The Jasper news., 1908-03-05


tie ice. He was dark horse, n
and dark horse is usually soon cur
ried My real opponent had
large following in the ward, and he
was much better versed in the rudi-
ments of the political game than l
was. He had been around and seen
number of the delegates, and II
had not had the administration back
ing, l would have stood to lose easily.
When my tentative candidacy was
announced large bunch Of touch
ers," "spielers," and "bull-con" work
ers clustered about me like flies
around an open molasses barrel. 1
was gravely informed by numerous
parties (all anxious for my success)
that it would be absolutely necessary
that I should drop around on Jim
my So-and-So," Bobby Tehis-and-
That" Tim What's-H is-Name," and
divers Influential" saloon keepers,
and spend few dollars with each
of them. I "jollied' these worthless
along for few days. AS to money,
like Simple Simon, ALAS, had not
any," but a coterie of citizens had
voluntarily offered to advance ex-
penses up to thousand dollars, If
necessary to finance my campaign.
told them / wouldn't take cent
until had the nomination, and would
keep strict account of expenses and
return any surplus; that expenses
would mean legitimate outlay.
After l got tired of hearing the
"sand-paper" hot-air artists advise me
as to spending money at Jimmy's,
Bob and Tins places, spoke to them
about as follows, using the language
of slang, which they could readily
comprehend:
Look a-here, now, femme tell you;
If get that nomination, I'll show you
as swift campaign in this ward as
ever came over the political pike.
See? But don't for a holy minute
think that I'm going to blow money
on an open-and-shut proposition, with
maybe the "double-cross" on conven-
ton day. Show me the nomination,
and I'll show you the canvass; I'm
not going to sow coin around like a
drunken sailor two weeks before the
convention. You fellows must think
l just struck town ON load of al
falfa. Get busy; smoke up; land the
nomination for me, and I'll do the
rest; but don't play me for sucker
at this any other stage OF the
game"
l had no further trouble with this
bunch. My own actual expenses be-
fore the convention met were $40.
After the convention was held l
wrote a little skit about an incident
of the campaign, and drew down ten
dollars on it. Puzzle: Was "out,
financially? Convention day arrived,
and l was told I was 1T" But l had
seen too many fish hop out of land.
ing-net, and too many wood-cock
twist out of double shot and get
away, to be certain of anything. Fiji
teen minutes before the voting began
my leader" rushed in as white as a
sheet. "The jig's up" he whispered
hoarsely; they've bought four of our
delegates; the only thing you can dc
is to withdraw" 1t was too true
l smiled placidly at him and re-
Piled You must have Just woke
from sound sleep; there's going to
be no withdrawal here; there's one
man will stick with me, and II he's
the only man, my name will be pre-
sented to this convention; you may
like to duck for the rear entrance
when 'rough-house starts in front
but not for me-" / then walked to the
platform, shook hands warmly with
my chief opponent, and sat down
The delegates had been bought, al
right, but he knew nothing of 1t. His
manager would not have dared hint
such tactics to him, for he was and IL
"a dead square man."
Curious, how history repeats itself
years after, when l was the mayors
secretary, that very man ran for the
aldermanic nomination, was assured
of the delegates, and the very lead
er" who was my sponsor, now out o.
the city hall, was active against him
Enough delegates were bought, q
minutes before the convention wal
seated, to defeat him, and when hi
denounced such tactics, he was told
for the first time, that his former sue
cess had been due to the same pol
Icy. Such is ward politics, In somt
wards
The speech putting me In wa,
gem. So was the vote that nom
mated my opponent. He made 1
fine record in the council. and l per
sonally- went with him to the organ