Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 268, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1910 — HIS LIVELIHOOD AT STAKE [ARTICLE]

HIS LIVELIHOOD AT STAKE

Certainly Candidate for Governor Could Not Expect to Get That Vote. Q An Incident in which former Got. Odell of New York figured as the victim was told by Col. James Hamilton Lewis at a recent banquet. “When Gov. Odell was last running for office,” said Col. Lewis, “there had been a great deal of talk about Niagara falls and the electrical power that could be conferred on all parts of New York. One day an old negro baited Mr. Odell and said: “ ‘Mr. Odell, is yo’ runnin’ for gov’ner, sah?’ ‘“I am,’ answered the candidate. “‘I guess yo’ want my vote, den,’ said the old colored man. “ ‘Well, I would like to have your vote, Zeb. I have known you for »o many years.’ “ 'Well, I Jist want to ask you a question, Mr. Odell, befo’ I give mah vote to you. Are yo’ for electric lights in dis town?’ “ ‘Well, Zeb, I am for all modern Improvements,’ said Odell, with a alight flourish. “ ‘Well, sah, I cain’t vote for you,’ said Zeb with firmness. ‘Yo* done forget dat I is a lamp lighter.’"