The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1919-01-16
Running for Congress
ey Guy U. Hardy, from The Colorado Press.
l have it on Old cincinnatus.


they found the old man busy plowins
for the spring crop of wheat. While
he wasn't hanging around the stree
corner seeking the job, still he grabbed
onto it in hurry when the proposition
was made. History records, believe
that he went away with his poiitica
henchmen so willingly and so hurried
ly that he left his faithful plow team
browsing in fense corner-and the!
would have been there to this day
suppose, If a good neighhor had mol
come along late in the evening ana pu'
them up.
In my case the long distance tele
phone saved a long trip in 1itney foi
somebody Early one bright morning
late in July. before I had begun an
honest days toll, gentleman in
Pueblo called me up and said that the
delegates gathering for the assembly
were talking of nominating me for
Congress. had about as much idea
of running for Congress as l had OF
being delegate TO the Peace Confer
ence, so told him to forget it."
Later. about noon when / was busy
squaring the office with an irate sub
scriber because a careless carrier mad
feiied to deliver him his Record the
night before. another phone call came
which said "The convention is practi'
caliy unanimous for your nomination
and you viii have to stand for ii.
Cheerful news My opponent had
had 9,946 plurality two years before.
The district looked Democratic by a
big majority, l am not the sort OF
person who enjoys going out among
the people seeking favors. l had never
run for Office in my life and had taken
Il. s1,rf 7 -rr.
would I have heard defeated candi-
dates before tell of the great bunch
of political grafters who attach them
selves to the candidate and sap him
OF his money and political independ-
ence. | was shy and tried to beg off.
said was just leaving for Chicago
to Stt nd 10 business for the National
Editorial Association and didn't have
time to think it over. You can always
shun a lot OF temptation and avoid
making some promises by thinking
it over"
But I was told that there was
nothing doing" That the convention
WIS determined on nominating me
and that might just as well get ready
to file my acceptance.
Tne convention made the nomination
and went on to Chicago. When
came back 1 was persuaded to file my
acceutance You can persuade a man
10 do most anything if you go about
it right
stuck to business during August
listening for the rumble Of popular
approval that proceeds a victorious
campaign ! didn't hear any loud
rumble a little ripple in the atmos
phere was caused by the Keating
laI r1r,f ~
loud calls for me.
after the primary in September
concluded that I should get busy and
al least let the people know that q
man was running on the Republican
ticket. / owed something to my
friends who had shown such fine con
6dence in me.
So friend. Mr.. c. A. Biggs. took
his Dodge and we drove over into the
San Luis Valley. He has Cadillac
but we were still in the Dodge stage
of the eampaign-if he had had a
jitney that would have At our mental
attitude better still. But we saw the
San Luis Valley from Dodge. And
a grand valley it is. had never been
in the San Luis Valley before so
felt like a tourist in new country.
1t is a beautiful section--a great level
valley lying between two picturesque
mountain ranges-rich in farms and
cattle and sheep. Many folks have
grown rich there in the past few
years. The valley is as big as some
whole states in the East and is cap
able of supporting great population.
1t has an abundance of good water
too much in some sections. in fact.
With a little larger development Of
irrigation and drainage the San Luis
Valley will be an empire all by Itself.
Here is one section the government
might besebiesto assist materially.
- We drove ike the wind. as the dis
tances are great in Third District of
Colorado-in the San Luis Valley in
fact. we visited Villa Grove,
Saguache, Centre. Del Norte, Monte
Vista La lara. Antonito. Romeo, Ala
mosa, Mofsat, Hooper and other points.
We didn't hold any meetings but met
a lot of fine people.
We weTe a little modest at fr3t but
we grew bold as we went along.
remember when / frst began handing
out candidate cards ! felt like book
agent trying to take orders for How
/ Didn't Find the North Pole" by DIT.
Cook. But in time that shyness wore
OFF. Later ! got some good pointers
rom watching Senator Phipps and Gov.
Shoup exercising the glad hand.
Our san Luis Valley trip took us
over eSactiy 500 miles Of good roads,
and through and by some OF the fines;
SCENERY in Colorado. Before We got
home We began to see pleasant posi-.
biIities in campaigning in a Ger, most
OF the time driving midst Colorado
scenery.
BY this time the 1u was on and meet.
ings were Off. Cutting out the meet.