The San Francisco call., 1896-08-03

terday at a meeting of politicians in
terested in timely registration. Mr.. Dia-
mond was 100 years of age last May and
his first vote was cast for John Quincy
Adams in November, 1924. Captain Short
stated that he was SO years of age On his
last birthday. He cast his first vote for
Andrew Jackson in November, 1928, just
sixty-eight years ago.
"When l went to the registration office
yesterday" said Captain Short last even
| ing, ''the clerk told me that one older man
had been there said knew who it was.
Mr.. Diamond l said, and | was right.
He voted four years before did,"
The veteran captain became reminiscent
years and eight as a voter and he related
some interesting incidents that formed
part of his experience.
81 was q years of age the day first
| voted" he continued. at was in the
Bloody Sixth Ward in New York. At
that time I looked very young and the
officers of election commented on my
| Democrats came into existence. Before
| it was Republicans and Whigs. A Clay
man challenged my vote on the ground
| that was not 81. How old are your the
| Judge asked. Pm 81 to-day answered.
As there used to be three days elections
then in New York 1 was passed without
challenge. He could vote Tomorrow
said the Clay man.
"Why was it called the Bloody Sixth ?
The ward got that name in 1888. Demo-
crat was running for Mayor of New York.
Word was passed around that they were
| bringing 'repeaters' from Philadelphia.
General Jonathan D. Stevenson. who died
here not long since, went to Philadelphia
and sent up so many 'pipe-layers, and so
-. 1,xx =,
| were the repeaters, and 1t was through
them the term 'pipe-laying' originated in
politics. A committee of 100 was organ
| lied to protect the Whig voters of the Sixth
| Ward. Our boys met that night and got
| committed to stand them off. We
| bought three carloads of frewood that
was then used in New York-heayy,
chunky blocks-and we dumped them at
convenient points. When the Wing COM
mittee of 100 came round the wood began
! to fly and the Wings few before it. OF
course, nobody was killed exactly, but
there were great many heads cut. But
| it wasn't much trouble, the hospital was
quite close-in Pearl street-and the cut
heads were dressed there. After that it
was the Bloody Sixth
"From my first vote till the election OF
Lincoln, in 1860, / voted the Democratic
ticket. Yes, sir, was redhot Democrat
| that never crossed or dotted an i.
| How's that2" and the captain enjoyed the
old saying of his political opponents OF
long ago,
Il voted for Douglas, and when Lin
coin was elected I was thrown out OF
| office-the San Francisco Postoffice. After
the war a great Union meeting was held at
the triangle at Bush and Market streets.
Some friends of mine said to me: Short,
it's all over now, we are going to reorga-
nize the Democratic party; come with us
| to the meeting They represented the
Southern end of the party. A Judge q
have forgotten his nancy, who was one OF
| the speakers, said that he was Unionlst,
but the victory struck deep in him. Then
said The Unionist is struck deep in me
and T. m going to stay there
81 left that meeting and ever since I've
voted the Republican ticket. After the
| election of Taylor in 1848 came here. !
left New York January 30, 1849, and ar
rived in San Francisco after a journey OF
173 days from New York. My mining ven-
lures were not success and / came back
to San Francisco from the mountains.
Taylor appointed new Postmaster for
| San Francisco, Mr.. Moore. On his ar
rival here he found three OF four clerks
playing cards in the Postoffice. He
| thought that terrible thing. OF course,
he was straight down-Easter, 80 when
met him | received an appointment in the
local Postoffice. This kept me out of poll
tics, though / took an active interest in
my own party"
Captain Short is an ardent Mckinley
| man.
I'm Novemb Der Mckinley will be elected.
l believe, for the people are going over to
his side rapidly" he said.
Regarding the money question, this
| country cannot go against.the world.