The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-02-14


But the conservatives resolved tc
vote for Josh. They had no candi
dates of their own, 30 they played
him to win since his election would
be joke on tho T,llmanitos and add
to tho glory and renown Of their dol
cation to tho Legislature. When
the votes were counted Josh was at"
Some few Tillmanites could not help
supporting him for wool hat and one
gallus reasons, and this, with the
conservative vote, enabled Josh to
harpoon victory. That was in 1902
and since then, excepting ono term,
Citizen Josh Ashley has been rnem. .
ber OF the "legislatur," and his ad
mirers say he can make laws as easy
as he can break them.
When Josh rears up on the floor
OF tho House to do a few Demostho-
mean stuts he ladies' out an assort
mont Of talk that is not infrequently
crowded with hard, horse sense.
What he knows about political econ
omy and the science of government
signifies nothing, but in dealing
with practical propositions that are
not beyond his ken Josh can make a
"spooch" that is anything else but
flat, stale and unprofitablo
In the fullness OF time Josh's af
fection for Benjamin II. Tillman be-
gan to suffer for lack Of proper
nourihhment. The Edgetiold politi
clan WAS comfortably ensconed in the
u. s. Senate and he began to give
Josh cold and repellent glances. The
latter recalled the many golden
promises that Benjamin had made
and did not hesitate to robuke him
for his deeds Of omission. But Till
mon was too wise to monkey with
Josh; he merely gave him the in
different eye and the inattontive car.
Josh "'lowed' he'd play another
favorite. When the McLaurin band
wagon came rattling down the pike
of opportunity, Josh tagged it and
fought his way to Il front scat. And
now he says he is Jest M happy IA a
big sunhower that mods and shines in
the breezes."
In Anderson county Josh Ashley
is regarded as formidable PROPOSE
tion in tisticuff. He is chiefly
feared since when he has a fight on
his hands ne manifests an alarming
tendency to bite. And if Josh's
powerful jaws were to faston on
some important part Of mans anat
omy it would probably mean Il case
for the coroner.
Back in the early 00's Josh Ashley
and J. L. Farmer, of Anderson clash
ed on train while enroute home
from Greenville, where big politi-
cal pow WOW had been held. Farm
or WAS an auti Tillmanite and was
known to be not afraid Of anything
human or otherwise. Josh was lust
ing for trouble; Farmer was in q
mood to deal ont sudden death to
anybody who craved it. Josh tackled
him; they hitched Fight9 Very
much 30, thank you. Above tho roar
Of the train and the noise Of tho com
bat Josh's teeth as he strove tc
clamp down on his opponent's car or
nose. 1t was even reported that
Josh's teeth we're seen to strike fire
but this story could not be verified
Anyhow, Farmer was unable to take
care Of himself till passengers inter.
fered and stopped the battle. How.
ever, it was Il great scuflle, one OF
tho many in which Josh has played e
star role.
This is not Josh Ashley's first trip
to Charleston. Ho was here several
years ago with number Of members
of the'legislature, and he had at loast
one unhappy experience. The party
were taken for a sail around tho har.
Dor. Josh got seasick. When the
boat returned to the wharf and Josh
found himself on terra firma ho wat
asked how he enjoyed tho sail.
"iIit was allrlght," he replied
weakly; but ny God, how + did nina
up"
Josh recently announced himself {
candidate for the State Senate. H,