The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1893-02-02
A Boys Experience as a Country
Politician.

A Boys Experience as a Country
Politician.
1t had been hot political campaign.
All over the state brass bands were
playing, cannon were firing, illumina-
lions were glazing and four hundred
and twenty-seven stump speakers were
delivering every night four hundred
and twen:y-seven addresses. :, The har-
argues were 1T once ringing, electri-
tying masterpieces Of eloquence, TO
quote the reporters who agreed with
their sentiment-and. 'tissues8 Of driv.
cling mendacity,,"-to quote the re-
porters who did not agree. The four
hundred and twenty-seven mass meet
ings were each ~ grand outpouring of
an aroused people," or "a small, spir-
itlcss gathering of disheartened dena-
gogues"-quoting as before.
In almost every town rival compa-
MES of Jones Guards. "Smith Ran
gers and ''rhompson Contincntals,' ~
arrayed in uniforms that did not fit,
and carrying torches that dripped with
oil, scuffled through dust, splashed
through mud, and despatched them
selves with kerosene.
They raised flags, serenaded candi-
dates and escorted all sorts of distin-
guishcd statesmen from nowhere in
particular to everywhere in general,
and back again.
Then the newspapers! How they
mailed lies" ''exposcd conspiracics, ~
tore Oft masks and held up to pub
lie execration," proving ''irrefuta bly,
that their own side had, and would
have, all the virtue and victory, and
The other I'LL the vice and vanquisb.
| nent!
Our village of New Nicopolis had
every requisite for lively canvass
two halls, two newspapers, two bands
and two aspirants for every office.
Moreover the town was so evenly di.
vided politically that no candidate
could reasonably expect a majority OF
more than three or four votes.
AS the struggle drew near its end,
tic that business was almost ut a
standstill. NJ one thought or dreamed
Of anything but politics. The men
spent more time ut the taverns than
in their shops, and hammered harder
on grocery counters than they did on
their anvils. The women were divided
into two classcs-those who quarrclec
every time they met, and those who
wouldn't speak to eacn other at all.
| sfo< oil
ers. We attended every meeting
marched in every procession, and go1
up meetings and professions Of GU,
own in our patriotic ardor. We en-
gagged in ceaseless discussions which
were none the less hot and intolerant,
because, as general thing. neither O.
the disputants had the slightest idea o:
what he was talk ing about
! occupied a conspicuous place in al
this tumult because my father was :
candidate for the legislature. How he
came to be one do not know. am
| pretty sure he did not, either. 4 quiet
honest, modest and silent man was my
father, who never made u speech in his
lie, and could not have made one
Intrigue and diplomacy were as un'
known to INN as sunstroke to u Green.
Under.
fancy now that it was precisely be
cause he was this sort of man that hi
was nominated. The town had had tot
many representatives of another sort
| Going out on the streets alone wa.
like taking a little promenade 81
Hounslow Heath in the old days O.
highwaymen; and on the evenings O.
opposition mass meetings my return
from the post Office was often in imita
ton Of the British retreat from Con
cord.
Now election day was here. We wer.
assured that victory was in the air
and about to perch upon our banner
Victory seemed to be regarded as I
bird of some kind, but whether i
would turn out an eagle or crow
eagle for the winners, crow for the
losers-no one could tell.
If my participation in the campaign
had hitherto been merely sympathetic
I was happy in knowing that youth
like old age, had on this day it's homo,
and its toll. Though I could not vot,
myself, could bring Indifferent or dis
abled citizens to the pol lis with my owl
pct colt and buggy.
| The first ballot put into the box q
Town Hall was thrown by old Jenny
Grant, the lame cobbier, whom l hac
dragged out Of his stall at sever
o'clock in the morning, that he nigh
do his whole duty as Il free American
and to keep Fred Crandall from get
ting at him first. Fred was active fo1
the hostile camp, and if his slow-pacee
family horse could not make as many
trips as my Knox three-year-old,y yet he
brought three times as much freight
when he did come, being provided will
a two-scatcd beach wagon, while IN,
buggy had room for but one passenger
Fred was q hoy of the most irritat
ing audacity and enterprise, and h,
possessed, moreover, the advantage O.
knowing nearly every voter by sight ant
each mans political opinions by, heart
Consequently lie lost no time in asking
for information where to go or whom
to bring. while re quired a great dea
! of direction and advice.
| We were alike in one respect: w,
displayed much m0rs .alacrity in get
ting people to Town Hal. than SO. lei
tude about getting them home again.
All day long the contest went on
until, late in the afternoon, there wa
scarcely man in the whole town O
New Nicopolis who had not voted; bu
as ballots became fewer the anxiety in
creased, for the check books shove,
almost an equality between the parties
Even my father began to grow
/ nervous. and the politicians rushet