The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-17

much talk of the struggle there was to be
in the next legisla ture over the election
of a senator. Two men were in the race,
and as they were both popular the contest
was likely to be a close one. Party ques-
tons did not enter in, for the state was
strongly republican, and no democrat
stood a show. But which of the repub-
licans would carry the Legislature was
matter of great doubt and Il saw bets
made on the issue as early as the first of
September. AS the time of election drew
near it was evident that the choice for
| senator was going to govern the nomina-
ton of candidates for the legislature, and
as both the senatorial aspirantS were long
of head as well as long of purse they were
using all the influence they had in the
| county conventions which were to be he'd
| early in October
Right there was where the Importance
of the lumber industry came in. The
money on which the lumbermen in the
upper counties lived came to them mostly
through Minneapolis and st. Anthony,
and the perfectly legitimate business re-
ations between them and the business
men of those two cities naturally gave the
latter much influence among the former.
There was a rollicking, happy-go-lucky
man in Minneapolis whom everybody call
ed Doc Martin, for no reason that could
discover except that he wasn't a doctor.
He was part owner of a sawmill, and spent
the most of each winter IN the woods with
his men. He was credited with being as
influential as any one there was, among
voters, but he had rival in another man
named Gilmartin, who was a logger him
self but had for a dozen seasons been
foreman of one gang or another. Martin
was rich man. but Gilmartin was sell
dom flush, excepting in the spring, when
he had drawn his winters pay. These two
men were known to be strong partisans.
one favoring one of the would-be senators,
and the other the other. and IL was gem
orally thought that they would both go
electioneering when the county conven-
lions were held.
-eThe week before that would happen
was one Of a party who drove from Min
neapolis to a road house on the Fort Smell
ing road, near the Mnnehaha Falls part
y for the enjoyment of the moonlight and
partly for a game supper, such as the
house was famous for providing. Martin
was one of the party, and as there were
two or three other high rollers with US,
I had made up my mind that it would be
daybreak before we would get back
II was right. but before the night was
over we had more excitement than / had
expected We had had the supper and an
abundance Of good wines with II, and were
sitting around the table enjoying some
rarely good punch when somebody pro-
posed poker No one objected, and in
few minutes there were two games in pro-
gross. for there were eleven in the party.
six played at one table and Martin and
and three others were at the other. The
game was fairly stiff one. $40 being the
limit, and the cards ran well enough to
build up some heavy pots. We had all in
dulged freely enough TO give ourselves
thoroughly to the enjoyment OF the hour.
though we had not been drinking heavily,
and there wasn't man there under the
influence. Altogether It was delightful
occasion. Suddenly the door opened, and
Gilmartin looked In.
81 don't want 10 trough in" boys he
said. but stopped here to get supper on
the way home. and the landlord told me
you were here, so l thought I'd ask you
to drink with me-
He was greeted heartily, for everybody
knew and liked him, and a bumper of
punch was poured out for him forthwith
his invitation being peremptorily laid on
the table. Then. as matter Of course, Il
was suggested that he take a hand In the
game. and he being moro than willing, he
sat at our table.
e'We're playing $40 limit, Gil
said one OF tho party who knew that
money was not always plentiful with the
big fellow. But he laughed carclessly
and said: That's all right, as he pulled
out so and bought chips.