Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-09-20
When the
Votes Tied
BY CLAUDE PAURAREs
Copyright, 1905, by w. r. Caldwell

teeth and run away, and the cut and
dried nominees had failed TO become
candidates 1t was because of this that
Abe Hewson had been elected to the
legislature from one of the mountain
districts. When his friends and neigh
bors had talked of nominating him he
had replied:
"Shoo Why, hain't got no eddeca-
shun"
Don't you reckon you need any to
be un honest man."
but | cau't make no speech"
"The less CAB the better. Been too
much talk already
But them dedicated critters will git
me all tangled up
Nobody can't tangle up square
man
Abe Hewson was nominated and
elected. He didn't have to pay out
shilling for campaign expenses, and be
didn't make any promises. They knew
him throughout his district as an hon
est man. They said of him as they
said Of January coonskin-that was
prime
His wife was not puffed up with
pride over his nomination. She had lit
tie to say during the campaign. 1t
was only when he came home and told
her that he was elected that she mo-
toned him to sit down and then said:
"Abe Hewson. nobody could dun say
that YOU wasn't an honest man when
married you.
II was tryin' to walk straight. Til
da"
Fur ten years you was buyin' and
sellin' nevis. Abe, did you ever lie
and cheat in that business"
'brat me- but | was so squar' that
couldn't make a livin' at it,"
For six or seven years you have
been buyin' coon and skunk and wood
chuck skins. Have you been a liar and
a cheaty'
"No, Tilda. | could have lied once
and made So on barskin, but shet
my teeth hard agin It,"
You kin borrow a dollar of most
any man, can't your
Reckon So
"And when a man has got your word
he depends on itf'
"'Pears that way"
and all this is why you've been
'iected. It's cause you've got good
name; it's cause your a squar' man.
Abe, we uns is pore folks. We han't
eddecated Pianers and silks and
broadcloths are not for sich as us. We
squatted we're twenty years ago, and
We'll stay squatted till the end.
hain't maxim the least complaint over
It, | don't believe I'll care to be rich
and have grand things. I'm satisfied
to 70 right along just like this, but
don't fling us down, Abe-dont do
that"
What dye mean, Tilda?' he asked /;
Il hain't much of a reader, but l can |,
make out huff IN our weekly paper to |
know that heaps o. men are willin' to
part with their honesty to get ahead in !
the world. Don't part with yours You 7
are goln' whar you'll be tempted, but
shet your teeth agin it. I'm holdin'
my head high and feelin jest as good
as any one on this here mounting. not
bekase we've got money, Abe but be-
kase you are squar' man. If You
should lose that name you'd lose me.
I'm lovin' You as much as wife can,
but I'm speakin' mighty straight when
| tell you that il so much as n whisper
should come back here that You had
lost your squar'ness I'd walk off and
surve to death in the woods rather
than live on with you"
and | wouldn't be blamin' YOU. Til
da," quietly replied Abe as he went out
10 walk about and think
Abe llewson went down 10 the capi-
tai of the state in fear and trembling.
lie was marked down by certain mem
bers aud lobbyists as Il good thing. but
they gave him time to shake himself
down into his place There were axes
TO grind on every hand, but ii was the
coal men who had the largest. They
wanted charter for a railroad to run
TO certain undeyeloped mines 1t
wasn't line TO build up the country
ana accommodate the people, but to
bring coal out TO market. They want
ed Il grant of state lands to recoup
themselves.
powerful lobby, well supplied with
money ana arguments, was on hand.
lhose who saw through the scheme
ana knew that it was a steal also
knew that they had their hands full to
fight it,
Abe was moving along slowly and
Trying TO look ahead for pitfalls when
me matter Of the railroad came up and
ne round himself in the thick OF it, He
round himself Ia the position of many
another before his time. The state
employs no lobbyists to protect herself.
VI TAG a"rgMra. auI s5aa,s.,y., .,,,,i --
money are IN the hands OF those who
would rob her, The opponents Of the
rdilroau scheme sat down with Abe
ieWSon and tried to make him under
stand. They found him dense. but real
yea mat he wanted to be honest They
coAiented themselves by telling him
mat It was his duty to vote against the
OH 1t was clear enough 10 Abe that
Jay Out not 50 clear the next. The
lobby had got after him.
Your congressional or legislative Ioh-
o!iSt Is smart mah He i. a student
VI character He Is n diplomat. He is
III