Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-07-28


four year terms and half of the members
of the state senate are elected every two
years. The railroad campaigners then
started out first to nominate men for the
senate who would be favorable to their
candidate for United States senator two
years later.
No mention was made Of the railroads
candidate; the word went down the line
to put in men who would do the right
thing for the railroad company. The
candidate, however, got busy" and was
sent by his company to all parts OF the
state, ostensibly on railroad business,
but really to get acquainted with the po-
litical leaders. Never before had that
road been so liberal with passes. Any
man who had line on Sny member OF
the legislature got pass for the asking.
1t was this generosity without any re-
quest for legislative favors which made
the boys suspect that gum shoe cam
paign senator was on, and long before
the members of the general assembly
which was to elect a senator had been
nominated it was known that the rail-
road attorney was candidate for Unit
ed States senator.
Now this is what that man had to do
to get the seat in the senate he and his
people were after. He first had to have
majority, on joint ballot, in the gen.
eral assembly of members Of his politi-
cal party, otherwise he could not be
elected. Having a party majority he
then had to get a majority Of the men,
bers of that party in caucus in order to
get the nomination. To get this caucus
majority he had to begin at the very bot
tom; he had to go to the county conven-
lions to get delegates favorable to him
sent to the legislative district conven-
tons. He then had to get the district
conventions to nominate, for members OF
the legislature, men who would vote for
him in caucus. He attended in person
as many of these conventions as ne
could, and where he could not the rail
road sent men in his interests.
The company had along its lines local
attorneys who handled the legal bust
ness of the railroad in their sections OF
the state. Every local attorney was a
politician. l was one of them, that is
how | get mixed up in the campaign
With others | was "called in" to the
company's headquarters and given a
certain portion of the state to handle
for the company's candidate. 1t was
my Office to round up every township,
county and district convention | could
for our man" There were nearly so
of us, and we worked hard; we had to.
| was told that my expense account
would be paid without question.
We were unable to get instructions
for our fellow in as many district con-
ventions as we wanted, for the United
States senator, whose seat we were after,
was a pretty live proposition and knew
how to promise the same federal job to
a dozen men in way to make each be-
lieye that he had that job landed. But
here is where our, man had the edge on
him; our candidate had barrel. 1t was
not his property, but he had the use of
it, and was told to knock in the head if
necessary and he knocked it in.
He had established headquarters in
the city, and there score of active,
shrewd, knowing politicians were at
work The nominating conventions had
all met and nominated, and from that
headquarters went the word that every
candidate of our party for the legisla-
, ture who needed campaign funds could
be supplied. was in the inside room
one day when a candidate for the state
way which was refreshing, he was asked
how much money he required to "cinch'
election. He was modest. He put the
, figures only up to $500. He then was
asked if he would pledge himself to vote
in caucus for our candidate He said
he would. Then he would have no OBJ.
lection to signing pledge to that eff
feet He signed and before the ink OF
his signature was dry he was handed
three crisp 500 bills.
Now that bride was yelled by the sub.
terfuge that the money was part Of O
, campaign fund contributed by enthusi
astic men who wanted their party to
win the election AS a matter OF fact the
money was paid for that mans vote BY
the railroad company, who wanted their
candidate for United States senator tC
! be elected From this headquarters also
, were sent speakers into close districts
and the legislative candidates in such
districts knew that their help came
from the railroads candidate. In short
general campaign for the election OF
members to the general assembly was
ably and effectively conducted by oul
candidate, and the newest novice in poll
tics could easily figure that the expenses
were something enormous.
, Our man was elected without trouble
. for before the party caucus was held hiI
: opponents withdrew They could no
fight the barrel which was never empty
no matter how often its contents wer'
:, scooped out.
Il | have sketched out this campaign I,
show the ramifications and complexitie
,l, nj Nr.iry no ION Co. 1,