Ire
land. where l was born. ! remember
him well. His first occupation which
brought him very much in contact with
the public was that of clerk in the
Mount Vernon pOstoffiee, where he can
celed stamps, swept out. waited on the
public. pitched hOrseShOes in the back
alley and made himself generally
useful. He was just as affable then as
he is now, and was deServedly popular.
Afterwards he learned the trade of a
tailor: studied law at odd intervals. and
after he was admitted to to the bar went
to Minnesota. l doubt if he landed in
that state with more than $40 in his
pocket. As young man he was noted
for his correct habits. industry, atfablllty
and ueatnesS of dress. | used to think
when looking at him that he could wear
a suit of Kentucky jeans, with bed
ticking shirt. and appear like a gentle
man. l never knew him to be angry or
excited
"WeIl, that is where | have the ad-
vantage of your friend" said gentle
man who heard this story related. Il
saw Billy Window mad clear through
once. 1t was in Winona during the
war, and while he was a member of con-
gress. He came on from the East to
take part in the campaign, and. going to
the Huff house, registered his name
simply William Window giving no
place of residence. Somebody took up
a pen and added on the register the
word Massachusetts, That night VIM
dom spoke in the old court house, and
a large part of his speech was devoted
to this incident. He was greatly eX-
cited. his ewes flashed, and he poured
forth a stream of denunciatiOn of his
enemies that was perfectly terrible. l
always have thought that it was the
best speech he ever made"
HE commenced by referring to the
struggles of his early life, and, by the
way, although | have heard him make
MANY speeches, that is the only time
that l ever heard him mention this sub
iect. He followed this up with an ac
count OF how he came TO Nln0na poor
young man: cast his fortunes with those
of the early settlers of that place; suf-
fered with them the pangs of poverty;
shared their Affections and rejOiced in
their joys. He said that he was so thor
Oughly identified with the community
that he was able even at that time to
take almost every man, woman and
child within the Iorders of WinOna
county by the hand and call them by
name.
After going on in this strain for some
time, he drew himself up and ex-
claimed: After all this, fellow citi-
Zens, some misereant. too cOwardly to
face me, has sneaked into the hotel
where | am staying, probably when
every honest man was in bed. and with
a malice that could be borne only in the
heart Of a double-dyed villain, has fixed
my place of residence on the hotel
register as being in Massachusetts,
1.-THE effect was tremendous. and far
beyond the power of pen to describe. |
really believe that if any man had at
that moment been pointed out as the
guilty party, the meeting would have
mobbed him. l don't think his identity
was ever revealed