Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1908-07-16
Political Phrasess>

VI oho Iiiiuoo til hAo W SIiuu
and the writer OF thelittle story
which was utilized to show it's
significance, there is good reason
to believe that the originator OF
it was Charles Miner, and that it
first appeared in one OF Pennsyl-
vanias's country newspapers in
the year 1911.
"Mending his fences," origina-
ted in 1890, when John Sherman
was a candidate for the Republi-
can presidential nomination.
Shortly before the convention
Sherman dropped out OF the Sen
ate's activities and went to his
farm in Ohio. He was followed
by a reporter, who came upon
the senator while he, with his
brother-in-law, was renewing the
wornout rails that inclosed his
estate, The reporter asked how
Mr.. Sherman was employing his
time, and the brother-in-law,
laughing said; "Why don't you
see? He is mending his fence"
"Pipelaying" was a term which
for many years signitied fraud at
the polls. 1t developed during the
New York campaign in 1885,
The Wings were charged with
trying to import a large number
OF voters from Philadelphia, and
to prove the allegation letters
were introduced in which it was
sought to show that the illegal
voter were referred to as many
yards OF pipe. This form was en-
ployed. it was said, because the
building Of the Croton water
pipes was then under way. While
men we're indicted, they were ac-
quilted, yet the phrase was in
common use for many years.
Nowadays it has given way to
more specific terms, such as IRE
peating." ballot box stuffing,"
etc f. Gerrymander, which means
to re-arrange the boundaries OF
senatorial and legislative dis
tricts OF a state to suit the needs
of the dominant party, is some
times quite puzzling to the per-
, son who tries to figure out it's
definition without consulting q
,, dictionary. In 1911, while Ell.
bridge Gerry was elected govern
or OF Massachusetts, by the Dem.
ocrats, who also got control oi
both houses Of the legislature, it
was thought advisable by them
to redistrict the State that their
power would be permanent.
When the map of the 8 t a t {
was shown to Gilbert Stuart, hi
, remarked that it looked like
salamander, "But it's really 6
;, gerrymander," retorted a wit.
81 acknowledge the corn" was
originally a political term, butt
is nowadays found useful IN ma
nv other circles as a witty way
of making necessary retractlon
During a congressional debate II
h 1923 Andrew Stewart made th'
y assertion that Ohio, Kentucky
! and Indiana sent their haystacks
a cornfelds and fodder to Phila
d delphia and to New York to b,
It sold. This statement was not lit
l. eral enough to suit Congressman
= Wickliffe, and he rose to deny it
!, declaring that the states sen
"horses, mules, cattle and hogs.
"Yes; you put thirty bushel
r, OF corn into the shape OF o ho,
and make it walk off to an east
ern Market" retorted Stewart
And then, seeing what his adveI
r sary was driving at, Mr.. Wick
life, with a saving grace OF hr
> NOR, covered bis retreat by say
:, y ing. "Mr. Speaker, | acknow
= :, edge the corn"
= "To make up a slate" is bt
" lieved to have originated throug
an early custom of using q slat
!, : when a ticket was being arranl
ed, so that the changes could b
easily made in order to arrive a
a harmonious result.-Philade
= phia Press.