Evening star., 1901-03-09
4 VOTER WITH JUDGMENT

before I had arrived at the distinction
OF being . national statesman" said q
member Of Congress from southwestern
state. Il took preliminary course OF two
or three terms in my state legislature. 1t
was necessary, of course, to be elected to
this grave and dignified body. and an cleo
tion meant a lot Of hard work as candi-
date. Sometimes the work was productive
OF good results and sometimes 1t might bet
ter have been left undone. Mine was most
ly of the former quality. 1 reckon. for I
was never defeated. My first campaign
was three-cornered fight and I was be-
tween the two regular candidates. 1t was
all new to me and the experiences were in
tereSting. One I remember particularly.
l was looking after my fences in one of the
PACK precincts, when I ran across an old
FELLOW didn't know. There are not many
OF that kind in a legislative district, for 1t
Is only candidate of small experience or
of great indifference who doesn't know at
least by sight, every voter in his county.
L was new, but not at all Indifferent and
when I saw him sitting on the fence of a
cornfield by the roadside L stopped my
morse and began talking about the crops
You see, l was interested in crops, for
crops made corn and corn made whisky
and whisky made democrats, as the old
saying was. I proceeded cautiously, be-
cause was in strange waters, and didn't
want to get snagged at the beginning. So
after little general conversation 1 edged
over into politics..
'''I suppose 1 ventured, that you are
going to vote this faIl?'
hain't never missed hit in the
twenty yer been Hvin' in these parts he
responded proudly.
It's what every man ought to do
said 1. 1t is his duty and should be his
pride as well, for the franchise of the
American citizen is equal to the scepter of
a king
He looked at me curiously as though he
had his suspicious.
reckon It's, mister he said slowly. as
IL digesting the great truth 1 had pre-
sented so eloquently. L hain't quite ekal
to sayfn' hit in them words, but kin feel
hit jist that away.
Yes, my friend I went on, and you
ought to feel it that way; every man ought
to, because to every man in this great
and glorious republic of ours is intrusted
his share in the guardianship of the pal
ladium Of our liberties and the perpetu-
alton of our institutions
The old fellow seemed to like my senti-
ments, and 1 was beginning to feel the
thrill of my oratory myself, although
mad only the old man and the cornfield
fer auditors.
That's hit to a gnat's heel, mister. ding
ed eff it amt he said, with rising enthu-
siasm.
"'And he should be Jealous in his efforts
TO cast his vote wisely and well, uninflu-
enced by any other than the highest mo-
tives-such motives actuated the noble
founders of the republic, 1 said with a
the cornfield.
Bully fer you, mister cheered the old
chap fixing himself comfortably on the
fence The palladium NV our liberties is
sumthin' been lookin out fer ever since
the fust time 1 heered Nv 1t In the cam
palgn NV eighteen seventy-five.'
or course, you know the three candi-
dates in this race and have your mind
made up as to how you will vote?' 1 said
as a feeler.
WALL he hesitated, I know ther
names and sumpthin' about 'em but amt
shore whar I'm at yit. Mebbe you kin
gimme p'inter er two?'
Here was my golden opportunity and
seized 1t. You know Colonel Jenkins, don't
your 1 asked
He's the man, amt he that they said
Wuz kinder mixed up with that railroad
g That's what they say
Hes ieetle resky, reckon, amt he %
Perhaps he is I answered with care
not wanting to hit my opponent behind
the back. But there's Judge Martin. he
was opposed to the railroad ring
But he's a'gin pensions, aln't he"
Possibly, and I stopped second for
thought as to how best to introduce the
thlrd and last candidate, the one in whom
1 was especially interested.
'Thar's another'n, amt thar? he sug-
gested
Yes, Mr.. Blank; he's a young fellow out
for the first time, 1 believe. What do you
think Of him.?
He's the one, reckon, TIL vote fer
he said in half undecided manner. Least
ways he's got the best show fer nv vote
ez fer ez heered frum.'
How Is that@ I inquired nervously, for
l was AFRAID might scare the hen of the
nest before the egg was laid.
The old fellow came down off of the
renee in order to get into more confidential
relationship with me as sat on my horse
Jedgin' frum yer looks, mister he
said, you air a friend of Blanks, and
wanter know fer sartain an shore about
MIN. The best them other fellers kin do is
half gallon Nv red liquor fer a vote, an
Blank Is Willfn' to go 'em quart better
SO I've heerd. Thar's whar I stick fer the
present time: but If it's shore thing, an
l Kin git three quarts, then, by hokey
Blank'n git my vote eff I hev to hew my
way to the polls with corn cutter. The
palladium Nv our liberties is as shore ez
shootin'. an our noblest institutions Is
bound to be perpetooted with him a-holt NV
the lines, an I'll do my derndest to git
him elected. But I've got to know fer
shore about them three quarts. How is it.
misterr And the old mans eager face
peered up into mine.''
The story teller stopped short off.
Well inquired listener, what did you
say to him?''
TT doesn't make. any difference what 1
said to him." laughed the member Didn't
I say I was never defeated In any Of my
races"