The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-02-12
SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES OF Mr. JAMES 81

the people well who had elected him.
After his retirement from Congress Judge
Wright like the old salt away from the
sea. was not satisfied outside Of the Ma
tional Capital and took position under
the Government and is now doing good
service in the executive branch Of a Gov
eminent which he had before served in
Its legislative branch
II the Office Of the Second Auditor OF
the Treasury sits a tall. suave man.
whose hairs have been silvered by many
SHOWS. His silver gr'y mustache. his
clear piercing grey eye. his weu-kept
person, and his military bearing would
make him conspicuous in any crowd. He
bears a striking resemblance to former
Congressman Charles T. O'FerraH. who
gave up his seat in Congress to accept the
chief magtstracy Of his State. That man
is none other than Col Irvine DUNCAN.
formerly Congressman from Ohio. He
is MAJ of commanding appearance and
the most pleasing address. and 10 grasp
his hand is to become his friend Re
Gently he was telling a little dinner partr
or some OF his experiences in Congress
His close resemblance to Colonel O'Fer-
rail- often led him TO be taken for that
gentleman Their seats were close to-
getheT and Colonel DUNCAN delighted TO
play little pranks on his Virginia col
league. "One day" said he. Il was go
ing down the steps Of the Patent Ofacc
building when a welI-dressed negro who
said he was from FauQuier county. Viz
GINA, approached me and told me if he
had little money he could get me a
hundred votes in his county. which other
wise would 20 the other way. I grasTed
the situation at once and told him 10
call at the Capitol that evening ana send
in his card. He did call aud sent in his
card to Colonel O'FerraU The colonel
went out and when he came back he said
/ DUNCAN, you are responsible for that.
I couldn't convince that negro that 10
was not me he had seen. and il cost me
sl5-' Colonel O'FerraI assured me after
ward that the fellow had done some good
work for him in the campaign"
Mr.. James Smith. a clerk in the Pen
sion Bureau, gives an interesting account
Of some of his experiences in South Caro-
lima during reconstruction days, all Of
which he vouches for as true. IT so
happened. says he. that / occupied a
position in South Carolina ct that time
getting information about what was then
being done by the native Democrats in
political matters. In the county in which
I then lived there had been a large over
issue OF bonds by the carpetbaggers. and
there was danger that the bonds would
be sold In Northern financial markets and
the county bankrupted- The people Of
the county were firmly convinced that
the Senator who represented them at Co
lUmbia. who, by the way. was a cclOred
man and a barber by trade. knew where
the entire issue which had not been
accounted for was SecreIed- So they ap-
pointed a committee 10 wait on the Sena-
tor at night and demand that he tell
where the bonds were The committee
/ called and asked the Senator for an ex-
PLANTATION. but he refused TO comply.
( They then seized the Senator and car
ried him TO a creek. where they ducked
/ him repeatedly. until he divulged the To-
I cation Of the bonds. The committee had
/ adopted a drastic remedy. but il was
/ believed their action saved the county
I from financial ruin. But one Of the most
amusing things that occurred during the
whole period that was exhausted in wip-
/ ing out the big Republican majority in
/ the State was the devising Of a law by a
I prominent doctor Of divinity and a lead
7 ing lawyer. under which eight ballot
I boxes were used These boxes we're kept
/ constantly moving around by the judges
and clerks There were also eight sets
Of tickets. and as. If a ballot was put ID
/ the wrong box, il did not count. the re-
I suit was that the cOlOred votes were
/ nearly all placed wrong. and those OF
I the Democrats, owing 10 their being able
! 70 read and write, we're deposited cor
| rectIy The Republican majority wa
] wiped ont and the Democrats restored
/ 10 power, where they have since re-
I NAMED"