The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-02
CHAPTER XIII.
EARLY RISING AND RAVENS.

In ten DAYS after the baptizing the CEN
trail committee met at the county seat in
a LAWYERS office. and Shacklett was there
with some of the other candidates on his
ticket The reports made by each commit
tesman were very satisfactory from par
tisan standpoint until Blue Ridge township
was reached. The committeeman from
there was a shrewd farmer with touches OF
gray in his bushy beard and a strong face
with soft eyes that sparkled occasionally
10 Indicate the reserve shrewdness hid De-
hind the rough exterior and soft voice. His
tones were more forceful than usual as he
began to speak. and his face was grave but
determined He rose from his seat, while
the others had talked informally from their
chairs. and every eye was fixed upon him
in expectancy as he began by saying:
I'm sorry that all the candidates ain't
here. for I'd like TO talk before all OF EN-.
III we're goin to redeem this county an
hold on to 1t we've got to all pull together,
win together, or die together. Up in my
township things is mixed in a way dom
like, an I'll give you the siteration first
an won't draw no conclusions. Ais fine
enough on the surface. but there's not
enough talk about Shacklett for clerk and
entirely too much about Thompson for
Judge. It's awful quiet. and that's eggsact-
ly what didn't like, so I went to work at
It. I tell you, my townships goin' heavy
for Thompson for judge ana agin our friend
Shacklett for clerk, and by about the same
number o. votes. I'm sure Thompson'n git
enough to let him win out in the county
easy and we're sure to elect him from
what the rest o. you say about your own
townships; but Shacklett's beat as sure as
God made little apples, and it's goin' to be
done right in my township. an 1 can't help
it. 1t don't look right for me, but I'm
tellin' you right now, an IL you kin find
anybody that kin stop the thing I'll only be
too glad to step aside an let him take my
place. Gentlemen, I'm worried about this
thing on my own account an for the sake
O. the party. Tradin' of candidates to win
out yourself on the part o. anybody on the
ticket'n break up the party mighty soon-
] don't make no charges. but ye see the
siteration, an it looks like tradin' to me.
It's entirely among the church up there,
too That's why 1 can't do nuthin', fer
don't worship there. we know. The word
seems TO "a been passed round fer EN- all
to vote for their own members, and that's
Thompson an Scott. 1 hoped Thompson
'ud be here. SOS could ask i'm jest how
much he had to do with it,
The members of the committee did not
look at Shackiett. but each inspected the
floor, the table, or the wall, and when the
committeeman from Blue Ridge finally SAT
down there was a pause for half a minute
which shacklett broke, but he was inter
~ 81
chairman, who broke out vehemently:
81 look at it this way: If Thompson is
trading off Shacklett the party is disrupted
for the next ten years. IL the whole ticket
is beat we are in good shape still for the
next time. I'd rather have the whole ticket
beat than to have one candidate traded on
and the rest all elected. If we pull Thomp-
son off the ticket now it'll beat the whole
LOT, and even that's the best for the party.
But there's the others on the ticket, and ii
don't look jest right TO punish them for the
sins of Thompson. either. We want to de-
eide right here what TO do, and then do IL
good and hard"
Shacklett now arose in his place in a way
that gave him the floor without further in
terruption. he began in a tone Of uncon-
Germ, which stopped any idea of talk from
any one else, and all eyes went to him as
he said:
'.Since I'm the most interested in thi:
thing let me say a word. 1 think 1 car
throw considerable light on the subject anC
make it easier for you to decide what to do
In the first place / want to say tina
Thompson amt trying to be elected judge
by trading me off. He's going to get tn,
church vote up in Blue Ridge. and. for tina
matter. here in Jackson. and I'm glad o.
It. / amt going to get 1t anywhere, anC
Scott is, and I'm sorry for that. 1 can
help il. and Thompson can't help II If h
wanted TO, which he shouldn't. 1 had tn,
first chance to get 1t and declined. Scot
took it. can get IL away from him yet
but, gentlemen. 1 may be an idiot, but
amt a hypocrite. Jim Stevenson told m,
how I could get the vote that Scott ana
Thompson's going to get, and ! won't dt
Ii. You can put some one else on in my
place that'H beat Scott at his own game
IL you want TO. but l amt going to swim
into the clerks office through muddy water
I'll take my medicine and keep my man
hood-and go to the devil. 1 suppose"
All chorused mo" to his offer or pull
ing of the ticket, but from that minute al
idea OF electing the clerk was given up
and within a week ii was told over tn,
county that Shacklett was defeated alread,
and Scott would be elected as sure as cleo
ton day should come.
When the meeting adjourned Shacklet
walked out with the committeeman from
Perry township, which was on the othe
side OF the county from Blue Ridge, wher
Shacklett had been led to the political stalk
and the virtue OF Scott had been properl,
rewarded in accordance with one readin,
OF the epistle of st. John. They talked 70
few minutes at the door OF the livery sta
bic. and then each went home thinking
On the road Shacklett met the Methods
minister, who preached on a circuit com
prfsing four charges, the two extreme one
being fifteen miles apart; both men stoppe
I'm accordance with the 1ne courtesy of tn
country. a remnant of the Southern char
acteristics OF southern Illinois which re
mains 10 this day. Their talk drifted from
crops 10 signs and omens. from that to IA
talism. and finally. directed now by tn
minister. TO special providence,
do you believe a man that resists TENN
tation and does right always comes ou
right on that proposition" asked Shack
lett. For instance. If L need a thousan
dollars TO pay of the mortgage on my farr
and i return TO the owner of them a ro
OF bills / find in the road. will my mortgag
be paid of some way. or will the Lord lie
IL be foreclosed?'
We'll. I'll say this without fear OF cor