The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1911-04-06
Great Men Have Known
AND YOU HAVE Known MEN LIKE THEM


There were about 16 of the youngsters,
playing about in the yard besides JIM
mie and myself, but Uncle Jim was
as calm and as collected as anybody |
YOU ever see. The kids seemed 10
love him. He had time from ihe
and put me on his shoulders when
he and my father went to the mouse.
That was the day he told my father
ne wasn't going to run for the office.
! Out of all that pig family there
wasn't one that came to any ser
iously bad end. They weren't all
goody -goody, but there were some
mighty good ones among them.
1t was years afterwards before !
could see why 1t was chat Uncle Jim
had told my father he would not run
for office Just day or Two before
he did. BY that time | had begun
to understand politics even to ;le
| dirty part of them. 1t was mutual
friend that told me. Uncle Jim had
meant it. He didn't intend to be II
Met with some Of the POLITICIANS. The
opposition had up mighty strong
man. The politicians figured Uncle
Jims poverty and good reputation
We're better political capital than my
fathers comparative affluence and
good reputation--and it was TOO.
They made bargain with Uncle
Jim's friends to support MIN instead
of my father-though many of Them
We're pledged to support my father
The bargain was all made before
Uncle Jim knew anything about it.
and when he did know it. it was 100
late to back out, for Uncle Jim need
ed the office.
When ] first learned the ruth
about that campaign | was the new
editor ON my first paper. had,
after had come to manhood, known
Uncle Jim again, and actually liked
him in spite of the bars of hate
(which l Kept up in my neart. So
n after learning the truth l went 70 SET
Uncle Jim one time, and he ;old mt
| |
coincided with what ! knew that
knew it was true, and from that
: time we were friends.
Yet, | never supported Uncle JIM
. openly. He was on the opposit tick
ct to the one | wanted elected, but
, never found myself losing any sleel
/, over our candidates for auditor.
, remember once that ! worked very
hard to defeat a candidate for lom-
t ination by our party, for fear + noni'
| mated he would be able to get more
l votes than Uncle Jim. That is the
way Uncle jim held his office fOl
so many years. He didn't do any
t scheming, but he made men love hin
and those men who loved him would
! go out and work their legs Off schem
V ing to keep Uncle Jim i'll office
1 What did we love? Cussed if
d know. He was about the most nome
a ly man | ever saw. His hair wa.
V always grey | think. His thin chir
e whiskers were a darker grey. Hi
q eyes were rather squinty-from grin
y ming SO much. His mouth was
little twisted. He chewed tobacc'
> and wore slouch hat. He said "dar
v sometimes, and when he didn't sa,
I, darn" he said "carnsarn.' He seld-
. ON went out of his way 20 do any
y thing for one, and yet everyone
t. knew that if they were in trouble an
Is went to Uncle Jim he would he'll
y them to the limit Of his ability II
" never told them so-they Just knew
it. He was one of those men ma
= people do things for and thank 10
If the privilege.
" Uncle Jim was never very we'll, bu
" he never found time to do much 20
1t himself until he got out OF ofiice
,e Wien he did, from his friends stand
l. point it was too late. | don't thlhi
if he though so. When he got out
:, office | think he was ready 10 dle
and he did before long. Before dyih
d he came out to the coast ana, II
+ visited me at home | then mad a
n Larchmount. In our front room "d
10 a big open fireplace. one hisii' d
1t of the family We're out or had goh
IF to bed. Uncle Jim and | were SUI
10 ing before the open fireplace--he che
- ing, and splitting OIL the empers'
A. smoking. We had been talking
Ya the old days, and finally somethin
q, was said of the older days; ohci
he Jim sat silent for long. long tii'
to and then he stretched out MS ION
lie. legs and said:
as Il loved your father, Dan, pette
ar than ! ever loved anybody excel
o. Coss. )His hrother( The one gree
er cross of my life has been that you
t,a fatne: died without our forgiven eae
az other. | know he forgave me, Dt
N he died hurt--thinking l was "h'
Iv wasn't. Don't ever make the san
;, mistake Dan. If you love someooo
oo and something comes up to part yo
cd or to make your love seem nate