Douglas Island news., 1916-11-17
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citizen, SO como right in here and !
 will see that yo' are not molosted while exercising that right"
 Then the colonel would hand the voter one of his Hard Shell Baptist tickets and stay right there until such ticket was deposited in the bal lot box
 The result was that Colonel Bour- bon was "Hs Honor, the Mayor" for the ensuing year he receiving Sl5 of the S2l votes cast.
 Two years later another candidate for thc office of mayor had his am biuou grauded through the discreet use of guns. By that time the churches had gone out Of politics and wore specializing m skin games , by which Co raise money custom | still popular throughout tho length and breadth of our beloved land. The Democrats and Republicans had been left Co run tho affairs of the town and. while thc latter could outyotc the former, the Democrats were the best counters their motto being "A fair vote and a free count"
 In those days it was mot custom ary to place municipal tickets in nomination more than 2l hours be- fore the opening of the polls. and on the occasion herein specified the Democrats met at o'clock thc night before election for Che purpose Of naming ticket, the Republicans having a meeting called for one hour later of the same night, which meant that an the printers iu town would be busy an night getting out tickets for Che following days election.
 tsroucr's Notc-A Republican convention in Florida is considerably darker than total eclipse of the sun and only a shade lighter than thc vacant space in Che toe Of a IshoeJ
 On the night iu question the Dem ocratic slate was an prc-arUuged land before s o'clock a full ticket had becn nominated and the meeting od- iourucd. A number of those who had participated In it-a couple of dozen or more casually sauntored over Co Che court house where fully | 800 Republicans. less than a score oi them white. were holding a couyen- ton in thc big court room which was lighted only by the pale glimmer which cmcuatcd from two tallow candles. one ot each end of a horse shoc-shapcd table about which "Ak learned friends" were wont Co con- grcgatc when court was in session and when stern justice was being metcd out without regard Go race color OF previous condition of scryi tudc
 10 may have been by chance ar it may have been prc-orrangcd. Any how. couple of Democrats edged around until one was standing by each of thc two candles whose pale rays were In striking contrast Co the shining black faces on all sides The convention was not a harmonious one. There were several sell-con- sututcd lenders and at times fully half dozen Of them would be on Che floor at the same time while an other hul dozen or more would be calling Che attention of thc chair man Co Che fact "I is risen to a pint Of ordah"
 Finally ugly names were passed back and forth promiscuously and with tho first "You 's liar" both candles were simultaneously abused | leaving Che room n total dortlrss Instantly there wos a Smith G vcs- son oratorio burst forth n thc rear of that old court room that would have made the late Pat Gpmorc's Anvil Chorus take a back seat
 The scene that followed beagars description Republicans took head CTS out of those upstairs windows hike hornets from nest that has been soaked with a Bcnnovor up- pie. It was IS feet Co the ground but that convention landed running and the best portion of it never stopped running until it was SO far away from town it was unable Co get back in time Co vote next day. The result was that the Democratic ticket was elected hands down, as shown by an honest count, there be- ling no call for any other kind
 Until the county commissioners made an appropriation for repairing the roof Of the court house it bore a striking resemblance Co a porous plaster and pending repairs county officials seated at their desks were required to hoist umbrellas every time it rained.
 But an this was some years ago land the Stroller wots not but that the election in that Florida town last week was just as orderly and peace
 ful as was that of Douglas or any .ctbcr Iov-abiIinr community in