Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-03-07
IN ARIZoNA'S BAD DAYS.
Some of the Things That Happened
When Land Was Wild.

Some OF the Things That Happeneo
When Land Was Wild.
In a group Of gentlemen in the New
willard last evening was Mr.. Brew
ster Cameron, at one time general
agent of the department Of justice,
who was telling Of the stirring times
in Arizona about the period when
President Arthur threatened to put the
territory under martial law. Mr..
Brewster was telling Of the notable
men whom that era brought to the
front, and mentioned Francis J. Hen
ey, who has just argued the Oregon
land fraud cases in the United States
supreme court.
when quit government service to
engage In the cattle business In Ari-
zona one Of my neighbors was Fran
els ]. Heney, who had a small ranch
and a little bunch Of cattle on the San
Pedro river. In those days Heney
took his meals off a tin plate, the usu-
al menu being boiled beans, SUM-
dried meat called jerkey, and a glass
Of tepid water. Now he has attained
national prominence through his pro-
secution Of the Oregon cases, and yet
I doubt If he enjoys a meal at any Of
the swell hostelries Of the Capital more
than he did this humble fare Of the
plains.
"Heney was then, as now, an ardent
lover Of outdoor sports. and an expert
horseman, and a good shot. Those
were stormy days in the cattle busi-
ness, and he contributed his share to
its adventure during Geronimo's reign
of terror He embarked in the law,
and, incidentally, into politics. being a
fervent Democrat. He was a mere
youth then, but he became immediate
ly involved with his political associates
in a desperate battle to control the
Democratic party Of Arizona. An
idealist was not in demand in those
days, and the party managers ran the
political road roller over Mr.. Heney
in short order, and, as a warning to
his obstreperous followers, the ma
chine issued an official statement to
the effect that he was permanently
flattened out, but the encouraging
hope was held out to the budding
young statesman that he might occupy
the position Of high private in the rear
ranks, provided he was very, very
good.
"Thereupon Heney hired the opera
house, which was the largest hall in
Tucson, the metropolis Of the terri
tory, and issued an electrifying invita-
tion to all citizens who were interested
in good government to come and hear
what he had to say. The meeting was
regarded by his political enemies as a
huge joke. They attended en- masse
to make It farce and Heney an object
of rid. 'ule. But good citizens also
came to see fair play, and a tremend-
Gus throng literally packed the opera
house from the, stage to the back door.
The opening sentence Of his address
was electrical. His whole speech was
a philippe. The audience gasped with
surprise as he produced one piece Of
conclusive evidence after another Of
the fact that prominent members Of
the community, distinguished and hon.
ored members Of his own political
party, were public grafters, whom he
denounced by names as boodlers with
the laundering eloquence Of a Junius.
Those who came in to guy him and
make him an object Of ridicule were
struck speechless. That nights ad-
dress put out of business the profess
sional booder in Arizona. who had
openly defied public sentiment up to
that time. Shortly thereafter Heney
became the attorney general of the ter
ritory and successfully put into effect
the reforms which he had advocated"
Washington Post.