Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-09-29
When the
Votes Tied
BY CLAUDE PAURAREs
Copyright. l", by W X. Caldwell

NlIlftl ~ tl4allttN tdAl AN4ttil " pttbltit
candidates II was because OF this that
Abe Hewsuu 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
Shoe. Why haiut got no cddcca
Shun,"
Don't you reckon you need any 10
Ice an honest man
But | can't make no speech
The less Cab the better. Been too
much talk already
but them eddecated critters will git
me all tangled NJ"
Nobody can't tangle up Il square
man"
Abe Ilewson was nominated and
elected lie didn't have 10 pny out a
shilling for campaign expenses. and he
didn't make any promises They knew
him throughout his district as an hon
est man They said OF him rs they
said ~ January coonskin that was
prime
Ills wife was not pulled w with
pride over his nomination. She had lit
tie 10 say during the campaign Ii
was only when lie came home and told
her that he was elected that she mo
toned him 10 SIT down and then said:
Abe Hewson, nobody could dun say
that you wasn't an honest man when
married you
Il was tryin' to walk straight. TIL
ia"
Fur ten years you was buyin' and
sellin' nevis Abe, did you ever lie
and cheat IN that business
"Drat me. but was so squar that |
couldn't make a Twin at it
For six or seven years you have
been buyln' coon and skunk and wood
chuck skins. Have YOU been liar and
a cheat"
NO. Tilda I could have lied once
aud made - on II b'arskin. but shet
my teeth hard agin it,
You Kin borrow dollar OF most
any man can't youf"
Reckon so"
"Andwhen man has got your word
he depends on it,
Pears that way
And all this is why you've been
'lccted Its cause you've got good
name: It's cause your squar. man.
Abe. we uns is pore folks. We hain't
eddccGted Planers and silks and
broadcloths are not for sich rs us. We
squatted we're twenty years ago. and
well stay squatted TIL the end
halut maxim the least complaint over
a. don't believe III care 70 be rich
and have grand things I'm satisfied
TO 20 right along just like this. but
don't Hing US down. Abe-don't do
that"
What dye mean Tilda:' he asked
Il hain't much Of render. but can
make out nun In our weekly paper TO
know that heaps o men are willin' to
part with their honesty 70 gct ahead In
the world Don't part with yours You
are euiu whar you'll be tempted. but
shet your teeth agin II I'm holdin'
my head high and fcclln Jest as good
as any one on this here mounting not
bekase we've got money. Abe. but he
kase you are a squar man II you
should lose that name you'd lose mo.
I'm lovm' YOU rs much as wife can,
but I'm SpcAkin mighty straight when
tell you that # So much as Il whisper
should come back here that you had
lost your >uiar'ness Ia walk or and
starve to death ID the woods rather
than live Oh with You"
And I wouldn't be- hlumin' you. I'll
ia. quietly replied Abe ns he went out
70 walk about and think
Abe IIcwson went down to the eapi
tai OF the state IN fear and trembling
lie was marked down by certain mem
bers aud lobbyists as II good thing. but
they gave him time to shake himself
down into his place There were axes
to grind on every hand. but 1t was the
coal men who had the largest They
wanted charter for railroad 10 run
70 certain undeycloped mines II
wasn't a Haze To build M the country
aud accommodate the people, but to
bring coal ont TO market They want
"a Il grant Of state lands to recoup
themselves
y powerful lobby well supplied with
money aud arguments. was on hand.
Those who saw through the scheme
and knew that il was steal also
knew that they had their hands full 10
fight II
Abe was moving along slowly and
trying 10 look ahead for pitfalls when
the matter of the railroad came up and
he found himself in the thick Of il. He
found himself Ia the position Of many
another before his time The state
employs no lobbyists 10 protect herself
All the argument and s0phistry and
money are In the hands OF those who
would rob her The opponents Of the
railroad scheme sat down with Abe
Hewson and tried to make him under
stand They found him dense. but real
lied that he wanted to be- honest They
contented themselves ~ telling him
that IL was his duty Ia vote against the
bill. II was clear enough to Abe that
day. hut not "a clear the next. The
lobby had got after him
X.tn a.,.rrnggIotnI ~ utft... lnf.