The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-02-22

mated and duly elected, ana my en-
emies in the ward we're jubilant. And
quite properly. A defeat in politics
is a defeat, and the word "if' has
no place in the casket of politician
memory. The fact remains. when
you are beaten and all the why's and
wherefores in the dictionary will not
change it, and still | was not in the
least discouraged at the shipwreck OF
my initial venture on the turbulent
sea of political candidacy. Financial
ly, no one had my money; as to conf
dence, no one had betrayed my con-
fidence, for l had confided in no one.
AS an experience, it had very hui
morous angles. and the antics of the
leader" who directed my ante-conven-
ton campaign (meaning ANTE" in
the nature of before, had not of 'giv-
ing up" anything prior to the con-
vention) were really side-splitting.
He was not so chagrined at the buy
ing of the delegates by the opposition
from point OF morals, but he hated
to have the opposition checkmate him
at the eleventh hour by such an OBJ
viously easy moye on the political
chess board. Like most trainers OF
loser. he also looked askance at my
political future. At that time, to bor-
row from Artemus Ward, this seemed
to him to be at a considerable dis
lance behind me. But brighter days
were to come. In all Of my talks with
the ward leaders" I had not begged
for the aldermanic nomination. Il had
been simply in the receptive mood,
and at the convention, when l knew
the game was up, had smilingly as
serted that l was perfectly satisfied.
as had better thing than that.
This was partly in the way Of q
retrospective glance at my profes-
sion, and other means of livelihood,
which would net me at least the sal
airy OF an alderman, say, $500 a
year. 1t was also partly in the ma
ture of "four-fushing."
However, the front" put up about
the matter was destined to give me
the reputation later, of the subtlety
of a serpent 1t was not only to make
good my proud boast, but 1t was to
lead some of the ward boys to al
most believe that / had bribed my
own delegates to vote for my oppo-
nent, so as to be in a situation to &C
ccpt the very fiattering Official posi-
ton to which l was very shortly aft
er appointed. No one would believe
that / did not know all about this
impending appointment. 1t seemed
absolutely incredible that l should be
ignorant of such a cataclysm to be.
Ny enemies therefore figured 1t out
that had been laughing in my sleeve
all the time at them, and that / had
given them ''the double-cross" with a
vengeance. AS matter of fact, was
as innocent of guile about it all as
the babe unborn, but it was joyous to
insist that / had not known the APP
pointment was coming, which was
strictly true, and at the same time
give the lie to this statement by
smile, or a wink, thus causing my
foes exquisite agony of mind.
My appointment came about this
way. An act providing for a board.
known as the board of local improve
ments, had been recently passed by
the state legislature. 1t gave the ap-
pointive power to the mayor to select
four members of the board, and the
fifth member of the board was an
afYable and entirely able gentleman.
who was under civil service, and al
ready in the employ of the city; and
who helped get up the bill, not over
looking any bets about his own con-
nection with the board. If he had
been careless as to this, he would
simply have been lobster, and he
did not belong to the order of crus-
tacae The salary of a member of
this board was $1,000 a year.
The duties were to look after the
engineering projects of the city in the
way of recommending improvements
such as sewers, water pipes, street
paving, the building of sidewalks, etc.,
together with the letting of the con-
tracts relating thereto. We were to
look after work being done in all
these branches. hold meetings relative
to such work, and inspect material.
hear complaints from the public, and
in general do a great deal of impor-
tant work.
Shortly after this act had been in
cluded in the session laws l received
a letter from the mayor informing me
that with my consent he would ap-
point me to position on this board.
was strictly under the impression
at the time of receiving this commu-
nication that the appointment was
solely In the nature of non-salaried
position, like the school board or H.
brary board AS an honor of that kind,
ar of any kind. at the hands of the
mayor. l appreciated it, :rd resolved
to accept it, The letter came late
one Saturday afternoon, and l saw
al y.,r