Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-03-18
THE FAIR CANDIDATE.

| parties OF Butte county was at wOr
| The wheel horses Of the organization
were in executive session, and the mar
ufacture of SLATE" for the ratificatiO
| of the county convention was in pro
gress. Everything had been settle
without friction up TO a certain poin
| but here the making of candidates cam
| to a full stop. Someone must be SeleC
| ed to run for superintendent of school
| and someone must be found who We
disinterested enough to stand for tn
place of county survivor, with the nom
| inal nmulment3 pertaining thereto. This
latter problem was settled, after brit
discussion, by the powers insisting ths
Al Wood, the incumbent, who wa
present, must send for reelection
whether he liked it or not; but a dul
qualified candidate for superintendent
of schools was not so easily found. Tn
man who had held that position for tw
years past had the taste to give UP
his office and TO grasp en- life at tn
same time, only two weeks before, thu
leaving his party in a Quandary for
candidate to succeed him. Of ccurS
there were plenty of aspirants for Tn
nomination, but most Of them were uu
available fer reasons policical, and II
candidate must be a person who wa
popular with the voters Of the country
Jimmie" Van Vert, the handsom
young assayer Of the Spread Eagle mil
had been sitting in a dark corner of tn
office in which the conference was be
ing held, smoking quietly ami sayin
very little until now, bat he finally pu
in his oar long enough to suggest tia
professor Striker, the young prince
pal Of the local school, would make
good mar for the office
"ia-as," assented Judge Bullock, the
venerable justice of the peace, 'bu
they don't know him out in th'kentry
an we got t. have some Teller th't CT
ketch tn aOutside vote. Now Jimmie
look we're What's tn matter with yo
runnin' FIR superintendent y'rself?'
"Dcnt get me mixed in on deal Xix
thatr calculated Van Vert. ferventlS
II don't want any old office. I've go
troubles enough now"
But Judge Bullock's suggestion me
with unanimous APPROVAL on the part c
all the others present, and, very niue
against his will, Mr.. Van Vert wa
slated for the nomination, and dul
placed in nomination by the cOnven
ton a few days later. 1t was two week
before he found out what sort of al
opponent he was to have, and then
much to his disgust, he learned that tn
other party had nominated a girl.
This was almost enough to make hin
throw up the canvass. The idea Of tn
other fellows thinking that he could h
beaten by a woman. Then he console
himself with the reflection that perhap
they knew they couldn't beat him, an
had merely put up this Miss Smith tt
act as a forlorn hope. Thenceforth h
did not put much activity into his can
vass, but attended to business prett
much as usual, serene in the belief the
the voters of Butte county were ne
yet arrived at the stage of progression
when they would permit woman t
hold Office. And all this time, be
known, heretofore and unknown mys
terious Miss Smith was becomin
known to the voters Of the country
and, what was more, she was winnin
good deal Of support from sources ur
on which Van Vert confidently count
ed
1t lacked only about ten days of elet
ton day when Van Vert, with a sudde
shock, came to his senses. Two c
three things had occurred to detrac
from his overconfdence. Among thes
was the avowal on the part Of sever
personal and political friends of the
| intention to support Miss Smith. givin
as their reasons that she had goo
! record as an educator and was withoI
| doubt we'll qualified for the office: tn:
! she wanted the Office and was maxim
a fight for it, and that Van Vert din
want it and didn't need it. On top
! this he was informed that his opponer
| had been in the Cow districts" and ha
the cowboy vote pretty we'll "cinched
This cheering announcement can
from two or three of the "bosses" WI
called on him to see if he didn't thin
it worth while to get out and save h
Political scalp by "rustling" like tt
rest Of the candidates We'll hay
the committee fix some dates for yc
to speak. and you've got to fill 'er
Jirmie; if you don't you're a goi
goose
So, with the inward fear that /
might aftel all, be defeated, Van We
began in earnest and effort to sa'
himself. He did not care for the ofic
but he dreaded defeat at the hands
a woman, being one Of the kind Of ms
who do not believe the gentler sex Ia
any business in politics. He picture
seif-assertive person, with large re
hands and a snappy way Of speaking
and was quite surprised to learn tina
she was really very ladylike youn
woman. tipping the beam at about II
pounds.