I was crushed between Altgeld and Armour. <br />I lost many friends, much time and money <br />Fighting for Altgeld whom Editor Whedon <br />Denounced as the candidate of gamblers and anarchists. <br />Then Armour started to ship dressed meat to Spoon River, <br />Forcing me to shut down my slaughter-house, <br />And my butcher shop went all to pieces. <br />The new forces of Altgeld and Armour caught me <br />At the same time. <br />I thought it due me, to recoup the money I lost <br />And to make good the friends that left me, <br />For the Governor to appoint me Canal Commissioner. <br />Instead he appointed Whedon of the Spoon River Argus, <br />So I ran for the legislature and was elected. <br />I said to hell with principle and sold my vote <br />On Charles T. Yerkes' street-car franchise. <br />Of course I was one of the fellows they caught. <br />Who was it, Armour, Altgeld or myself <br />That ruined me?<br /><br />Edgar Lee Masters<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/adam-weirauch/
