Archives/Special Collections, University of Illinois at Springfield
Archives/Special Collections, University of Illinois at Springfield
Archives/Special Collections, University of Illinois at Springfield
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Q. (chuckles) We11 this kind <strong>of</strong> gave you an<br />
A: Yes it pive me an idea<br />
Q: . . . example <strong>of</strong> how to go aboul<br />
A: Go up to people to get them to . . .<br />
Q: Well did you get actively in support <strong>of</strong> any <strong>of</strong> these individuals <strong>at</strong> th<strong>at</strong> time?<br />
zI: I was always indirectll- trying to support <strong>of</strong> Siti even thouph he was a Republican because<br />
I could get him on the phone an\-time I wanted to, and he would do it. I know one time<br />
they needed some sand to build a school up here one time. \Ire couldn't get no sand. Hell,<br />
Sid had one <strong>of</strong> them damned dredge bo<strong>at</strong>s up there anti he said, "Where do you want th<strong>at</strong><br />
sand <strong>at</strong>?" He just ~mlls right out there. "Where do you ivanl it?" Another time I wanled<br />
some out <strong>at</strong> my farm - see, I've got a farm out here on the Mississippi River. Hell, he<br />
set the damned bo<strong>at</strong> up there and you know he (lumped th<strong>at</strong> sand right on out over there<br />
along the bank for me.<br />
Q: I'll be darned<br />
.A: Those days a congressman roulti respon~l by quirk action. Th~y didn't take them forev~r<br />
to do something.<br />
Q: \Th<strong>at</strong> ahout local politics in the 1:130's'.' \Vere yon beginning to gel involved <strong>at</strong> all in<br />
the school board?<br />
ti: \Veil, no, Hardin preclorninantl~ look carGI <strong>of</strong> th<strong>at</strong> up there. They always had their nren<br />
and they were entrenched. 'v'v'ell they'd just switch <strong>of</strong>fices from sheriff to \vhalever it<br />
\vas . . .<br />
Q: Treasurer<br />
A: Tronsurer and 1-icr versa. And anybody down on the point her? npver had nruch a chance<br />
to clvrr run. In fact. I \v;is the tirsl on(, th<strong>at</strong> (,rcr had nerve enouph to venture out into<br />
any ~~olitickin~. R~fo1.e th<strong>at</strong> most prol)lt~ ntwr hear11 <strong>of</strong> ('alhoun ('ounty.<br />
And th<strong>at</strong>'s the reason I was always very ~ndearrti lo a fellon- by the name <strong>of</strong> Phil Kyiier. I-lc<br />
\{-as I'ete Green's big right-hand man. IIe was the head <strong>of</strong> all <strong>of</strong> lhe st<strong>at</strong>e police in thc<br />
st<strong>at</strong>e uf <strong>Illinois</strong>. And he got drinking. He had a (lrinkin~ problem too l<strong>at</strong>er on. Rul when<br />
I \vent to Sl)ringfielrl, tt-h!-, he 51-asn't ashamed <strong>of</strong> hr~inp from Calhoun County. Most people<br />
were kind <strong>of</strong> ashamed to he from Calhoun (:ounty. You know ihey Ihought, gosh, you \{-ere<br />
an asshole place in the country. Rut he aasn'l. Ile let then1 know I was from Calhoun<br />
;in({ he was from Calhoun. And he did a lot <strong>of</strong> leg~vork for me up there. They jusl kept<br />
him on up ihclre l<strong>at</strong>er on, just kind <strong>of</strong> put~lic rcl<strong>at</strong>ion man.<br />
So then he got let out altogether. Ant1 I go1 him a job ciotvn here on the ferry. I put th<strong>at</strong><br />
ferry in and I got him a job down there. A lot <strong>of</strong> the Democr<strong>at</strong>s really h<strong>at</strong>ed it, Imt I felt<br />
I was iniiet~ted tu him. He was so nice to mrx when I was new <strong>at</strong> the game ant1 he knew<br />
all the ins and outs. Ht) ha11 been in theril and out so <strong>of</strong>ten th<strong>at</strong> he knew who \>-as whu.<br />
Q: \Vh<strong>at</strong> [)art <strong>of</strong> Calhoun Counly was he from?<br />
1: I Ie was from Kampsville<br />
Carl Wittmond Memoir -- <strong>Archives</strong>/<strong>Special</strong> <strong>Collections</strong>, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Illinois</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Springfield</strong>
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