The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-30
NAUGHTY VOTES THESE
SOME QUEER CAMPAIGN METHODS
IN THE MOUNTAINS OF
KENTUCKY
EXPERIENCES OF CANDIDATES
The Candidate Who Seeks the suf-
frage of the People of Those
Regions May Tire of
His Job

! Nothing affords a better opportunity
for getting acquainted with the shy, re-
ticent inhabitants Of the Kentucky
mountains than political campaigning,
| especially if that campaigning be local,
I involving county and district offices.
writes correspondent of the New York
! Sun. The facts that the mountain couu-
ties are very thinly populated and that
| candidates are numerous render the i'm
/ portance of the individual voter very
great. Candidates have to do much run
ming about. Your mountaineer Is your
highness" when it comes to his vote.
He does not promise It lightly and does
not give it lightly at the polls The solid
| citizen Of the mountains looks at all
/ sides Of a question before he makes up
! his mind about it, but his mind once
/ made up, he can never see any call to
| change 1t. The mOuntaineer never puts
| himself in the way Of a candidate Tho
candidate must seek him and must DO
| thoroughly imbued with respect for tho
might and majesty Of the individual
/ voter.
In some cases the self-mportance II
| the individual voter amounts TO absurd
! ity. For instance, not long ago a present
! county Judge, who is a candidate for re-
/ election was watering his horse I'm the
| ford of creek when a lank loosely built
! fellow on a saddleless mule came down
! from the opposite mountain and turning
! neither to the right nor left rode splash
| ing and plunging straight through the
! stream, almost dumping into the spng,
struggling judge as he passed.
Hey there what you doing?" cried the
man with the Judge who was getting his
| share of the sprinkling.
"Acrossn this crick in the ford"
| drawled the mountaneer.
But Lord" cried the other. you
needn't drown people"
Hadn't a been thar. We wouldn't a
got splattered," returned the mountains
! eer, unmoved.
But you could have ridden over a lit
tie" eXpostulated the other,
''Haint never seed no call II git out
of a straight road yit," remarked the
| mountaineer, serenely.
Il suppose of course you know this gen.
tleman you have treated TO a shower
bath is the judge Of this county?"
"Knowe1 it all the time, admitted the
mountalneer, indifferently. "Tain't 50
much, though. [ low jedges is made by
votin. hain't they? I'm a vcler-me,"
and touch of arrogance came into his
voice. Got six boys and ten nephys and
three O. my gals a got husbands-all vot-
ers-we. That air somethin' Gee-up,
meWl"
And he disappeared through the low
growing laurel.
Sometimes an old fellow will take Il
into his head not to commit himself with
regard TO his intentions on election day.
With such a one the candidate always
sees a time. one afternoon a candidate
for sheriff rode up TO a cabin built high
upon the side Of mountain. In answer
to the 'Hello!" eight shock-hoaded chill
dren came rolling out Of the only OPEN
4y,or l., h. egfJ .
where's your fatEer2" asked the cam
didate Several Of the youngsters disaD-
peared around the side of the house AZ
the sound Of the voice. but they gave no
answer,
Your father-where IS he?" again de-
manded the candidate. Still he got no
We'll, then; where is your pap?"
Jaw. pap?" A look Of Intelligence
spread over their faces. Hes smoltin'h
Tell him to come OUT here, will YOUR
The remainder Of the brood scamper-
ed off, Presently a boy stuck his head
| low he never meanders about when ho's
a smokin'. lie jest sets an smokes"
We'll, Is he in the house or out Of it,"
asked the candidate, politely.
| Out was the laconlc reply.
do you suppose he will object to our
riding around where he Is settin and
srnokin'? 2"
The boy darted out Of sight and soon
came back again. Pap lows he hain't
holdin' yOre horses?"
The candidate thought he would risk
It,, so he went around IN the direction
taken by the boy. Pap" was sitting Oh
o log taking long draws from a much4
disoolored cob pipe. Ordinarily the noun
taineer is the most hospltable fellow In
the world. but pap" paid no attention "a
| the candidate.
Fine afternoon" remarked the candF-
Seed many a one as fine" returned
| pap" HstleSSly.
The warm, earthly gmell makes a feI-
low feel like he wants to get hQld OF his
hoe" again tried the WOuld-be sheriff
Pears like you hain't got hold o.
yourn yit," returned pap"
The candidate made another effort to
be agreeable. You have a pretty clear
ing here. I presume you raise fine pota-
toes and corn"
Pap. removed his pipe spat deliber-
ately and return the pipe TO his mouth
"'Talnt good idee to pTesoom %
Seeing that the man disdained to pass
the pleasantrtes Of the day the unluoky
candidate plunged at once into politIcg
| You are interested In the coming prI-
mary, suppcse2" he began blandiy.
'Haint much more sense In suppOgin'
than they is in presoOnin'."
The candidate began TO get exasper-
ated
wei, then, leaving supposin and pre-.
soomin' out Of the question. how DO you
stand in the coming eleCtion2'
"Hey stood in water and snow, but
never tried standln' in elections, snap
ped pap"
Well cried the thoroughly Clustered
candidate, Il reckon you know I'm rum
ring for sheriff and I'm here TO ask you
to vote for ne"
Pap" cooked his eye at him specuIa-
lively. How do you know you haint
walkin' fer sheriff.
This was too much for the candidate.
so he got on his horse and rode e.way
| without another word.
The next place at which the candidate
! stopped, his reception was typical OF this
big-hearted mountaineer The owner az
the cabin met the candidate at tho fence
Light and come mi Light and come
I'M he cried delightedly. "Gettn' late
You must bunk right here tonight No
don't say nOthin' bout comm iu unex-
pected Had my weather eye open all
day fer ye. Toll the ole woman this
mornin this was fine Candldatin wealth
| er. Got plenty dried beans and bacon.
Meetin' at the church house tomorrsr.
Kin sec everybody on the crlck right
thar. Come In. Come In"
The mountain candidate IS himself a.
most interesting character. He IS usual
ly a wiry. sinewy fellow, with lots OF
get-up. Purpose dominates him: nothing
daunts him in his electioneering. neither
rain nor snow nor sleet; neither the cold
shoulder nor the singing speeches OF hts
opponents. Former defeat only shows
him his weak points, and once he goes
after an Office nothing but death or some