The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-06-08


had announced: For John Allison,
20; for Randolph Keener &c; for
Henry Thomas, 4. Necessary to
ehoice. 80" and the speaker. bitter
anti" had drawled out, with his
nasal twang and with an increasing
satisfaction as the prospect for an cleo
ton lessened, land no one having ma
jority OF the votes Of those present ana
voting. ! declare no election
1t was II o'clock; the final ballot
would be taken at noon.
Allison was sitting in the governors |
private room. talking with the governor |
and the secretary of state.
Allison was tall. heavy man, who .
dressed we'll. but quietly In his lapel I
he wore plain Grand Army button /
His was a strong. kindly face, though |.
2ureworn.
III | thought that crowd were SIN
ere in their principles said he, II
heir methods were cleaner than mine,
would respect them at least, and would
have stepped aside long ago. But It's not
reform they're after They want to lick
me Thomas ran up against me IN
financial deal some years ago. and he's
been after me ever since.
-Four men oppose our 20. Speaker
Henry, owned body and soul by
Thomas: Snyder and Hall, two unmti-
gated rascas II there ever were any,
and old Wood, the only member they
have from the country, and the only
honest one they have Why, be really
thinks Thomas never spent dollar in
this fight. had some hopes that he
might be with us, but he's as stubborn
ms a mule. | had talk with him last
night
We're stronger now that We ever
were, but it seems that Thomas holds
the winning card. He has powerful
friends and powerful interests, and
some way he has the press of the country
back Of him. lie seems certain to de-
feat me now. but there's reckoning"
The auditors Office was the headquar-
tiers OF the ANTS" IT was unoccupied
save for two men. They were talking
together in low tones.
one was tall and thin, with peculiar
cast in his eye. His eyes never met you
squarely; they were over you, besideyou,
beyond you, but never at you, He was
Snyder, member of the house and a
leader of the Thomas forces lie was
neryously chewing the end of n cigar,
Jerking his sentences out rapidly. II
tell you, Hall, he said TO his compan-
ion, n dark, heavy man with cold, i'm
passive countenance, Il tell you, 1t had
to be done | saw Allison have him In
tow yesterday, and you know what that
means. | knew something was up
thought of those mortgages the first
thing. Woods all right, but he's
cranky, and he's shark for money.
He's got couple of mortgages on that
place of his, and he'd turn a corner
quick as creased lightning to cave that
precious farm. You bet Allison had
something to say about them | tell you
Il was what saved us this time. We've
got 'em sure now, and with Allison
safe at home and not mussin' up things
down at Washington. we'll see who gets
the Offices"
Snyder" said Hall. rousing him
self; you've made mistake approach.
ing Wood about those mortgages.
know Wood, used to court one OF his
daughters and he's as straight as n
string. He's one man thatl stand
without hitching. He'd kick the traces
pretty quick II he knew some OF the
have changed. though" he went on
musingly; people do. | did There
was n time when would have knocked
man down II he had tried to iniu
encc my vote. and now these lobbyists
come to me the first one. I'm inclined
to take your Judgment. for you've go'
q long head and sharp eye, wher
there's rascality going on. Let's ge
up"
The rasping voice of the speaker
called the assembly to order.
Some one moved in perfunctorl
manner that the joint assembly d.
proceed to ballot for the election o
United States senator" The nun
In the galleries increased. Slowly tn
ro.l-call proceeded Down the list TIL
clerk went, and no change. The ent
was not to be exciting after all. Her
and there n member was keeping tall
as the roll.call went on.
Jeremiah Wood sang out tn
clerk. There was an instant's pause
and Wood rose slowly from his sea-
his hand half raised. as II in protes
He was an old man. with fowin
white beard stained yellow around tn
mouth from the constant Use OF {,
bacco. From behind his heavy stet
spectncles Hhrewd. kindly eyes locke