The Ely miner., 1901-05-24
VENTURE In POLITICS


in Indiana with my father, who was law
yer, and / was dead stuck on becoming a
great American politician. l read politics,
talked politics, thought politics and
dreamed politics, and for a starter 1 con-
cluded to announce myself as a republican
candidate for county clerk. l got the nom-
ination on the strength of my fathers name
and influence, he having an idea that there
might be really something in his son and
heir, though he had his doubts. i had a
clean record, because | was too young to
have mixed up in politics, and that was my
main personal strength for | had been
away at college for five years and had prac-
tically no acquaintance in the county.
had plenty of enthusiasm and confidence,
however, and they are always worth good
deal in campaign. ] canvassed my home
town with considerable success and became
very popular, for the boys were out for the
stuff, and | had it. When the committee
thought l had sufficiently worked the town
it Was suggested to me to make a canvass
of the county, which ! did, extending my
acquaintance materially, though not at all
times to TIE very best advantage. got
acquainted, though, and that was what
needed in the business, as you will observe
presently.
Zone day, driving along alone to meet the
leaders in doubtful neighborhood, | met
a teamster with team of mules stalled
in a mudhole, an Indiana mudhole being
one of the stickiest things on earth. After
few remarks and suggestions of a helping
character | got out of my buggy, unhitched
my horse, coupled him on to the mule team
and yanked the load out of the hole. Then,
stt fo hp
not forgetting that I was a candidate, l
gave the teamster drink out of bottle of
good liquor l had with me for emergen-
cies and handed him handful of good
cigars, informing him at the same time who
/ was.
"'Of course, l explained, as I tried to
scrape about three inches of mud off my
shoes and trousers and tied up broken
trace. 4 don't ask you to vote for me, be-
cause | want every man to exercise his own
judgment and vote as he thinks right, but
if your mind is not fully made up | hope
you will give me the benefit of the doubt
''By garvy, colonel he said, though
was rather youthful to be a colonel, and
shaking my hand, you air the kind of a
man I'd ruther vote for than my own
gran'daddy. You shore air.
ANN
ventured, handing him the bottle and tell
ing him to put it in his pocket for future
reference.
Dogged if amt mighty sorry, colonel,
he responded but [ can't do it. You see,
I live in Kentucky, and I'm just over fer a
week er two visitin' my father-in-law, and
he's the derndest democrat that ever voted
for Andy Jackson. reckon, though, l kin
coax him to drink some of this here liquor
cit was Knockout blow, but l made the
best of it, and went on my way, resolved to
be more careful in future about strangers.
And 1 was; but / am anticipating.
''Two days later, in another part of the
county, l picked up very decent-looking
man, walking into small village about a
mile ahead of us. [ got to talking to him
as candidate always does when he's on
the warpath, and to show my friendly feel
ing 1 asked him to ride with me, as he said
he lived about two miles beyond the town,
where he was running grist mill. His
horse had been taken sick on the road
short ways back and he had left him with a
friend and was walking to town, where he
would get lift from some of his neigh
bors who were in every day. This was my
chance to do kindly act to one in need,
and l did it. We had got to the little town
by the time he had told his story, and l
stopped there and gave him two or three
drinks, besides several friends of his we
met [ also spent dollar for cigars and
paid for my new acquaintance's dinner. L
had to eat, and, of course, not to have in
Vited him would have ruined my chances
forever, as far as he was concerned, any
how. | had told him previously not to
bother about getting home, for / could drive
him out just as easy as not and would be
only too glad to do it.. On the way to his
mill l sounded him on politics, having told
him before who was, but l was cautious,
very cautious; devilish sly, as joey Bag
stock would say.
'''Have you lived long here?' asked, re-
membering that Kentucky teamster.
about seven years. said he.
"You were not born here, thought
asked, having noticed he had slight Eng
lish accent.
''No, 1 was born in England and came
here from Canada
How do you like it as compared with
the old country"
"'Oh, this is the only country in the
world for a man to live in and be man, he
said, with all the enthusiasm of native
born Yankee.
''We kept this business up till we reached
his getting-out place, and l was sure had
him solid. Good man he was, too, employ
ing three or four hands whom he con-
trolled
Pm not asking you to vote for me, l
said, as he left me, because | want you to
vote according to your own judgment, but
L hope we are good friends
If there is any man on this earth, sir,
that | would vote for quicker than another,
he said, almost with tears in his eyes, it is
you, sir, and l believed him and went on
my way, thinking how much more sensbly
/ had acted than with the blamed teamster
Il got home the next day and was telling
my father about the trip and what had
accomplished, but I didn't mention tie
teamster. | was only hoping the teamster
was keeping as mum on the subject as was
1 did tell him, though, about the mill man,
and with good deal pride.
1--we got him, sure l said, and he's a
good one to have
"'Got him for what?' and my father
smiled
g To vote for me, of course
L guess not, my son. and this time my
father gave me the unmistakable ha ha.
Il have known him ever since he came from
Canada, and he hasn't been naturalized yet.
Neither have his three brothers who are in
the mill with him.