Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-08
Van Wyck's Hoodoo.


Lot Brown, the local freight agent of the
Burlington road, used to edit daily paper out
in Nebraska before he brought his talents to
the Chicago market While holding down the
tripod Lot conceived the idea there was GOOD
legislative timber in his makeup and he began
booming his candidacy in his own paper. His
chief rival was Gen. Van wyck, who also wanted
to represent his district in the state senate
Van Wycks campaign tactics was well worthy
the shrewd general and will bear repeating
He owned large stock farm near Nebraska
City and was then raising blooded cattle only
but just prior to election he gave out he wanted
lot of young calves, SO sent two men through
the country to pick them up from the farmers
THESE agents by strange coincidence usually
appeared at place where the general intended
to speak two or three days in advance of their
principal. OF course. when Van Wick arrived
the farmers invariably mentioned the fact of
his men being there and that they had bought
up all the calves in the township. The general
would feign great surprise and inquire the
price they paid. The figures were given him.
and then. stimulating excessive Indignation
Van Wyck would stamp around, swear his men
had beaten them, and insist on adding 81 a
mead on all the calves purchased. A Nebraska
farmer Is like all other honest tillers of the soil
and will take all he can get, SO no one ever re-
fused the raise. 1t was a trife expensive, it is
true, but then the general was rich and could
stand 1t. This course made him extremely
popular with the horny-handed voters. and as
result OF his stock transactions he was elected
TO the state senate by rousing majority
Afterward. when Van Wyck was LAYING the
wires Tor seat in the national Senate chamber
Brown fought him strenuously and tried in
every way to defeat his aspirations But all to
no purpose, for the willy general captured the
legislature and received his reward. One time,
after his election, the Senator was making
speech In Nebraska City on some public occa-
sion, which Lot attended in his capacity as
newspaper reporter. Van Wyck is q quick
nervous speaker, and embellishes his talk with
odd. rapid gestures. In some OF the papers q
question had arisen regarding the methods Of
his election to the United States Senate, and
several had accused the honorable gentleman
Of using his wealth pretty freely. He refuted
this statement in his speech, but in q way
which did not please Lot, and the editor yelled
out, well, how did you get there then?''
How did get there? How did get there?"
screamed the little Senator. shaking his index
nngcr at the journalist and almost doubling his
body In two. Just by the help of such con-
summate fools as you; keep on. keep on, and
I'll be President Of the United States yetr This
burst brought down the house and Brown coll
iapsed, but he patiently waited for his revenge,
and finally it came. When Van Wyck was can
wasting the state for reelection Lot publicly
supported him and worked hard to help him
carry the Legislature. Az result the Senator
was defeated. and he has insisted ever since
that but for Browns paper he would have been
victorious. He swears that Lot was Q hoodoo