Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-09-29
WY THE VOTER DIDN'T SHOW UP.


The Terrible Mistake Made BIZ an Flee
tioneer IN the wilds of Alsbama.
was doing some electioneering ir
the western part of Alabama when
rode up one day to what looked like
| a deserted cabin, as the windows
were closed and the shanty dool
| fastened and no one in sight. There
was a field of tobacco growing on one
side of the cabin and thicket OF
scrub corn on the other, and in the
middle of this stood q scarecrow, one
of those homemade things composed
Of stuffed figure in coat and trousers,
crowned with an old straw hat.
was about to ride on one when a
voice called:
Hello; light, stranger, and gin us
thay news"
looked, but could see no one till
my horse jumped to one side and ]
saw that the scarecrow had de-
scended from its perch and was COM
ing toward me.
"Hellor Isaid; "are you the owner
of this placer"
Reckon I air. Did yer wanter
chin about the craps in these yeah
pawtsa" ~
mo. ! want to get your vote for
our party. We represent the best
principles of reform, and I have
been told, Mr. Mr. 'Snaggs'--
thank you-that you-were one Of
our best citizens"
This was slightly stretching the
truth, as / had never heard of Mr..
Snaggs before, but wanted his vote.
II amt nevah voted yit, mister, !"
leaning his sharp, smooth chin on
the top rail of the straggly fence
and looking off into futurity in a
dreamy, vague sort of way.
"All the more reason you should
vote now. / want you to come to
town and to my hotel and let me ex-
plain to you the principles Of right
and freedom that our party advo-
Gates"
1T costs tin to go inter town, an !
amt got no store shoes an fxins,"
said Snaggs, looking down at his
broken leg boots, through the holes
of which no socks were visible.
I'm fix you out for that at the
hotel. OF course expect to defray
all expenses.
''Be you the gov'nor9"
mo. But he is my friend, and if
you vote for him you won't have to
pay your way into town. Here's
bill that you'll know what to do with
on election day. It will get you first
rate quarters at the hotel"
II showed five dollar bill into the
horny hand. It was received with
vacant grin.
Got emmy 'baccy, stranger9" asked
Mr.. Snaggs without any thanks for
the money.
/ had some and divided with him,
and ] left him in a radiant good hui
NOR. He was going back to his perch
when / called for him.
II didn't get your first name, Mr..
Snaggs Jim or John2"
'Taint no odds. Snaggs is as
good es emmy"
81. Snaggs, esquire" I said, with a
polite bow.
The last I saw of Snaggs he was
as irnmutable as the sphinx |
in the middle of his patch of corn.
He did not show up at the hotel,
and as our party expected to get in
by the skin of it's teeth I was rather
anxious and concluded to send liv-
eryman after him.
''Snaggs, Snaggs," (" said the livery
man musingly. II only know one
Snaggs in all this country; lives right
over in the valley in slab shanty
and fixes up as a scarecrow when
crops are in."
'.rhat's the one," ! said, ~.
snaggs, and he's got to come in and
vote for us sure"
But tho iveryman was bent nearly |
lcuble with laughter.
II reckon you're out on the deal,
kurnel, hal hap he shouted, fur
hal--Jen Snaggs air a