The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-19

| YBUE sE&&N1 " never sWOre 70 run
fjHlE fMl ! for Office for my coun-
y ~ + try's good. l did run
$500 once for Office for my
own good. l was unsuccessful. Virtue
has it's own reward, SO has vice. The
wicked do not always flourish like green
bay trees. Indeed, Judging from home
experience, l am not prepared to say
that they flourish at ALL The fall politi-
cal campaign of 1867 came on while !
was carrying my comic lecture about
the camps of Tuolumne, Stanislaus and
| Mariposa. A thought one day took pos
session of me, "Why not run for the
legislature?'
l consulted with one of the pillars of
our party. He belonged to Oak Flat. l
took the pillar behind Dan Munn's store
on Rattlesnake creek and avowed my
intention. The pillar took big chew
OF tobacco, stared, grinned and said,
"Why not?" l consulted with another
pillar behind Bob Loves store in Monte
yuma. He was throwing dirt from a
prospect hole with long handled shovel
He leaned on the shovel, blew his nose
au natural without artificial aid, grinned,
and after some dehberation said, "Why
not?" l found another pillar of our
party Summing out a reservoir near
Jamestown. He was enveloped in yellow
mud plastered him upward. A short
pipe was in his mouth and slumgullion
shovel in his hand He said, go in for
it and win"
With less assurance and more fear and
trembling l consulted with other and
more influential party pillars in Sonora,
the county town. Some hesitated; some
were dignifed; some cheered me on;
some said, "Why not?" made the same
remark to myself, and replied, "Why
not?" The assembly was a good gate
for entering the political field. My ideas
Of its duties were vague. OF my own
qualifications for the post l dared not
think. They may have been about equal
to those with which l entered the Hen
rvs galley as a sea cook. But what
matter? Other men no better qualified
than had gone to Sacramento, received
their ten dollars per diem and came
back alive. | could do that. They
seemed to stand as we'll as ever in the
estimation of their constituents. Then
"Why not?" The die was cast. an
nounced myself in the county paper as
candidate for the state assembly.
The county convention assembled at
Sonora. 1t was body distinguished for
wisdom and jurisprudence. Judge Fer
raj, of our city, was there. He was then
bright eyed, active, curly haired youth,
and had already given much promise of
his successful career. Judge Leander
Quint was there. H. P Barber presided.
Tuolumne county had not then been
shorn of its brightest lights by the neces-
sites of the rest Of the state and the
world Somebody nominated me. l
arose and paid somebody else five dol
lars. This was the first price of anbi-
ton. Then l found myself making my
nominating speech. 1t was a very sue
cessful speech. l left out politics alto
gether, made no pledges, discussed no
principles and talked no sense. At first
the audience stared. Then they laughed
immoderately. So did l. Then they
nominated me by reclamation. 1t was
one Of the proudest moments of my life,
although / did not know it at the time.
Taken for all In all, it was no wonder
they laughed. l was obliged to laugh
myself.
1t was the laugh Of fend! WANTED
the position for the per diem. l was
buried in turpitude. My colleagues were
all running ON principle to save the
country. 1t is singular that the motive
of such wolf in sleeps clothing as l
was at that time was not detected. The
great and good men, secure IN their own
rectitude and purity of purpose, by whom
was surrounded never once guessed at
the presence of the snake III their grass.
Looking back at this occurrence after
the lapse of nearly twenty-five years 1
sm more and more astonlshed that the
party should have risked taking such
load as myself on its shoulders.
had no position, no standing, next to
no reputation, no property, no good
clothes, no whole shoes, no liked haolta-
ton and three sore toes. / lad not nor
did not realize the responsibilities CT
citizen. had no family. and could not
realize the duties and responsibilities Of
those who were rearing young citizens
for the great republic. Should such
man be sent TO the state legislature: OF
course not. Are such men ever senG OF
course not Go nos think now that at
the period spoken Of was even moor
rupu5le Should a person VINO seldom
saw over ten deIl.rs il his possession a,
any one time be sent where De might be
approached" BY designing men? OF
course not. Was such one ever sent.
Never. The commonwealth Of Califor-
MA ran fearful risk in my nomination
rev, probably none, SUSPECTED the
mental misery | endured during this
campaign Because knew and fel: my
tarpitude.
Unlike nv colleagues, was true to
nv own convictions They But how l
wished for their faita- Il could move
mountains Of doubt. Mine couldn't
How / hated my conscience It tor
mented ne worse than a chronic colic-
There was standing shoulder 10 shout
Ger with ps;riots-barling bravely for
cause. a principle, while IL cared for
raught save sezt IN the assembly a.
ter GsllsxS = DAY.