Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-02-23
vANDERSON'S VOTE.
A Boys Experience as a Country
Politician.

tons were EliflnE ana Tour hundred
and twenty-sevcn stump speakers were
every night four hundred
and twenty-scven addresses The hur-
argues were at once ringing, clcctri-
flying masterpieces Of cloqucuce, to
quote the reporters who agreed with
their sentimcnt-aud TISSUES Of driv.
cling meudacity,"-to quote the re.
porters who did not agree The four
hundred and twenty-seven mass meet
ings were each "a grand outpouring of
an aroused PEOPLE," or "a small, spir-
itless gathering Of dishcartcncd dema-
gogucs"-quoting as before.
In almost every town rival compa.
MES OF Jones Guards" Smith Ran
gers" and "Ihompson Contncntuls,"
arrayed In uniforms that did not fit,
and carrying torches that drippcd with
oil, scufllcd through dust, splashcd
through mud, and bcspattered them
selves with kerosene.
They raised flags, serenadcd 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" exposed conspiracics,"
tore off masks" and held up - pub
lie execration," proving "irrcfutnbly"
that their own side had, and would
have, all the virtue and victory, and
the other all the vice aud vanquisb.
mentl
Our village OF New Nicopolis had
every requisite for u lively canvass
two halls, two newspapers, two bands
and two nspirunts for every office,
Moreover the town was SO evenly Ill.
vided politically that no candidate
could reasonably expect majority of
more than three or four votes,
As the struggle drew near It's cnd,
men became 50 excited and enthusiasts
tic that business was almost ut
standstill. No one thought or dreamed
Of anything but politics, The men
spent more time Mt the tavcrns 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 qQurrelcd
every time they met, and those who
wouldn't speak to eacu other at all.
OF course we boys initiated our cid
ers We attended every meeting,
marched in every procession, and got
up meetings and PROFESSIONS nf our
own in our patriotic ardor We en-
gagged In ccasclcss discussions which
were none the less hot and intolcrant,
because, as II general thing, neither oI
the disputants had the slightest idea OF
what he was talking about
Going out on the streets alone was
like taking little promenade on
Houuslow Heath in the old days Of
highwaymen; and on the evenings Oi
opposition mass meetings my return
from the post Office was often In irnita
ton of the British retreat from Con
cord.
Now election day was here. We were
assured that victory was in the uir
and about to perch upon our banner
Victory seemed TO DC regarded Us 1
bird of some kind, but whether 4
would turn out AN eagle or Il crow
eagle for the winners, crow for tn,
losers one could tell,
II my participation in the campaign
had hitherto been merely sympathetic,
was happy In knowing that youth
like old age, hud ON this day its honor
and It's toll. Though | coult not vot'
myself, could bring Indifferent or dis
abled citizens 10 the pc lis with my owl
pet colt and buggy.
The FIRST ballot put into the box a
Town Hall was thrown by old Jenny
Grant, the lame cobb,er, whom / had
dragged out of his stall ut scvct
o'clock in the morning, that hc nigh
do his whole duty rs 81 free American
and to keep Fred Crandall from get
ting at him first Fred was active fol-
the hostile camp, and II his slow-paceC
family horse could not make rs many
trips Ms my Knox three year.old, yet h'
brought three times as much freight
when he did come, being provided will
a two-seated beach wagon, while my
buggy had room for but one passenger
Ere d was n boy of the most irrilat
ing audacity and enterprise, and h
possessed, moreover, the advantage %
knowing nearly every voter by sight an'
each mans political opinions by heart
Consequently he lost no time IN asking
for information where to TO or whom
of direction and advice,
Al day long the contest went on
until, late in the afternoon, there wa
scarcely man In the whole town u
New Nicupolis who had not voted; bu
as ballots became fewer the anxiety in
creased. for the check books Shove
almost an equality between the part les
Even my father began TO gro'
nervous, and the politicians rushe
about like lunatics One Of them sud
denly ran up to inc.
Here, Charley" exclaimed hC
Drive out on the north road as fast a
you can go, and bring IN Nanderson-
at the red house next beyond til
bridge
whirled my horse around withou
waiting for more. The rest Of what
ever the politician had 10 say was los
In the rafting OF the wheels us dashe,
down the road ut twelve miles an hour
but the colt had gone too far and to
fast that day to keep up such n gait
ami soon reluctantly allowed him L
take an easy jog trot.
Fred Crandall suddenly dashed b.
with fresh steed, which | recognize
as DR.. Parker's new roadster. Thing
must be ri desperate pass indeed
the doctor was willing 10 commit hi
best horse 10 such hurd-driving Jeh
as Fred.
Frettiug was Of no use, though an
I watched him disappear over the mex
, hill with more or less resignation,
u ,,.og a lnnts road to AuudeTsOn'i