The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-04-20
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RY 2EnQ2E g EHdMo
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e BY GEORGE s. EVANS. g
Eepopa::oo.ss.eae
THE Hon. Dudley Collier was justice
i of the peace of Long Valley town
ship, and had been such from time
whereof the memory of man ran not
TO the contrary. He was proud of his
title of Judge; he considered that the
confidence reposed in him by his fell
lows was mark of high favor and es-
teen. What mattered it if he did pre-
side over but one case a year on an
average? At the trial of that one case
he was in the public eye. What if on
one occasion he had heard one lawyer
whisper to another that 1.-The presump-
ton that justice of the peace knows
no law is indisputable i'll this in
stance?" What was the difference it
his fame had gone abroad because 1t
was his inyariable rule during trial
to rule in favor of one litigant, and
then rule in favor Of the other one in
order to balance the account? The
emoluments of the Office were not
great; it was not for them that he
coveted the position, but the dignity
that was the thing. 1t gave him a
standing. That was his reason for
holding on so tenaciously.
II jess naturally need that Office in
my business" was his explanation.
But his sway was threatened. An
election was again at hand, and James
Kelsey, more Familiarity called Jim"
Kelsey, his lifelong opponent, was
likely to be elected. Collier was dem
ocrat, and had polled eight out of Is
votes in the township at the last six
elections, while Kelsey, who was re-
publican, as uniformly polled the other
seven. Each candidate voted for him
self, for every vote was needed.
"Dud Collier III stay with this game
until he gets defeated" said Kelsey.
mo man except George Washington
ever escaped defeat if he stayed with
the game long enough. Defeat is the
ultimate lot Of the politician. Ingrati-
tude is his reward. bud Collier III
catch it,
A few months before the election,
the widow Scott had sold her ranch to
a newcomer, John Clark. Now it hap
pened that Clark had two sons OF vot-
ing age. The Introduction of these
three clements into the politics of Long
Valley made such politics uncertain
Try as they might, neither the Collier
nor Kelsey adherents could get any
satisfaction out Of the Clarks When
interviewed they maintained a strict
silence as TO their political convictions.
The campaign opened with rally By
the Collier faction at the schoolhouse.
Those present were Collier and his
seven faithful followers, their wives
and children. The Clarks had been in
vited to come by the eight voters, but
they didn't come. Henry Marders, who
had served as a supervisor years be-
fore, was the chairman of the meet
ing He waXed eloquent over the yir-
tues of his candidate for the office OF
justice of the peace. There was a man
who was entitled to the suffrage of his
fellow-citizens, because he had always
answered dutys call. 1t was true he
had served as justice of the peace for
"a years. but the speaker believed in
keeping true merit in Office Dudley
Collier was representative citizen OF
Long Valley, and it behooved all good
men to vote for him. Then Collie,
arose. While it is generally considered
a violation OF political ethics for ju-
dicial candidate to take the stump.
Collier was not troubled. He was igno-
rant of such section in the code of po-
iitical ethics. He met with rousing
reception. His adherents cheered and
applauded. Collier spoke at great
length He reviewed his past services.
He pointed at his untarnished record.
He spoke feelingly of his party loyalty,
OF his efforts in behalf of the demo-
cratic party. He thought that he was
deserving of reelection because of his
administration Of justice in the town.
ship. He didn't know that lawyers
that came from the county seat to try
cases in his court spoke of him as
judge who dispensed with justice.
The next night the Kelsey faction
held rally. Kelsey was there with his
six adherents. The Clarks were not in
eyidence-the people Kelsey hoped to
reach. The same proceedings were
gone through with at the Kelsey meet
ing that were had at the Collier "open-
ing gun" There was the same vocifer-
GUS applause. the same enthusiasm
There were exh ortations to stand by
the party. All the old-time tropes, The
ancient stock Of the political orator,
were brought out and reintroduced to
tho audience-"the tocsin has sound
ed, "beacons will blaze" "the gage of