The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-04
Stories of an Inland State.

If you will take the printed volume con-
tanning the proceedings of the legislature
of James Allthum's state for the year 1856
you will find at the bottom of the vote for
United States senator Of that year these
| words:
Present. Not voting. James Trude All
thums of Thorn county"
/ This is a rathar singular fact and is pro-
bably without a parallel in state legislative
| history. For while il is not meant here
| that in a vote for United States senator
| members of the legislature have never been
sick, 1t is the intention to inform the reader
that James Trude Alltnums was present
in good health, IN full possession of his
senses. and that he did not vote.
| As the vote for the United States senator
| at the last stood: Woods 81 and Criggle IS.
| many have claimed that for some account
\ able reason this man Allthuns could not
vote for Woods but that Woods money
| was used on Kim to keep him from voting
! for Criggle, thus making tie and prolong-
| ing the struggle, which would. of course,
| have been against Woods and in favor OF
| Criggle.
This sGrmise was wrong, despite the fact
| that It was commonly accepted. and it was
| always unsatisfactory because If Allthums
! had reasons for not voting for Woods. his
| refraining from voting for Criggle was GER
taii.ly worth as much to Woods as his
vote. And if he did not have objections to
Woods why did he not add his vote to his
| total and make the result: Woods IS, Orig
gle sc. Or If his enmity to Woods was so
strong ne could net vote for him why did
| ne not add his vote to Criggle and make a
deadlock?
James Trude kIthums did have a reason
for not voting. He thought it a good one.
For fear no one would agree with him. he
| never mentioned it until years after the
senatorial election.
Authdms had not been in the state capt.
tai long until he was in the midst of a
turbulent senatorial fight. There were sew
eral candidates In the field The two lead
ing men were John Crggle and John
Woods. Criggle was in popular opinion in
The lead one day and Woods the next. The
Legislature was almost unanimous-so
unanimous IN fact that the party caucus
resulted IN rev. with no agreement, and
the fight went into the joint session of the
house of representatives, and the state SEN
ate. The minor candidates had dropped
out and left the field 20 Criggle and Woods
entirely. On the morrow the legislature
in joint session would decide between them
1t was a sleepless night in the capital city.
The yellow gas lights burned in confer
ence and state committee rooms until day
break Every faltering follower was
brought into line and a rafting skirmish
for recruits on either side began.
Allthums had never really made up his
mind as to which man to support. The
Boss, his friend and adviser had suggested
John Crlggie and Allthums inclined TO John
Criggle. But although Criggle and his
lieutenants save him every opportunity to
declare himself he did not say the word
which assured them OF his vote.
Criggle decided to make certain Of All
thums this night. He sent Ned Corder, the
man who approached" statesmen to get
Althums, by fair means or foul.
Corder frequently ran up against honest
men and he was quick to detect them. He
knew he had such man in Allthums and
he proceeded wariy. But no turn he could
give to tire conversation would coax a de-
claration from Allthums for Criggle. That
was fair means. AS for the foul
"Allthums," said Corder, "Criggle needs
your support tomorrow with the western
fellows. He wants you to see them all by
noon and ask them to support him. That
is a coed deal of trouble. You've got i'm
portant legislative work to attend to. I
know that. 1t will take your time, won't
i."'
1T would" replied Althums
81 appreciate that. I've been In the leg
islature myself. In rustling around for
Criggie you'd be wasting your constituents
and your own time. You would have to
take cabs to reach all those fellows and
cigars when you sat down 10 have long
talk with them. Suppose I give you SIS
for the cabs and the cigars. Criggle will
appreciate. I'm sure"
do you say that Criggle understands
this
Why, I wouldn't like to-
NO. Corder yoL wouldn't like to say
that Crigs!e was boodling 1t is too good
for a great mar like him who is to sit in
the United States senate. But you would
like ME to say / would accept his Doodle
You are not spending your own money
Your are spending some ones and you are
working fer Ciiggle. ! suppose that other
members from the west will come and see
me and offer me cigars, come in cabs in
the interest OF Criggle. have been in
clned towards Criggie. I'm now for Woods
Your little talk settled it with me-
From that moment AIlthums was for
Woods. This the Woods mana gers did not
know. The railroads were behind Woods,
and 1t was probably o'clock in the morn
ing when n Woods lieutenant shook All
thums by the shoulder and aroused him
from his seat in the hotel corridor He
Il
planned that Mr.. Cobb, of the road, wanted
to see him.
"At his home?" Ailthums asked glancing
at the clock.
mo, mai; in his Office"
"In so over" said Allthums.
Come along with me- said the lieuten-
ant who mad positive instructions TO keep
his mar iE sight.
Allthums vaguely suspected some such
espionage. Il can find my way he said
with some irritation.
He went over to the Office the yellow
light from the Office shot a single beam
through the key-hole. The hall was DART
Allthums was irritated. He did not pause
10 catch a fragment of the conversation in
side but raped on the door lusiiy-perhaps
angrily.
When he came into the room Mr.. Cobb,
who was now alone, arose and shook his
hand warmly. The yellow gas fame fell
softly on the glittering ink-stands and its
reflection glinted in the polished pen-hol-
ders and made the brass paper-weight on
the desk shine like great golden nugget |
Mr.. Allthums." said Cobb. raking his
fingers through his hair. You vii pardon |
ME if 1 presume TO ask you your choice |
for SENATOR"
I'm for Woods"