Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-08-20
HE WAS THE ORIGINAL "osJecToR."


lei Grammar. One OF the Early Mem
bers Of the Illinois Legislature.
In the early history of Illinois one
of its southern counties again and
again elected to the Legislature a man
with the suggestive name of Gram
mar. With such a name one 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 a century ago,
could neither read nor write, while
his manners correspondent with his
rough, pioneer surroundings. He
was elected to the first territorial legis-
lature Of Illinois in 1912, but unfor-
tunately, in the then new, unsettled
state of the country, this honor found
HIM without a sull of clothes til for a
lawmakcr~clect TO appear in. But
whatever may have been lacking in
John Grammar's make up he was GER
talnly not deficient Ia a peculiar kind
of energy, and 10 overcome the uue
obstacle that stood between Him and
his entras e upon public life he, with
the aid of his stalwart boys. gathered
a large quantity of hazcimuts, and
took them ON a long journey 10 the
Ohio saline, where they were en-
changed for a kind Of blue cloth, call
ed 'stroudlng, that was clielly used
by the Indians for breeChclUuts. Inn
mediatcly upon Graumar's return
with his hard earned purchase the
neighbour women were called upon TO
assist in making the new garments,
but, 10 the disappointment of all con
cerned, the discovery was made that
the pattern was provokirgly scant.
The amateur taIloreSSes measured the
the cloth lirst lengthwise. then cross
wise, and finally cornerwise, but III
no way could enough be found for a
coat and pantaloons. There was no
time b repair the mischief. 50 the wo-
men, presumably at the suggestion Of
Grammar, whose subsequent history
proved him to be full Of expedientS,
finally decided TO mike what in his
day was called a ''bobtailed" coat, to
be worn overa long uair of "leggins,"
the latter made also from the strouding.
Accordingly, witt coat shortened
below, anS leggins, which correspond
ed 10 pantaloons, shortened above,
and undergarmen,s 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
u sleeping room must have made a
nights rest anything but refreshing.
John Grammar, while unable TO
read and write, was 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 10 crafty by remaining in the
legislature as long as possible. But TO
remain in the legislature the one thing
needful above all else was 10 retain fa-
o 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-
Lar 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 10 find out what
members supported il and refuse long
er TO give them their suifrages. In
the event Of a bill failing 10 pass and
subsequently finding favor with his
constituents, Grammar, when a candi-
date for reelection, excused himself
by saying that 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, If reelected. to give the
matter his hearty Endorsement should
II again come up for consideration.
This general plan Of opposing all new
measures in a little time came 10 be
he usual practice of many Legislators,
but the originator of this method,
hence the inst ~''obiector, was John
Grammar. Chicago Tribune.