Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-25
MODEST JIM SEWARD.
The Only Ohio Democrat Since 1852
to Cast an Electoral Vote
AND THE ONLY OHIO DEMOCRAT
Who Refuses Positively 10 Have his Pictr
ure in the Papers.
NOT so RETIRING AS TO OFFICES
,noRnrspoxDEScE OF THE DISPATCH,

CORRESPONDENTS OF THE DIsPATCHI
MANSFIELD, o., Dec. 24-James p
Seward, who has the honor of being the first
Democrat since 1852 to represent Ohio in
the electoral college, is one of the best
known men in this part of the State, and is
known all over the Union, as he never
misses a National convention. He began
attending conventions in 1876. AS a result
he has met and is known by the leading
politicians of the country It has been q
good school for him, and ne has become one
of the best managers on the Democratic side
of Ohio political life.
Mr.. Seward is always in Office in this
county, and sometimes holds several He
has been prosecuting attorney, member of
school board, Children's Home manager
and has filled various other offices COM
manding more honor than fees. He has the
Democratic organization of Richland
county somewhere in the vicinity of his
vest pocket, and has been known as "Boss"
Seward for years. No one here attempts to
deny that he and few others parcel out
offices to themselves, their brothers and
friends about as they see fit. Mr. Seward
has. been at the head of the County Execu-
live anu CGuLIdl COulmltGce5 LuEGc LILIES
each, and is always a member of one or the
other. He is hustler on election day, and
no one controls more Rlchland county votes
than he.
He Was a Hill Democrat.
But for some reason Mr.. Seward has not
been in the political whirl for a couple
years. He tried, as usual, to pick winners,
but mostly failed. He was not a Campbell
man, never liked Colonel Brioe, and next
to himself, was heart and soul for Senator
Hill Jim wants the boys TO get at the
offices, and Mr.. Cleveland's slow execution
was not at all to his liking. So Seward
rested on his oars the last eampaian, and
his strong lungs did not expand in deep
declarations of patriotic 81 am a Demo
crat" utterances.
But there is another reason Stewards
voice as not heard at the county Demo-
crL tic gatherings He gave to the country
Hon. Michael D. Harter, and at present he
is not especially satisfied with himself for
having done so. In the convention two
years ago, Seward held AZ of the SO votes Of
the Rlchland county delegation. At the
close of the first day Seward had Sc votes
the highest east for any candidate at that
time. There had been n ballots, and all
the candidates felt sure of the victory.
Balloting continued the second daV until
151 were taken with no greater prospect of
a choice than at the start. At this point
Mr.. Harter made deal with Seward that
he was to have the solid Richland delega-
tion for three ballots, and if he failed of .
he was to withdraw in favor Of
Seward. Mr.. Harter gained little strength
IN two ballots and in the last on e, Ashland
county started a rush for him, and in the
end he had votes to spare
Why Seward Led the Ticket.
Seward has not fully recovered from his
surprise and did not feel like helping his
opponent in the election, though he would
have been sorry to have him
defeated. Seward is always a fair fighter,
and when he is defeated at the primaries or
in convention, he keeps his followers in
line, though he NAV not always make as
great a noise in doing it as some might
.hink becoming.
Mr.. Stewards name was placed at the
head of the ticket because he was the first
,lector-at-large named before the eonven-
ion, and it was simply matter of courtesy.
He claimed chance of election from the
irst and based his claim on just what did
happen, the blunderlng of voters.
Mr.. Seward is now AZ years oiG, hat
lie was just two years of age when his last
Democratic elector before him voted for
President He was born in Knox county,
his State, in 1850
One characteristic of "Boss'' Seward in
lis modesty. He always positively refuses
o allow his picture to appear in a news
,aper. 1t may be an ambition to be the
,nly modest politician on record; if so, he
nay feel that it is satisfied.
F. A. PARKER