The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-10
VANDERSON'S VOTE.
a Boys Experience as a Country
Politician.


and twcnty-scvcn stump speakers were
delivering every night four hundred
ani tWcn.y-scvcn addresses. The har-
angues were at once "ringing, clectri-
flying masterpieces Of cloqucncc," to
quote the reporters who agreed with
their scntimcnt-and Tissues of driv-
cling mcndacity," TO quote the re.
portcrs who did not agree. The four
hundred and twenty-scvcn mass meet
ings were each "a grand outpourinr of
an aroused people" or "a small, spir.
itless gathering of dishcartcncd dcina-
gogues'-quoting as before.
In almost every town rival compa-
mics of Jones Guards" 'Smith Ran
gers" and "Thompson Contincntals, :"
nrraycd in uniforms that did not fit,
and carrying torches that drippcd with
oil, scufllad through dust, splashed
through mud, and despatched them
selves with kerosene
They raised flags, screnadcd candi.
dates and escorted all sorts of distin-
guished statesmen from nowhere in
particular to everywhere i'll general,
and back again.
Then the newspapers! How they
mailed lies" exposed conspiracies, :"
tore off masks" and ''hcld up to pub
lie execration," proving ''irrcfutably"
that their own side had, and would
have, all the virtue and victory, and
the other all the vice and vanuuisb-
ment!
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-
vldcd politically that no candidate
could reasonably expect majority of
moro than three or four votes.
AS the struggle drew near its end,
men became SO excited and enthusiasts
tic that business was almost at IL
standstill. No one thought or dreamed
OF anything but politics The men
spent more time at the tavcrns than
III their shops, and hammered harder
on grocery counters than they did on
their anviS The women were divided
into two ciasscs-those who quarrclcd
every time they met, and those who
wouldn't speak to each other at all.
OF course we boys initiated our cld-
ers. We attended every meeting,
marched in every procession, and got
up meetings and professions of our
own in our patriotic ardor. We en-
gagged in ccasclcss discussions which
were none the less hot and intolcrant,
because, as general thing, neither of
the disputants had the slightest idea of
what he was talking about
Going out on the streets alone was
like taking 4 little promenade on
Hounslow Heath in the old days of
highwaymcn; and on the evenings of
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 were
assured that victory was in the air,
and about to perch upon our banner
Victory seemed to be regarded as a
bird of some kind, but whether it
would turn out an eagle or u crow
eagle for the winners, crow for the
losers-no one could tell.
If my participation in the campaign
had hitherto been merely sympathetic,
was happy in knowing that youth,
ike old age, had on this day its honor
and its toll. Though | could not vote
myself, | could bring Indifferent or dis
hblcd citizens to the pc lis with my own
pet colt and buggy.
The first ballot put into the box at
Town Hall was thrown by old Jenny
Grant, the lame cobbler. whom | had
dragged out of his stall at seven
o'clock in the morning, that he might
do his whole duty rs Il free American
and To keep Fred Crandall from get
ling at him first. Fred was active for
the hostile camp, and if his slow-pnced
family horse could not make rs many
trips as my Knox threc-ycar-old,y yet he
brought three times as much freight
when he did come, being provided with
twO-scatcd beach wagon, while my
buggy had room for but one passenger.
Fire was Il boy of the most irritat-
Ing audacity and enterprise, and he
possessed, moreover, the advantage of
knowing nearly every voter by sight and
each mans political opinions by heart.
Consequently he lost no time in asking
Tor information where to go or whom
to bring. while required Il great deal
of direction and advice.
All day long the contest went on,
nntil, late in the afternoon, there was
scarcely man in the whole town of
New Nicopolis who had not voted; but
as ballots became fewer the anxiety in
creased, for the check books showed
almost an equality between the part les.
Even my father began to grow
nervous, and the politicians rushed
about like lunatics. One of them sud-
denly ran up TO me.
Here, Charley" exclaimed he.
Drive out on the north road as fast as
you can go, and bring in Vanderson-
at the red house next beyond the
bridge"
| whirled my horse around without
tyoitiptr for mara rho roc+ ~ ,,,I,..