1894, Tillamook, OR: Multilingual voter survey
Did they really interview any of these folks?
And did they interview any women? Anyone who wasn’t White? Hm.
A Tillamook scene — “After the Fire” by Albert Clarence Renquist (image credit: O’Gallerie)
Anyways, here’s quite an evocative local-color political piece, with plenty of untranslated Chinuk Wawa….
(Who were these 6 Jargon talkers? I’ve added some links to their names, if you’d like to investigate.)
….as well as some Swedish, German, Spanish, French, Latin, and sorta pidgin Englishes.
It adds up to a sort of group portrait of a northwest Oregon town’s citizens, something like the “Spoon River Anthology” did for poetry a generation later…
THE CAUSE.
The Reasons why the Election resulted as
it did.A reporter of this paper visited a few
of the leading citizens this week and in-
terviewed them as to the cause of the el-
ection going as it did. Each citizen was
addressed in his native language. Here
are the answers:D. C. Bowers-It was a long, dry road
and no grease, Sic semper tyrannis,
Erin go bragh!
[‘It’s always thus with tyrants. Ireland forever!’]
J. W. Maxwell-I voted the straight
republican ticket.Judge Maulsby-My popularity down
the Bay.T. J. Lucy — I didn’t know it was load-
ed.
A. J. Stillwell-The inclemency of the
weather
C. H. Smith-That $20 story.C. B. Hadley-That $75 story
Tom Coates-I took to the woods.
Walt Smith- ” “
W. J. Stillwell- ” “
G. R. Huff-T. H. Goyne.
Bro. Willey-I’m no politician.
Theo. Steinhilber-Die Herrlichkeit
der Welt verschwindet. So vergeht alles
Irdische. Damit bin ich zufrieden.
[‘The glory of the world disappears. This is how everything passes that is
Earthly. I’m all right with that.’]
C. E. Revnolds-Me.
John Barker-My staying at home.
Alf. Williams-John Barker.
Judge Sappington-Lack of votes
W. W. Conder-My record.
William B. Smith-My popularity.
Green Chance-Harmony.
Henry Leach-My influence ..
A. T. White-Keeping quiet.
J. W. Haskins-The campaign closed
a week too soon.B. C. Lamb-My pump.
Dr. Mills-Dan Bowers.
E. E. Selph-F. M. Lamb and A. P.
Wilson.A. P. Wilson and F. M. Lamb-We.
T. B. Handley-The inherent cussed-
ness of some people.Dr. May-Us.
Capt. Jackson-Remuda de pasturage
haze bizerros gordos.
[‘Changing pastures makes fat calves.’]
T. H. Goyne-The republicans.
The Advocate-The HEADLIGHT.
The HEADLIGHT-The Advocate.
Jack Carlson-I daink dose peoples dey
vote as dey tam please, and Mills he got
no yob.Jose Vincent-Come center. Play like
white man.Fred Scherzinger-That state road bus-
iness.Walter Swinton-That deputyship.
Woody Alderman–Mika Kumtux,
Klonass nika tilakum.
[‘You know, maybe it was my people.’]Capt. [W.D.?] Stillwell–Ikta mika tikeh? Ko-
pet wawa
[What do you want? That’s all I can say.]G. W. Fearnside–Halo wawa.
[‘No comment.’]John [G.] Day–Hyak Klatawa! Nika
Kokshut mika
[‘Get out of here! I oughta sock ya.’]Geo. Cohn–Kultus kopa nika.
[‘I don’t care.’]John Edwards–Mesahche tamahna-
wis.
[‘Bad juju.’]Miles Warren-They didn’t deliver the
goods;Al Letcher — Damifino.
W. S. Cone — It wasn’t my year.
Bro. McLachlin — Vox populi, vox dei.
[‘The voice of the people is the voice of God.’]Jobnny Mills — My supporters.
Capt. Jack Miller — Nothing on earth
could prevent it. The people must want
me or Charley Reynolds for sheriff next
time. We’ll present our names to the
convention, anyway.Prof. Freas-Vindex injuriæ.
[‘The liberator from injustice.’]
Claude Thayer-Scarcity of money.
G. O. Nolan- ” ” “
F. R. Beals — ” ” “
J. W. Morton — Pennoyer.
W. C. Kleg* — No brush artist on the
ticket.Pinkey Stillwell-The white ballots
Ed Walker -They didn’t count all the
populists.Jep Walling-Those shoes.
G. W. Bodyfelt — The populists.
Joe Gaudrau — Tel est notre plaisir.
[‘Such is our wish.’]
J. P. Allen — En fogel i hand ar batter
an tio i skogen.
[‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.’]
— from “The Cause: The Reasons Why the Election Resulted As It Did”, in the Tillamook (OR) Headlight of June 14, 1894, page 6, column 1
