building of a railroad bridge across the Mississippi River at Louisiana, Missouri. This measure was bitterly fought by the steam boat interest, which had no objection to a high bridge, but opposed a low or draw bridge.

The traffic of the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company between Chicago and Kansas City passes over that bridge. It is an important link in that great system. The bridge was built in 1873, two years after the authority was given. In the meantime, a railroad was being built from Louisiana west. This line was taken over by the Chicago and Alton, and now forms a part of the through line from Chicago to Kansas City. On this line the first railroad in Pike County was built.

When the track was laid from Louisiana to Bowling Green, a distance of twelve miles, an excursion train composed entirely of flat or mud cars was organized. On board these cars were a number of the citizens of Louisiana, including myself, who went to Bowling Green. Here, for miles around, the old farmers assembled to see a railroad train for the first time. Among those present was my old friend, Johnson Hendrick, of whom I have spoken before. He had lived in Pike County since 1820, but had never seen or ridden upon a railroad car. When we got ready to start back to Louisiana, I invited him to get aboard and go home with me. He accepted the invitation and climbed on to one of the flat cars and sat down on the floor with his feet gathered under him. I told him to move over to the side and let his feet "hang over" and he would be more comfortable. To this he said, "No, I might get my feet caught in the

spokes." He had never known any other than a wagon wheel.

Old "Uncle Johnson" was a great character and knew much more than he professed. Years after this he was at my house in Louisiana when his attention was attracted to a telegraph wire that had been strung along the street I lived on. When told what it was he said, "I thought Mrs. Hunt had got her clothes line a little high." The lady referred to was my wife's mother. He was a good farmer, a good man, and a good friend.

In the "hurly-burly" of railroads, automobiles, prohibition, woman's suffrage and short dresses, it would be better for the country if the simple and plain mode of living, as practiced in the old time, was more in evidence. The presence of "Old Uncle Johnson" in my mind, has led me away from the path I started out to follow in this chapter. I will go back to the political happenings in the State in 1869 and 1870, and the part I took in them.

During the year 1869 and the early part of 1870, a movement was started by and among the republicans to "liberalize the Constitution" and remove from it such features as discriminated against those who had taken part as soldiers in the rebellion, and those who sympathized with the South during the war. This movement among the republicans in the State had a beginning at the State Capital. Four or five men met and discussed the course that should be followed to bring about the success of the movement. Among them were Colonel Wells H. Blodgett of Johnson County, Honorable Theodore Bruere of St. Charles, and myself.

The movement was well under way throughout the State, but had not sufficiently crystallized to become effective. The most influential leaders in the republican party that were in favor of changes in the organic law of the State, so as to remove the disabilities imposed upon Confederate soldiers and their sympathizers, were B. Gratz Brown and Carl Schurz.

The Republican State Convention was called to meet at Jefferson City the latter part of August, 1870. Here the forces "for and against" met. Governor Joseph W. McClurg was a candidate for renomination. He was opposed to the liberal policy advocated by Brown, Schurz and others. He was well supported in his opposition by Honorable Chauncy I. Filley and Congressman Havens of Springfield, D. T. Jewett of St. Louis, and others.

The conflict came and by what the Liberals claimed to be a "packed" convention, the advocates of a liberal policy were defeated. This resulted in "bolt." The Liberals left the hall of the House of Representatives, where the convention was being held, and repaired to the Senate Chamber, where a separate organization was effected. Here, B. Gratz Brown was nominated for Governor on what was then christened the Liberal Republican ticket, and a full ticket was nominated in the House. The regulars nominated Joseph W. McClurg for Governor, and a full ticket then and thereafter known as the Regular Republican ticket. The democrats made no nomination but supported the candidates on the Liberal Republican ticket.

An incident occurred in the regular convention be

fore the "bolt" that I stop here to note. In the midst of heated discussion and a display of much anger upon the part of delegates, a telegram was handed to the President of the convention by a messenger. It was opened and by the President read to the convention. It proved to be from Honorable John B. Henderson, dated at Louisiana, Missouri. It said, "If Colonel Dyer is in the convention, please inform him that a pair of twins, a boy and a girl, send greetings to their father. Mother and children doing well." This message seemed for a moment to be "oil on the troubled waters" but it did not last. The "bolt" took place and I was one of the bolters. The boy was named David and the girl Lizzie. The boy was named for his father and the girl for her mother. Both are living, I am glad to say, at the date of this writing.

IX

STATE AND NATIONAL AFFAIRS Continued

The 42d Congress - Cholera in Louisiana-I Prescribe Treatment and make $1,000.00 — Rollins and Lamm Anecdotes - Naval Academy Visitors Board -Worden-Lincoln Incident.

I was nominated by the Liberal Republicans of the Ninth District for the Forty-Second Congress. Edwin Draper of Louisiana, Missouri, was nominated by the Regular Republicans, and Judge Andrew King of St. Charles County by the Democrats. This made a triangular fight in which Judge King was elected. The Liberal Republican State ticket was elected by a large majority. Honorable Charles D. Drake, then a United States Senator from Missouri, resigned to accept an appointment by President Grant on the bench of the Court of Claims. The vacancy in the Senate was filled by the appointment, by Governor McClurg, of Daniel T. Jewett. The State legislature shortly after that time elected Honorable Frank P. Blair, Jr. a Senator. While the Liberal Republican ticket for State officers was elected by a large majority, the democrats succeeded in electing a majority of members in both branches of the State Legislature.

It was during the summer of 1871 that "dickering" between Governor Brown and leading members