The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-04-13

pany with his gang or push" as it is
called in modern slang, and be personally
responsible for the heartiness of their
| applause. Through his offices the same
band of patriots are induced to march in
the political parades. bearing torches and
| transparencies, and cheering frantically
as they pass the residences of those can
didates who have had the forethought to
| see Pete in due season. And at the
conclusion of these meetings and parades
it is Pete who is entrusted with the $40
note that is to be spent in treating the
boys, and careful he is, too. to do the
/ treating in the saloon 90 his own cap
! tain.
| As election day approaches he con-
/ trives to see the various voters in the
interest of his captain and ''get their
I promise as the phrase is. This part of
his labor culrinates in burst of IN
usual activity the Saturday night be-
/ fore election, when the voters are COM
( ing home from work with their wages in
their pockets. And it is astonishing to
learn how faithfully the promises made
under these circumstances are kept.
nut II Is Oh inc tds VI titEiiOI that
Hot Corn Pete finds himself with work
of a really delicate and confidential
nature on his hands. At the opening of
the polls he seats himself Just outside
the booth with a list of the voters in
the district in his hands and carefully
checks Off each man as he enters.
At l o'clock the district captain. who
has been busy getting his followers to
the polls since sunrise. takes a look at
the list Has Denny Dineen voted yet?''
ne says.
NO" says Pete Hes working over
at the Erie Basin. and I told him we'd
vote his ballot for him."
Here you, Pat" says the leader, turn
ing 10 one of the loungers, go in there
and vote Denny Dineens name for him.
You, Tom. go in and vote for Patty Moran.
He registered the day before he was
killed"
In this way score OF votes are cast
for men who are working at some dis
tant job. or too drunk to appear them
selves. or who have died between the
days of registration and election.
1t is Hot Corn's Pete's duty to see that
all these Illegal votes are cast in the
interest of his own party, and so long
as no attempt is made to poll those
that belong 20 the other side no OBJ
lection is raised, the watchers taking the
ground that no fraud is committed as the
votes are cast with the full consent and
in accordance with the political belief OF
the men who registered.
1t was on the strength of these and
other services rendered to the party tina.
Hot Corn Pete based his claim for recog-
milton at the hands of the United States
Government, and it is because of its re-
fusal to meet his demands that he started
a mutiny which might have spread through
the whole city had not the gentleman
of the distinguished mien come from
Washington for the express purpose of
squaring the matter.
That the matter was squared, together
with sundry others, in the course OF the
interview between the two men in the
district leaders saloon. is fact well
known TO everyone at all conversant
with New York politics. At any gate,
before the week was out, Hot Corn Pete
once more swore fealty to his party lead
er and returned to his old lodging place
on the tin roof of the extension. In his
inside pocket was an official notification
from Washington, signed by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, and setting forth
the fact that on the recommendation of
the collector of the port, Hot Corn Pete
was duly appointed inspector at the rate
of So a day. And to his credit. be it said,
that those faithful ones among his push
who went out with him had their reward,
too For not one inch would Pete move
his corn pot until every man jack OF them
had received his appointment as laborer
at 81 day.
And neither the inspector, Pete, nor the
laborers who were appointed at his in
stance have anything whatever to do eX-
cept to sign their names TO the payrolls
every morning. and draw their wages at
the end of the month.
And often on summer evenings when
the voice of Hot Corn Pete is heard On
the Bowery lifted up in praise OF the
contents of his iron pot. men familiar
with the history of the district will point
him out 10 the stranger from afar, say
ing:
That's Hot Corn Pete, the man that
kicked up such a fuss THAI they
couldn't settle it till the President OF
the United States came en- from Wash
ington to square it himself
Copyright. 1902 by James L. Ford)