Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-12

know a thunderin sight better, for I've
know a thunderin sight better, for
have been Squire now eight years ana
have done it all the time
Lincoln's unique metfous OF cam
paigning are we'll known. On the oc-
casion of his first nomination as a
legislative candidate, his first appear
acne on the stump was at PappsVlile,
eleven miles west of Springfield, upon
the occasion of public sale. The sale
over. the speech making was about TO
begin. when Lincoln observed strong
symptoms of inattention in his audi
ence. who had seized the moment 10
engage in what Mr.. Herndon calls "A
general fight" Lincoln saw one OF his
friends suffering in the melee. and step
ping into the crowd he shouldered them
sternly away from his friend until he
met a fellow who refused to fall back;
him he seized by the nape Of his neck
and the seat of his breeches and easily
tossed him a distance of ten or twelve
feet. After this episode he mounted the
platform and with awkward modesty
delivered the following speech:
Gentlemen and fellow citizens,
presume you all know who am. am
humble Abraham Lincoln l have been
solicited by many friends to become
a candidate for the legislature. MY
politics are short and sweet, like the
old woman's dance. I am in favor of
la national bank. am in favor OF the
acknowledgements system and
high protective tariff. These are my
sentiments and political principles. Ii
elected, l shall be thankful; II not, It
will be all the same"
Perhaps it is not well known that the
abolition of the sweat box" Ca form
OF cruelty on board ships up to 1859
is due to Lincoln. The story runs as
follows: On one Of Lincoln's excur-
sions to Fortress Monroe, on the
steamer Hartford in 1863, his intention
was directed to a narrow door bound
with iron, the use Of which, he was
anxious to learn.
What is this?" he asked.
"Oh, that is the >sweat-box," was the
reply 1T is used for refractory and
is subjected to steam heat, and has
brings him to terms very quickly"
This. said Lincoln to himself" is
treatment to which thousands of Amer
lean seamen are subjected every year.
Let me try it for myself and see what
it really is" Taking off his hat, for
he was several inches over six feet
in height. He entered the enclosure
which he found to be little more than
three feet in length or width. He gave
orders that at a signal from himself
the door should be Immediately opened.
1t was then closed and the steam turned
on. He had been inside scarcely
minutes when the signal was given.
President Lincoln had experience
enough OF what was then regarded as
necessary punishment for seamen.
There was very little ventilation, and
the brief exposure to the hot and
humid air had almost suffocated him.
Turning to Secretary Welles of the
navy department. the president ordered
that no such enclosure as the sweat
box should ever again be allowed on
any vessel flying the American flag.
1t was not an hour after the order
had been given. before every sailor in
Hampton Roads had heard of it. Many
of the old sailors who themselves had
experienced the sweat-box, wept from
joy.
Nor were the good results of Presi-
dent Lincoln's act confined to the
American navy. Great Britain, France,
Germany and other European countries
hearing of it. fell into line, and today
the sweat-box is not to be found on
any vessel flying the flag of a civilized
nation thruout the world.