Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-04
HARLAN.
A. G. sWAINEY OF DERBY BOUGHT
HIS HOME OF THE LATE
SENATOR.
Tells Interesting Experience Of First
Meeting With One Of lowa's Great
statesmen--Why He Was Repub-
lican.

A very interesting letter has been
received from A. G. Swainey, resi-
dent of Derby, in which he speaks of
the article regarding the speech
of the late ex-senator James
M. Harlan, which appeared on
the editorial page of the January
% issue of the Courier. Mr.. Swain.
ey makes the statement that the ar
ticle recalled an experience which he
had with the ex-senator regarding, the
land upon which he now lives, and
tells of the advice given him by the
politician. The letter follows;
The Letter.
derby, Ia, Jan. 26a 1904.
Editor Ottumwa Courier:
Il read with interest the speech in
part that the late ex-senator, James
M. Harlan, made at Des Moines
in our state convention August, 16,
1898. and 1t brings to my mind my
early manhood days, and my exper-
fences with Mr.. Harlan in a land deal.
| bought my first piece of land from
him when very young. 1t happened
like this: He owned eighty acres of
land in Warren and Lucas counties,
rough and covered with brush. i
found out who owned it and where
he lived. and wrote him at Mt. Plea
SAINT for price and terms. He wrote
me at once that he had an offer of
so much and $50 more would buy It,
l thought ! would go and so made
trip to Mt Pleasant to see him and
have a personal understanding.
II arrived at Mt. Pleasant very ear
ly in the morning and found my way
to his home. / was admitted by 9
colored man, and when asked to see
e,e,1,< I, tr
study. He was then an old man. Al.
ter telling him who ] was and my
business, he asked me to be seated. Al
that time, you might say, l was only
a smooth faced boy, and our converse
ton began like this.
Gives Political Advice.
Are you the man who wants to
buy this land? I told him was. Are
you married? Yes. Have you any
,ulate on the land? No. / want it foi
home Have you any land? No.
The old gentleman smiled and said
looked very young to have q wife anC
one child and besides that want 8
home. AT that time / didn't ever
know that James Harlan was a states.
man, and L had very little, time ant
disposition to think of politics. But
after we had made a bargain and, he
gave me sixty days to make the frs
payment took NV hat to go when the
old gentleman got up and came to the
door with me and said In a jocose way
| My boy, what are your politics.?
said was republican and he look.
me straight in the face and asked M
| sternly if could give him any good
reason why was republican. tolc
him I was a. republican because it wa!
the living, active force of this FREE
republic. Harlan laughed at me 81
hearty that thought / had made {
! blunder. Then he looked at me agaif
and said, Can you give me any goot
reason why you are not democrat?
and / answered that the democratic
party tried to break down the consti
| tuition of the government and to som
extent did, and for that reason, coul,
not be a democrat. The room thel
fairly shook with his laughter.
| Compliments Senator Harlan.
Laying his hand on my shoulder h
| told me to sit down and In thirty min
utes from that time / became awar
Of more about this grand republic Q
ours than I had ever known before
T. - Z g.