The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-09-06
THE ORIGINAL oeJEcToR.
John Grammar, One Of the First Member
Of tho Illinois Lsgialature.

John Grammar. One Of the First Members
oft Illinois Legislature.
In the early history of Illinois one of
its southern counties again ard again
elected to the Legislature a man with
the suggestive name of Grammar. With
such a name one naturally associates
education. culture and some degree Of
refinement. but John Grammar. whose
long period of service in the Illinois
Legislature terminated more than half
century ago. could neither read nor
write, while his manners correspondent
with his rough, pioneer surroundings.
He was elected to the first Tsxrltorial
Legislature of Illinois in 1915. but IN
fortunately, in to tsLn row. unsettled
state OF the country. this honor found
him without a suit of clothes fit for a
lawmaker-elect to appear in. But
whatever may have been lacking in
John Grammars makeup, he was GER
tainly not deficient in peculiar kind
OF energy, and to overcome the
one obstacle that stood between
him and his entrance upon
public life he, with the aid of his stall
wart boys, gathered large quantity of
hazelnuts, and took them on a long
journey to the Ohio saline, where they
were exchanged for kind of blue
cloth. called ''strouding," that was
chiefly used by the Indians for breech-
clouts. Immediately upon GRAMMAR
return with his hard-earned purchase
the neighbor women were called upon
to assist in making the new garments,
but. to the disappointment of all con-
cerned, the discovery was made that
the pattern was provokingly scant The
amateur tailoresses measured the cloth
first lengthwise. then crosswise, and
finally cornerwise. but in no way could
enough be found for coat and panta-
looms. There was no time to repair
the mischief. so the women, presume
bly, at the suggestion of Grammar,
whose subsequent history proved him
to be full of expedients, finally decided
to make what in its day was called a
''bob-tail'' coat, to be worn over long
pair of leggins." the latter also made
from the strouding.
Accordingly, with coat shortened be-
low. and leggins. which correspond to
pantaloOns, shortened above, and I'M
dergarments made from the skins of
wild animals. Grammar first appeared
at Kaskaskia, the original capital of
Illinois. Whatever the relative impor-
lance Illinois capital city In 1912, its
hotel accommodations must have been
extremely limited, as the honorable
members of the Legislature were all
compelled to sleep in one room. True,
both branches of the Legislature at the
period referred to contained total OF
but twelve members; nevertheless
twelve persons in one sleeping room
must have made a nights rest any
thing but refreshing.
John Grammar, while unable to read |
and write, was nevertheless the pos
SCISSOR of much native shrewdness. and |
soon developed into a genuine politi-
clan 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 one thing needful |
above all else was to retain favor with
his constituents. To retain this favor
John Grammar early in his legislative
career adopted the plan of opposing
every new measure proposed. He
reasoned that il the measure
passed and became a popular law no
one would take the trouble to inquire
who opposed it. If, however, the
after its passage became for
any reason unpopular the people would
be sure to find out what members sup
ported it and refuse longer to give them
their suffrages. In the event of a bill
failing to pass and subsequently finding
favor with his constituents, Grammar,
when a candidate for reelection, en-
sused himself by saying that had he
known their wishes In the matter his
vote would have been cast in support
Of the measure instead of against it;
inally he promised. II reelected, to
give the matter his hearty Endorsement
should it again come up for considera-
ion. This general plan of opposing
Ill new measures in little time came
20 be the usual practice of many legis-
ators. but the originator of this method.