The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1908-02-13

business man. with q penchant for
politics. The third man cut very lit-
tie tee lie WIS a DARK horse.
and a dark horse Is usually soon eur.
ried. Ny real opponent had a
large following IN the ward. and he
Was much better versed ia the rudi
ments Of the political game than 4
was. He had been around aud seen
a number Of the delegates, and n Z
had not had the administration back
ing. ! would have stood to lose easily.
When my tentative candidacy was
announced. a large bunch Of touch
ers, %spieiers. and buli-con" work
ers clustered about me like flies
around IN open molasses barrel I
was grayely informed by numerou
parties (all anxious for my successl
that IL would be absolutely necessary
that ] should drop around on Jim
my S0-end-So. Bobby This-and
That Tim whats-His-Name, and
divers Influential" saloon Keepers.
and spend q few dollars with each
Of them "ioliied~ these worthless
along for a few days. As 10 money.
Ike Simple Simon. Alas, I had not
any. but a ooterie Of citizens had
voluntarily offered TO advance ex.
penses up 20 a thousand dollars. n
necessary 20 finance my campaign.
] told them ! wouldn't take a cent
until ! had the nomination. and would
keep a strict account OF expenses and
return any surplus: that expenses
would mean Legitimate outlay. and no
~foollshness. These men trusted me.
and rightly, They would trust me
again in precisely the SAME way.
As was once succinctly remarked
ancnt the late JAMES Bludso:
And they an had faith in his eussed-
ness.
And knowed be would keep his word
After ] got tired Of hearing the
s~and-paper hot-air artists advise me
as 10 spending money al Jimmy's.
Bob and Tins places, I spoke TO them
b rs follows, using the language
OF slang. which they could readily
comprehend
Look a-here. now. lemme tel you;
II I get that nomination. IN show you
Al swift a campaign in this ward as
ever came over the political pike.
Seeg But don't for a holy minute
think that I'm going 10 blow nsoney
on an open-ands shut proposition, with
maybe the "doubieeross" on owen
ton day Show me the nomination.
and I'm show you the canvass: I'm
not goiug to SOW coin around ike 2
drunken sailor. tWo weeks before the
convention. You fellows must think
! just struck town on a load Of al.
falfa. Get busy. smoke up: land the
nomination FOR me. aud III do the
rest but don't play me Tor . sucker
az this or any other stage OF the
game
! had no further trouble with this
bunch. My own actual expenses be-
fore the convention met were $40
After the convention was held I
wrote a little sht about an incident
~ the campaign. and drew down ten
dollars on d. Puzzle; Was I out
financially Convention day arrived.
ard ! was told ] was IL But had
seen too many ash hop out Of q land
ing net. and too many wood-cock
twist out OF a double shot and get
away 20 be certain % anything Ff
teen minutes before the voting began
my leader rushed Ia as white Be a
sheet The iig's up. he whispered
huarscly; they've bought four Of our
delegates. the only thing you can Do
Ia 30 withdraw Il was too true
just Tor a handful Of silver they left
me, just for a ATTY to stick Ia their
coats
I smiled placidiy al him aud re
piled You must have futt woke
from a sound sleep; there's going &c
BE- no withdrawal here, there's one
man viii stick with me. and IL he's
the oniy man. nay name viii be pre-
sonted TO this Convention; You may
like 90 duck FOR the rear entrance
when rQuga.houso stsria In front
but not for nae then walked to the
platform. shook hands warmly with
my chief opponent and sat down
The delegates bad been bought. an
right but be- knew nothing Of T. Ills
manager would not have dared hint
such tactics 20 him, fer he was aud Is
a dead square man
curioua how history repeats itself.
years after. when I vas the mayors
secretary. that very man ran FOR the
aldormanie nomination. vas assured
90 the d%clegatcs aud the very lead
or who VAS my sponsor. nov out OK
the city han. was active against him.
Enough delegates were bought. 20
minutes before the convention Was
seated, 10 defeat him. and when he
denounced such tactics he Was told.
hor the hrst time. that his former sue
cess had been due 70 the same pol
ioy. such q ward politics. Ia some
wards
The speech putting me IN wal
a gem So was the vote that nom