Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-12-28
"A Cyclone
or Ambition.

-
lCopyFight, 1908. by American Press Assoc
ciation.l
II any one had told Thomson Thorn
as six months before the general cleo
tlon o. h. that he would be a candi-
date for ONCE he would have laughed
MIN to scoEn. Thomas was the most
unassuming man In the world. Small.
bald, nearsighted, with a soft voice
ana extreme gentleness Of manner, be
was especially united for partieipa-
ton u an exciting campaign.
One day q widow, impecunious and
ambitious hearing OF Mr.. THOMPSON
and his income, made up her mind to
marry him. There are various ways
or appropriating a man. The widow
chose that Of carrying him by storm.
When the storm was over Mr.. Thomas
was a married man.
The wedding occurred Ave months
and two weeks before the election. At
the end of weeks honeymoon Mr..
Thomas took up his paper one morn
ing and read:
There Is a movement on foot TO place
Thomp Thomas. a gum shoe politician OF
the seventh ward. in nomination for may
OF. We hope IT will not succeed. We
need practical business man for the po-
sition. not a drone.
Mr.. Thomas was astounded. Calling
his wife, he showed her the item.
Well" she said, Il know I'VE married
a drone, but | don't intend that my
husband shall remain a drone. | have
some ambition. and you are one.
We will work together. l am arrang-
Ing for your candidacy myself"
But, my dear
Il have the promise of the boss that
you shall have the nomination. All
that Is required is your check for S.
600 for election expenses
Five thousand dollarsF'
(which viii be well spent You
have never taken any stand in the
town whatever, but the mayoralty
will
Mr.. Thomas groaned. Then he
showed a bit of Hght-the only fight
he had ever shown In his life-but
Mrs. Thomas so out-Heroded Herod
In war of words that her husband
was cOwed. He did not consent to the
movement his wife had inaugurated
any more than a man consents to be
drowned; he was simply submerged.
The $1,000 was handed In to the boss,
who after depositing the lions share
to the credit Of the organization" be-
gan paying out the rest to the heelers.
Thompson Thomas received the nom-
nation. Judson Tadleben was put up
by the opposition boss, and the people
became greatly interested In what they
considered their franchise as American
citizens. The morning after the nom.
nation Mr.. Thomas was surprised to
read In a Journal-the mouthpiece OF
the party he representation interview
with himself. He was not aware of
having been interviewed and spoke OF
his establishment to his wife. She In
formed him that 1t was a faxed" In
terview for political purposes. Among
other things that had been put into his
mouth, was this:
''Mr. Thomas. what are your views con-
corning the trusts 7"
II consider them unholy alliances TO
grind the faces Of the poor"
And how do you stand on the labor
question:
II look upon the laborer as a man and
a brother. If elected, l shall do all In my
power TO advance his interests at the ex-
pense Of his employers"
Mr.. Thomas was indignant. "what
pOthouse politician put that in my
mouth2" he said to his wife II would
be an idiot to advance the laborer's
interest at the expense of his employ
err Where would the laborer be II
his employer were degradedT'
mo pothOuse politician wrote II, my
dear. was informed that your views
would be required, and put that In
myself. You must stand well with
the laborer or you viii be defeated"
Then came demands for more funds.
Mr.. Thomas refused, but one days bat
tie with his wife was sufficient, and he
gave another check and another and
another till most Of his capital was In
vested in his candidacy for an Office be
didn't want But the GROWING agony
was the abuse heaped upon him by the
opposition. When he read the follow
ing he tainted dead away:
There Is a man just now prominent be-
fore the public who, II Is rumore IL he
had his Just deserts would be behind bars
rather than soliciting the votes Of his
countrymen. Could the opposition sink
lower than nominate one who has sought
by every means In his power 10 throw
dust about his past? Only jury OF those
countrymen could throw a searchiight
upon that record he seeks TO hide.
As soon as Thomas could pull himself
together be went to the newspaper Of.
Zee and demanded to see the man who
wrote the article. You mustn't mind
a little thing like that, Mr.. Thomas"
said the scribbler. smiling. They say
all's fair In love and war. They forgot
to put In politics. But I'll have the
law Of you" "Oh. we haven't men
toned you. Good dag, Mr.. Thomas
Hope you'll meet with success"
The morning Of the 4th Of November
came at last. A president was elected
With an ecIat that Diverted attention