The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-02-04
VANDERSON'S VOTE.
A Boys Experience as a County
Politician.

1t had been hot political campaign.
All over the state brass bands were
playing, cannon were firing, illumina-
tions were glaring and four hundred
and twenty-scven stump speakers were
delivering every night four hundred
and twcnty-seven addresses. The har-
angues were at once "ringing, electri-
flying masterpieces of eloquence, TO
quote the reporters who agreed with
their sentiment--and TISSUES of driv-
cling mcndacity, to quote the re-
porters who did not agree. The four
hundred and twenty seven mass meet
ings were each ga grand outpouring of
an aroused people," or "a small, spir-
itlcss gathering of disheartened dema-
gogues' quoting as before.
In almost every town rival compa-
nies of "Jones Guards" "Smith Ran
gers and Thompson Continentals,"
arrayed in uniforms that did not fit,
and carrying torches that dripped with
oil, scufllcd through dust, splashed
through mud, and bespattored them
selves with kerosene.
They raised flags, screnaded candi-
dates and escorted all sorts of distin-
guished statesmen from nowhere in
particular to everywhere in general,
and back again.
Then the newspapers! How they
mailed lies" exposed conspiracies,
tore off masks" and held up to pub
lie eXecration,' proving "irrefutably"
that their own side had, and would
have, all the virtue and victory, and
L. Ill a I'll
ment
Our village of New Nicopolis had
every requisite for a 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 majority Of
more than three or four votes.
As the struggle drew near its end,
men became so excited and enthusias-
tic that business was almost at
standstill No one thought or dreamed
of anything but politics. The men
spent more time at the taverns than
in their Shops and hammered harder
on grocery counters than they did on
their anvils. The women were divided
into two classes-those who quarreled
every time they met, and those who
wouldn't speak to eacn other at all.
Of course we boys initiated our eld-
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 ceaseless discussions which
h. 1,Nt ;r4o
because, as general thing, neither of
the disputants had the slightest idea of
what he was talk ing about.
occupied a conspicuous place in all
this tumult because my father was a
candidate for the legislature. How he
came to be one do not know. l am
pretty sure he did not, either. A quiet,
honest, modest and silent man was my
father, who never made Il speech in his
life, and could not have made one.
Intrigue and diplomacy were as un-
known to HIM as sunstrolle to Green
lander.
/ fancy now that it was precisely be-
cause he was this sort of man that he
was nominated. The town had had too
many representatives of another sort.
Going out on the streets alone was
like taking a little promenade on
Hounslow Heath in the old days of
highwaymen; 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 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,
like old age, had on this day its honor
and its toll. Though l could not vote
myself, l could bring Indifferent or dis
abled citizens to the polls 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 as free American
and to keep Fred Crandall from get
ting at him first. Fred was active for
the hostile camp, and if his siow-paced
family horse could not make as many
trips as my Knox three-year-ol yet he
brought three times as much freight
when he did come, being provided with
a two-seated beach wagon, while my
buggy had room for but one passenger.
Fred was 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.
for information where to go or whom
to bring, while l required great deal
of direction and advice.
We were alike in one respect: We
displayed much more alacrity in get
ting people to Town Hal! than soIici-
tude about getting them home again.
All day long the contest went on,
until, 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 parties
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.