The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-14
His Politics High Grade.

While. l have said before Mr. Lincoln
most able politician. the Information
which comes to me from my father and the
Intimate friends of Nr. Lincoln conyinces mo
that he never rcsortcd to Questionable methods
His politics all hiGh-Sredc. There has
been 5olk which has come down even To tn s
Gay that Mr.. Dincoln's nomination In 1850
secured through pledges made in his ernelf
by Norman H. Judd and Judge David Davis
10 the delegates from the States OF Indiana
ond PennsylNonia do not believe any such
promises or pledges were made, but II they
were. they made ON the responsibility
of these gentlemen and without any authority
from Mr.. Lincoln. As lato as August 1850
Mr.. Lincoln wrote In a letter 10 Lyman Trum
bull; / have most encouraging Information
from both New York and Pennsylvania from
Gov, Curtin and Thur!ow Weed. that I will
carry both States at the coming election, I
viii say TO You that UP 10 this time have
10 Office 10 any one. but, remembering that
Peter denied his Master after the most solemn
protes'atons OF devotion. l viii not swenr
that I VIII not make any promise Of Office.
but do not think 1 Will"
remember Mr. Lincoln distinctly Our
family. you know, lived on Eighth street In
the middle Of the block, just below Mr. Lin
coins house on tho corner Of Eighth and
Jackson The brick wall with the fence on
top OF II. reaching TO n height of seven feet
moro from the pavement, was there then
1t is now. An elm tree which Mr.. Lincoln
planted almost directly In front Of the steps
leading from the pavement UP the house
probably twenty feet high. At the time
borhood. Dick Birch for instance-and by the
way Dicks mother was daughter OF Jesse
Y. Birch, the first United States Senator from
Illinols-llyed just across the street from Lin
coin. and. by the way. / might further add
that some time ago, ut Dicks suggestion.
wrote TO Robert Lincoln. and Robert worry
promptly and very gladly secured a position
for Dick with the Pullman company. Then
there were tho SPrisg boys the Kemp boys
and the Lincoln boys, who Joined with us
and others from the ncighborhood We would
play this prank often. We tied string from
the elm tree to the fence at just the proper
height to strike Mr.. Lincoln's plug hat Ho
always went up town after supper for his
mail and returned early, between and Q
clock. We would hide around the corner and
wait for the string TO come in contact with
Mr. Llncoln's hat After his debates with
Douglas and up TO his nomination for the
Presidency he absorbed In deep thought
when alone. and would walk down the street
to his house with his hands folded at his
back paying heed TO anything. When his
hat came into contact With tho string II
broke up his revcrle. would startlc him for
a minute. and then he would look around and
nnd the boys. We would oil get up mighty
shout and Instead OF running away from him.
would run up TO him and cling TO his hands
and leSs and mnko mighty noise. He would
start up tho street with us until he came TO
a grocery store and would treat 10 cakes
or nuts and then would escort him bnck
home He never was too busy worried
that he dii not have time for this frolc with
the boys OF the neighborhood. think none OF
us can ever recall a cross or petulnnt word
which he uttered.