The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-09-07
SHANK KIMMEL HAS
BAG In POLITICS.
Tries Gum-ShOe Work and Gets
HoOked-Will Return to
HOg-Buying.

itics as a result of which Frank
(Shank) Kimmel has a clear vision of
himself holding the bag, became
known yesterday afternoon.
As a successful horse, mule and pork
trader, Mr.. Kimmel has maintained an
enviable reputation for business acu-
men. Like many other fellow horse
and mule swappers, he has made big
money on the war.
At various times in his life he has
even spoken privately to the ''bones"
and he has seen the chips stack into
the hundreds on a poker table, but
never before in his life did he venture
into the greatest of all games, politics.
However, last June, he became en-
thusiastic over the candidacy of Col
Fred D. Gardner, who was running for
the Democratic nomination for Cover
nor. His praise of Mr.. Gardner was
so unstinted and he became so en-
crossed in the success of the St. Louis
an, that ne was selected as one to OBJ
tain list of the names of Cape COun-
ty voters.
"Shank" was given to understand
that in order to obtain a list of that
character, it required a little gum
shoe work. He Immediately enlisted
Norman Gaines as an aide-de-camp.
Mr.. Kimmel, he asserts, was informed
that his share of the work would be
limited to simply the contribution of
his astute services. Anything else, he
was told by man named Major, who
claims kinship to the present Cover
nor of that name and who is an en-
thusiastic Gardner anything
else in the way of expense would be
taken care of" by the Gardner head
quarters.
"Shank" and Gaines listened closely !
and proceeded to extract ii copy of the |
names they wanted from Tom Juden. |
They didn't think it was essential to !
tell Mr. Juden what the names were
wanted for, because the postmaster
was an Atkinson man.
Bat be that as it may, they got the
list from Tom. Each voters name was
down on the list and behind that his
address with letter designating
whether he was Republican or 4 |
Democrat. ''R" stood for Republican |
and I'D" for Democrat. If it was esti-
mated that the young gentleman was
due to cast his first vote, an ''F" added |
TO show that feature.
M. Kimmel is authority for the |
statement that there were approx |
mately 5000 names on the list.
Because Mr.. Juden didn't have All |
extra copy of his list handy, he re-
the courtesy of his list only to |
an opportunity to have it copied. Mr.. /
and Mr.. Gaines, remembering |
the injunction saying that this would
be on of the headquarters proceeded !
to have II copied by professional
typist, Miss Frieda McClatchey.
The bill amounted to $3.50 for the
5000 lanes. The list was used and re-
used by the Gardner boomers, but
when Mr.. Kimmel referred the state
nent to the "headquarters" he receiv-
ed cold reply that they knew nothing
about it. 1t was intimated that Mr..
kimmel had taken it upon himself and
ne could see the thing through.
He went to L. b. HOuck who later
became president of i Wilson-Gardner
Democratic Club. "WeTI see," was
his reply, and Ben Vineyard, secretary,
greeted Mr.. Kimmel with laugh.
I'm through with politics." Mr.
HimmeI declared. 81 have to hold the
.ack, but l lust want to see that man
Gardner once to tell him something.
I'M going across the river now to buy
some more pigs. Pigs is hogs and
10 peckerwood can jip me out of
hem"