The first election in which I took any active part occurred when I was in charge of the mines, and was fought over the question of prohibition. A retired cattleman, who owned a saloon in Uvalde, had been of much assistance to the company and to me personally, and we were under many obligations to him. I had promised him in my own and the company’s name to return favours when called upon. He wired me one day to come in to town, and when I drove over he told me that there was to be an election to vote the county “dry,” and he needed our help. This I promised, and when the election came off the county went “wet” by thirty-five majority, and as our box gave some forty-five “wet” votes, we had been the means of carrying the election. At first there was some talk of throwing out our box on the ground of undue influence, but finally they decided to accept defeat for the present. Uvalde since then has voted “dry,” and in fact the large majority of Texas counties have local prohibition, though the liquor interests have so far kept “dryness” out of State elections. Local prohibition is, however, becoming each year a more prominent factor, and in a few years Texas is sure to be a “dry” State. Last election I was told the fight turned almost entirely on the liquor question, and each candidate, for even trivial positions, was asked where he stood. One candidate, on being asked, as he stepped down from the platform, “Do you drink?” said: “Before I can answer that question truthfully I must know is this meant as an inquiry or an invitation?” I may give the impression from the above that I am in favour of the liquor business. But nothing is further from the truth, as I am a great believer not so much in local prohibition as in national. But with me it was a case of carrying out a promise made, at no matter what cost to my personal views. Texas is not in all respects so lawless as one might suppose from what I have written; for instance, my father and sister visited me for six weeks in 1896, and they rode about everywhere in perfect safety. On the other hand, while he was there, the superintendent twice borrowed money from him, for petty cash. They, of the staff, were four men in one house, well armed, but “they were not paid to fight,” so they kept no money. Everything was paid by cheques on Uvalde, eighteen miles distant! Nor was this without reason, for twice in that year even town banks were attacked. In one case the employees beat off the robbers; in the other the citizens pursued and hanged them. CHAPTER XVIII A "Grandstander"—The Sheriff takes possession—Night Watchman—Monte Jim—Further trouble.