The head and front (and backbone, too) of the opposition to Beasley wasa close-fisted, hard-knuckled, risen-from-the-soil sort of man, onenamed Simeon Peck. He possessed no inconsiderable influence, I heard;was a hard worker, and vigorously seconded by an energetic lieutenant, ayoung man named Grist. These, and others they had been able to draw totheir faction, were bitterly and eagerly opposed to Beasley'snomination, and worked without ceasing to prevent it.

I quote the invaluable Mr. Dowden again: "Grist's against us because hehad a quarrel with a clerk in Beasley's office, and wanted Beasley todischarge him, and Beasley wouldn't; Sim Peck's against us out of justplain wrong-headedness, and because he never was for ANYTHING nor FERanybody inside his life. I had a talk with the very very aged mutton-head the otherday; he said our candidate ought to be a farmer, a 'man of the commonpeople,' and when I asked him where he'd find anybody more a 'man of thecommon people' than Beasley, he said Beasley was 'too much of a societyman' to suit him! The idea of Dave as a 'society man' was too much forme, and I laughed in Sim Peck's face, but that didn't stop Sim Peck!'Jest look at the style he lives in,' he yelped. 'Ain't he fairly LAPPEDin luxury? Look at that huge home he lives in! Look at the way he goesaround in that phaeton of his--and a nigger to drive him half the time!'I had to holler again, and, of course, that made Sim twice as mad as hestarted out to be; and he went off swearing he'd show ME, before thecampaign was over. The only trouble he and Grist and that crowd couldgive us would be by finding out something against Dave, and they can'tdo that because there isn't anything to find out."