Morris tribune., 1900-03-10
"GolNG UP SALT RIVER"
Origin of the Phrase and Debates in Com
ress About It.

Origin of the Phrase and Debates in Con-
ress About 1t.
In his collection of anecdotes aud
! humorous bits from the speeches Of
! public men, George s. Hilton reVives
the story of salt River" This is the
: story:
1t is we'll known that when a candi-
date for political Office, or a politi-
/ cal party, has been defeated, he or it
is said to have gone or been sent up
| Salt river. Brown & Strauss "Dic-
tionary of American Politics." publish
ed in 1888, in speaking of the term
! says.
''It is said that the phrase arose from
small stream of that name in Ken
lucky the navigation of which was
very difficult, and the unpleasant
ness of journey up that stream was
| thought fairly to represent the feelings
of the politicians to whom the phrase
was applied" Page 460.
But in 1895 the origin of the term or
phrase was thus explained in a news
paper article:
Away back in the early forties an
old office friend, who lived in Pike
county, Mo-, about the mouth of Salt
river, ran for the Legislature and was
defeated. He moved into the next
county, further up the river, and once
more announced himself as a candidate
for the Legislature. Again he was de-
feated. Nothing daunted, he moved
further up the river and once more
announced himself as candidate for
the Legislature. Once more his con-
stituents started him on his voyage
further up the river in search of po-
lltical elevation.
Many years afterWard, when people
made Inquiries about the office seeker,
the answer would invariably be: He
is sill moving up Salt river and run
ming for the Legislature"
There are a few people still living
about Florida. Mo-, who knew the
man whose constant defeat has given
birth to a phrase that will live long.
Mitchelps Atlas, published in 1864,
shows a salt River" in both Missouri
and Kentucky. The one in Missouri
hoWs through Monroe county, where
Florida Mark Twain's old home) is
situated, into Pike county, where it
empties into the Mississippi river. The
ONAN
river at or near West Point
Here is Mr.. Hiltons account of the
debates in Congress over the mythicai
Salt river politics:
In july, 1852, David K. Carter, Of
Ohio, Democrat, offered in the House
of Representatives the following
amendment to a river and harbor ap-
preparation bill then pending IN that
house 'For the Improvement of the
navigation of Salt river, S5,O00,OCO, to
be expended before the 4th Of March
next, under the direction of the Sec
rotary Of the treasury"
Mr.. Carter then said:
Mr.. Chairman, this amendment has
been suggeS ed to me-"
Mr.. Jones, Of Tennessee-'I rise to
question Of order"
Mr.. CaTter-''Does the gentleman de-
ny the nationality of this river"
Oaughter.)
Mr.. Jones-'T had supposed that the
friends Of those who were to sail up
that river would provide for it's i'm
provement.' (Renewed daughters
Mr. Carter-'If my friend from Ten
nessee had noticed the particular
phraseology of the amendment he
would not have risen to a question CT
order. l provide in that amendment |
that the appropriation shall be ex-
pended under the direction of the sec
rotary of the treasury, with view of |
leaving 1t in the hands of it's friends |
Qaughter) presuming that he will not |
appropriate it. (Renewed laughter.) |
But there is no doubt about the nation |
atty of that stream. 1t has been ma
tionally navigated for a great many