Table Of Content

.NNALS of WYOMING Volume 63, No. 1 Winter 1991 In 1895thestateofWyomingestablishedadepartmenttocol- GOVERNOR OF WYOMING lect and preserve materials which interpret the history of Mike Sullivan Wyoming. Todaythoseduties are performedbythe Division ofParks and Cultural Resources in the Department ofCom- merce. Located in the department are the State Historical DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE DIRECTOR ResearchLibrary, theStateArchives, theStateMuseum, the Max Maxfield StateArtGallery,theStateHistoricSites,andtheStateHistoric Preservation Office. TheDepartment solicitsoriginal records STATE HISTORIAN such as diaries, letters, books, early newspapers, maps, pho- David Kathka tographsandrecordsofearlybusinessesandorganizationsas wellasartworkandartifactsformuseumexhibit.TheDepart- WYOMING STATE LIBRARY, ARCHIVES, mentasksfortheassistanceofallWyomingcitizenstosecure MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL BOARD these documents and artifacts. Bill Bruce Hines, Chairman, Gillette Orval Meier, Sundance Juan "Abe" DeHerrera, Rawlins Richard Cornia, Cokeville Mary Ellen McWilliams, Sheridan Gladys Hill, Douglas Ruth Hecker, Lovell George Zeimens, Lingle Mary Guthrie, Attorney General's Office, Ex-officio WYOMING STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OFFICERS, 1990-1991 Scott Handley, President, Pine Haven DaleJ. Morris, First Vice-President, Green River Walter Edens, Second Vice-President, Laramie Sherry Taylor, Secretary, Casper Gladys Hill, Treasurer, Douglas David Kathka, Executive-Secretary Judy West, State Coordinator ABOUT—THE COVER—Thedevelopment ofthe oil industry has been a significantfactor in Wyoming's history. Thispainting, "Early Day OilEield Wyoming"by Dave Paulley,from the WyomingHistory inArtProjectsponsoredby the WyomingStateHistoricalSociety, depictsa typicalsceneofoilproduction in theSalt CreekareanearMidwest, Wyoming, duringthe1920s. Oilandothermineralsareimportantto Wyoming becauseoftherevenueit brings to thestatethrough theseverance tax. Fora discussion ofthepassageofWyoming'ssevera—ncetaxin 1969andthe role Ernest Wilkersonplayedsee "Wyoming's Wealthfor Wyoming's People: Ernest Wilkcrson and the Severance Tax A Study in Wyoming PoliticalHistory," by Sarah Gorin. — a4 WYOMING NNALS of Volume 63, No. 1 Winter, 1991 ."S'cp TABLE OF CONTENTS STAFF Rick Ewig, Editor Jean Brainerd, Assistant Editor RogerJoyce, Assistant Editor WILLIAMJEFFERSON HARDIN: Wyoming's Nineteenth Ann Nelson, Assistant Editor Century Black Legislator 2 PaulaWest Chavoya, PhotographicEditor by Roger D. Hardaway EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD WYOMING'S WEALTH FOR WYOMING'S PEOPLE: MRiocyhaJeolrdCaanssity Ernest Wilkerson and the Severance Tax David Kathka A Study in Wyoming Political History 14 William H. Moore by Sarah Gorin Robert L. Munkres PhilipJ. Roberts WYOMING SCRAPBOOK 28 ANNALS OF WYOMING wasestablished Wyoming's Bentonite « j^—>r ^\r p,~—u.'C in 1923todisseminatehistoricalinformation by Roger G. Joyce UNlVERSfrY OF WYOMING about Wyoming and the West through the LARA^^h"::G2C71 publication ofarticles and documents. The BOOK REVIEWS 32 editors ofANNALS OF WYOMING wel- Moynihan, Armitage, and Dichamp, So Much to Be Done: come manuscripts on every aspect ofWyo- Women Settlers on theMining and Ranching Frontier, ming and Western history. reviewed by KatherineJensen. Authors should submit two typed, double- Bernfeld, Sagebrush Classics, reviewed by Marcia Hensley. spacedcopiesoftheirmanuscriptswithfoot- Parke, Dreams to Dust: A Diary ofthe California Gold Rush, notesplacedattheend.Manuscriptssubmit- 1849-1850, reviewed by Walter Edens. ted should conform to A MANUAL OF Bruhn, Dreams in Dry Places, reviewed by MarkJunge. STYLE (University ofChicago Press). The Wilkinson, The American West: A Narrative Bibliography EmdaintuosrcrirpetssertvoesmemthbeerrsigohftthetoEdistuobrmiiatlAdal-l and a Study in Regionalism, reviewed by David Kathka. visory Board orto authorities in the fieldof McCloud, What Should We Tell Our Children About I'lctnam^ study for recommendations. Published arti- reviewed by Rick Ewig. clesrepresenttheviewoftheauthorsandare notnecessarilythoseoftheDivisionofParks BOOK NOTES 38 andCulturalResources,DepartmentofCom- merce or the Wyoming State Historical ERRATA 40 Society. ANNALSOFVV\'OMING is publislu-.j (|u,iii,iK In ilu- Himsiou ..il'.iiks,nul Cul- lur.il RcsouK.'s, D.'parlnu-nl of(lonniun<. li isi.-,i-i\r,l I.n .ill ninulHisol ilie\\\oming Si,lie llislorual Snnclv as ihr olTi,lal publiiation otih.U o,.^.nn.miu-u. MeinlHislup dues ,siliivi:pSISinlg,l!e;!!S7'.);(':h,n.|n.ilrs%n\\'1\puIMn,sl.iulsul.icM.uiil.ilMM$2i0v;nlLiifsesu$e1s"ioH;lJ'oiwnXi l\1.il,cSS',nJ,liU\),hCeuipmr>ehi,uisueucliuIlihoti-u Ilu- f.,lll(.l, (:,.iTesp,Muleil,esIl.MlKII,e.hUmss.cIIn(lie IMil,,, \\NAI,S()j WAO\11\t; ailldes aie ,il,sli.1,le,I 111 llislnin.il Ahsli.i.ls .iiul Xiueiu.i: llisloiA ,,iul Llle. ©Copyiigiu I'I'll In ih,- Divisioni,I Parks,iikI(;iilliir,il Resourees. I)ei)ariiuemofC:oiunuTCC WILLIAM JEFFERSON HARDIN: Wyoming's Nineteenth Century Black Legislator by Roger D. Hardaway s I'hran/horgratefullyacknowledgesreceiptofagrantfromthe WyomingCouncilfortheHumanities, a (iffilialr ofthe National Endowment for the Humanities, which helpedfinance the research for this artiilc WILLIAM JEFFERSON HARDIN tion. Then, whenCongressgrantedthefranchisetoBlack men in all ofthe territories in 1867, Hardin became an importantassettothelocalRepublicanparty. Hehelped deliver the Black vote for the GOP, and party leaders Several thousand Blacks went west during the late rewarded him for his efforts. In 1872 he was a delegate nineteenth century as a small but vital part ofthe west- to the Republican National Convention that nominated ward movement. Like theirWhite counterparts, Blacks President Ulysses S. Grant for a second term. A more on the frontierwere trappers and traders, soldiers, cow- lucrative recompense was the job party officials ob- boys, miners, farmers, andentrepreneurs. AftertheCivil tained for him at the Denver branch ofthe U.S. Mint War, manyBlackslefttheSouthseekingabetterlifeaway in 1873.:^ fromtheJimCrowsocietythatexisted there. Most went Inthelatteryear, however, HardinleftDenverwith north, and only a comparative few turned west. Conse- his reputation and career in shambles. First, he married quently, until recently, thecontributionsBlacksmadeto Nellie Davidson, a White woman from New York who the western frontierhave been ignored. Duringthe past workedasamillinerintheColoradocapital. Soonthere- quartercentury, however, historianshave attempted, to after, aBlackwomancallingherselfCarolineHardincame some degree, to chronicle the achievements ofBlacks in totown with proofthat she hadmarried Hardin inKen- the American West.' This article is an effort to contrib- tucky in 1850, and claiming that this marriage had ute to that endeavor by focusing on William Jefferson producedadaughter. Moreover, shechargedthat Hardin Hardin, aBlackman whowastwiceelected to the Wyo- hadmovedfromOmahatoDenverin 1863 onlytoavoid ming Territorial Legislature in an era and from a place beingdraftedintotheUnionArmy. Hardinadmittedthat whereWhitesgreatlyoutnumberedBlacksandoften sub- hehaddodgedthedraft, thathehadparticipatedinamar- jected them to discriminatory treatment. riage ceremony with the woman, and that he was the Hardin took an erratic route from his native South fatherofthedaughter. Heargued, however, thatthemar- tothe RockyMountainWest. Born in Kentuckyaround riage to Caroline was illegal and therefore void when it 1830, Hardin lived in that state until he reached adult- was made because he had been a minor and she a slave hood. Hewasneveraslavebecausehismotherwasafree at the time. Hardin was never charged with bigamy or Black and his father was White. Hardin's free status anyothercrime, and he continued tolivewith Nellie for allowedhimtoreceiveaneducation, andhesubsequently years after his purported marriage to Caroline became becameaschoolteacherintheKentuckycityofBowling publicknowledge. Thisepisodeneverthelesspromptedthe Greenforabriefperiod. Withtheadventofthegoldrush director ofthe mint to fire him, and Hardin decided to toCalifornia, Hardindecidedsometimeafter 1850toseek hisfortunethere. Hespentthenextseveralyearsasawan- derer, livinginCanada, Wisconsin, Iowa, andNebraska 2. Cheyenne Daily Sun. November 9, 1879. p. 2; Eugene H. Ber- before settling in Denver, Colorado, in 1863.^ wanger, "WilliamJ. Hardin: Colorado Spokesman tor Racial Hardin lived in Denver for a decade, and became a Justice, 1863-1873," llieColoradoMagazine52{Winter1975): 52. leaderinthecity'sBlackcommunity. Adynamicspeaker, 62; ForbesParkhill, MisirrBarney Ford:A Portraitin Bistre(Den- he soon became known as the "Colored Orator ofDen- vceorp:ySiangeHiBsotoorkisc,al19R6e3s),eapr.ch12a7;ndanPdub1l8ic8a0tiWoynosm,iDnigviCesnisouns,ofp.Pa3r1k6.s ver." He advocated integratedpublicschoolsandledthe and Cultural Resources, Wyoming Department ot Commerce fightforBlacksuffrageagainstformidableWhiteopposi- (HR&P),Cheyenne. BerwangerplacesHardin'svearotbirthat 1831 becausehew.isihiilvMiinexvlu-nthe 1870Coloradocensus was taken. The 1880 Wvomiii- .ensus, i.iken onJune 1, 1880, 1. The best general .survey ofthe sulijecI is W. .Sherman Sa\-age, lists Hardin ,isbeing liKvxeaisold ,n that lime. Haidm aKvavs BlacksinIhcffrv/(Westport,Connetticul:(HcenwcHulPress, i')76). claimed ih.il his l.ilher w.rs the broiher oi Keniuckv Congress- See alsoWilliam Loren Katz, Thelilwk W'rsl. rev. e<l. (Carden man BeniammH.udinwhoisprohledinJames1,. Harrison,com- City, NewYork: DoubledayandCo., l')?.)), whuh rsprolu.sely piler, Bn,gNi/>lin,i/ nimtinv of the .Ameruau Congress. 1774-1949 illuslrated.Thepioneeringhi.storianinihefieldu.isKemuihWig- (Washington: I'.S.Co\,-iluiieiii Pimlm-CXhie, I'M'M. p. !2(>5. ginsPorterwhoseseveralarticlesonihei<ipii .nc.ollc,i,,| m riir 3. llardin'sacliMlicsasaIc.ulcrolilic bl,uk,,.minunnn in Dciuer NYeogrrkooIn'iimhersA,nirl'i»h7uln).FrAonntieerar{lNyeawssYeosrskin:enAiinoloPiiheessw.mnkidiillimeieNehwv a.Mraegadzeilnaeil5e2d(iWnmiBecii\\l.'i)7i:i--,e)i:,VJ\\hiil.liS.eicm.iJK,olIlj.ii^ic.nlcm,1"1.IBne,rwCaoinogieard.o recenthisloii.insmthisareaisLawrenceH.deCiaal, K.(ogni- 'Ilardm,md l.angsion: WesternBkickSpokesmenoliheRecon- lio)i, Ka<ism, an.l R.llcIi,,iison die Writingoi W.'sUan Hkuk siiiulion k'.ra," FheJournal of\egro llistoiy (.1 (Spring 1979): History," I'mijic llislorualRcciav 11 (P)7r)); 22-51. 101-115. ANNALS OF WYOMING WINTER 1991 leave Denver, where his future looked bleak, and move the successfulBlacksinDenverinthelatenineteenthcen- north to Wyoming in late 1873.* tury, including Hardin, were ofmixed blood. Another HardinsettledinCheyenneandopenedabarbershop. has noted that a Denver newspaper editor attributed HehadheldseveraljobswhileinColorado, buthadbar- Hardin's intelligence and leadership abilities to the bered immediatelypriortohis appointment atthe mint. "white" blood that he possessed.'' Presumably, hislight Hecontinuedtoearnhislivinginthismannerduringthe skin was an asset to him in Wyoming as well as in ten years orso that he resided in Wyoming. The typical Colorado. late nineteenth-centurybarberwas Black, andundoubt- Two attributes that were definitely advantages to edly Hardin became well known to Cheyenne's White Hardin'spolitical successwerehis great speakingability maleleadersinpartbecausesomanyofthemfrequented and his outgoing personality. Perhaps his march to the his establishment. A business directory printed in a Wyoming legislature began in March, 1878, when he Cheyennenewspaperin 1878listedHardinasoneofonly addressedthe membershipofalocalPresbyterianchurch fourbarbersinthe city, indicatingthatasignificantper- ontheevilsofalcohol. TheDailySunreportedthatitwas centage ofWhites in the area used his services. At any only the second public speech Hardin had made since rate, by the end ofthe decade ofthe 1870s, Hardin was movingtoWyoming. Hiseffort, thepaperreported, was known and respected by most people in the territory's "frequently interrupted by applause." By the following small capital city. The scandal that had forced him out year, Hardin was so well known throughout the city as ofDenverapparentlydidnotin anywaylimit hisaccep- an outstanding orator that he was often called upon to tance into Cheyenne social and political life.^ address public meetings.^ OneinterestingaspectofHardin'smakeupthatbears Hardin'sabilitytomakefriendsisevidentinexamin- noting was his physical appearance. The Cheyenne Daily ing the manner in which he came to be nominated and Sun described him as being "ofslim and slender build, then elected to the Wyoming House ofRepresentatives fivefeettenincheshigh, weighs 140pounds . . .;hasblack in 1879. At that time Wyominghad five counties, all of curlyhairwithmoustacheandelfinwhiskersofthe same whichstretchedfromthe southerntothenorthernborders color and black eyes. Has sharp well cut features, thin of the territory. Legislators were elected from counties lipsandsmallmouth,longsharpnoseandanorangecom- accordingtoanapportionment scheme setupbythe ter- plexion." His motherhad one White parent, and, thus, ritorial governor as mandated by Congress. Laramie Hardin was only one-fourth Black. He was very light- County, where Cheyenne was (and is) located, was the skinned, andthenewspaperportrayedhimashaving"no most populous county and was entitled to fourdelegates resemblance in his features to the African race." in the Council, the upper chamber, and nine members Moreover, the paperconcluded, "he looks more like an in the House."^ ItalianoraFrenchmanthan acolored man." In thelate Each party was to nominate candidates at a county nineteenthcentury, Blackswhodidnothavepronounced conventionforthegeneralelectiontobeheldon Septem- Negroid characteristics were usually more acceptable to ber 2, 1879. On August 7, the CheyenneDaily Leader, the WhitesandmorelikelytoprogressinaWhite-dominated society. One Colorado historian has argued that most of 6. CheyenneDailySun, November9, 1879, p. 2; Lyle W. Dorsett, TheQueenCity:AHistoryojDenver(Boulder,Colorado:PruettPub- 4. Bcrwanger,"WilliamJ. Hardin,"pp.61-64;andParkhill,Mis- lishingCo., 1977),p.53;andRobertG.Athearn, TheColoradans terBarneyFord, p. 159. Nellie Davidson Hardin'splace ofbirth (Albuquerque: UniversityofNew Mexico Press, 1976), p. 80. isfoundin1880WyomingCensus, p.316. Hardin'smovetoWyo- Hardinmayhavehadevenlessthanone-fourthBlackblood.Ber- ming,butnotthereasonsforit,ismentionedintheCheyenneDaily wanger, "WilliamJ. Hardin,"p.52,saysthatHardin'smother Sun, November9, 1879, p. 2. was one-fourth Black, making Hardin only one-eighth Black. 5. CheyenneDailySun, November9, 1879, p. 2;January 29, 1878, However, Berwanger's source forthis statement appears to be p. 1;andBerwanger,"WilliamJ. Hardin,"p.53.In1880Wyo- theDailySunarticlecitedabovewhichstatesthatHardin,nothis mingCensus, p.316, Hardinislistedasbeingabarber.OnBlacks mother, was one-fourth Black. and the barbering profession, see: Kenneth Wiggins Porter, 7. CheyenneDailySun, March 19, 1878, p. 4. "Foreword," to ElmerR. Rusco, "GoodTimeComing?": Black 8. T.A. Larson,HistoryofWyoming, 2nded.,rev.(Lincoln:Univer- NevadansintheNineteenthCentury(Westport,Connecticut: Green- sityofNebraskaPress, 1978), p. 96; Marie H. Erwin, Wyoming woodPress, 1975),p.xiii;HarmonMother.shead, "NegroRights Historical Blue Book: A Legal and Political History of Wyoming, in Colorado Territory (1859-1867)," The ColoradoMagazine 40 1868-1943(Denver: Bradford-RobinsonPrintingCo., 1946),p. (1940): 213; and Berwanger, "Hardin and Langston," p. 102. 137; and CheyenneDaily Leader. December 14, 1879, p. 4. WILLIAM JEFFERSON HARDIN other newspaper in the capital city, proposed the crea- alongbiographyofHardin in which it lauded his perso- tionofafusionorunionticketmadeupofbothDemocrats nality: andRepublicans. Thiswould, ineffect, allowthedelegates Heisveryneatandtidyinhisdress,modestandunas- tothetwocountyconventions, ratherthanthevoters, to suming,politeandagreeableinhismanners,treatingevery choosethepeople whowould represent LaramieCounty manasagentlemanandeverywomanasalady, regardless in the legislature. The reason for this proposal, the oftheir dress, position or circumstance. He has a happy fnsipeeewdnsdcpaamnpdoeinrdeaeytxeptsloaiwonhbetoda,iwnwearpsoestiwhtiailtolniitsnwgtahtsaotdmipfaafiikdceulltietttnloeemgaeintedsqutaaolnoidk- Tf.ah.ce.uslethyequokaflnimotawiekssih.nog. w.fhratioveenkdemseapadmetohhneigmmaaplfoltpecurllaahsresewshiatoshfmtpheaeodppeleeo,tplheae.mn'.d^ themawayfromtheiroccupations. Afusionticketwould Hardin, likeallothercandidatesonthefusionticket, presumablyattractgoodcandidateswhowouldotherwise believedthathisnominationassuredhimofelection. That, refusetorun. Partyleadersassentedtotheplan, andeach however, wasnottobethecase. SomepeopleinCheyenne party agreed to nominate at county conventions two of began to complain about the manner in which the slate its members for the Council and four for the House. A had been chosen. A leading dissenter was Herman drawing was held for the ninth House seat, and the Glafcke, editoroftheDailyLeaderandthepersonwhohad Republicans won that position.^ conceivedtheideaoftheunitedticket. Whenthetwopar- The parties held their conventions at the Cheyenne ties held their conventions, Glafcke was out oftown on cityhallatthesametimesothatpartyleaderscouldkeep business. When he returned, he was chagrined to learn upwiththeproceedingsoftheotherbody. The Republi- thattheeditoroftheDailySun, EdwardA. Slack, wasone cans quickly settled on two Council and four House ofthe candidates for the Council. Not only were these nominees. Astruggleensued, however, whenthedelegates twomenrivaleditorsoftheonlynewspapersintown, they soughttochoose theirfifth Housecandidate. Threepeo- hadbeenpoliticalenemiessinceatleast 1873when Slack plewerebeingconsideredfortheballotposition, includ- had advocated Glafcke's removal from the position of ingHardinwhowasadelegatetotheconvention. Atthis secretary of the territory. At any rate, a convention of pointintheproceedings, severalDemocrats, whosecon- "workingmen" metatcityhallontheFridaynightbefore ventionhad adjourned, came intothe Republican meet- the Tuesday general election and nominated a second ing hall. When the Democrats learned that Hardin was group of candidates for the legislature. One of these intherunningforthelastpositiononthebipartisanslate, nomineeswasGlafcke, whowas nowacandidate forthe they "electioneeredopenlyforhim" amongRepublican Council against Slack and others.'-' delegates. After two ballots, both ofwhich Hardin led. When the workingmen's convention met, Hardin RepublicanleaderFrancisE. Warrenmovedthat Hardin made a calculated political move that could ha\e back- be declared nominated. "The motion was carried," the fired, but ultimately proved to be beneficial to him: he Daily Leaderobserved, "amid loud cheering." Hardin's attendedtheconventionasaspectator. Afterthedelegates acceptancespeechwasapplaudedbymembersofbothpar- chose their thirteen legislative nonfinees, the\' urged ties, and "brought down the house."'" Hardin to make a speech priorto adjourning. Such con- The Daily Sun editorially praised the selection of duct by Hardin could have upset those supporting the Hardin as "one ofthe best nominations made" by the i'usion ticket. Instead, however, it indirectly guaranteed two conventions. "Although classed with our colored hiselectionbecausethedayaftertheciinxontion met. toin- brethren," the newspaper noted, "he has broken down of the nominees who had not attended the gathering raceprejudice ... bypre-eminent manifestationsofability declined lorim. Thebackersoftheworkingmen's nune- anduprightconduct."" Later, the newspaperpublished menl iiislied (o fill those places on their ballot, and the\- oflered one ofthe House- i)ositions lo llardiii. Thus, he went into the election as a nonnnee on both tickets." 9. CheyenneDailySun, September2, 1879, p. 4(reprint ofcdilori; thatappearedintheCheyenneDailyLeader. August 7, IH79); an CheyenneDailyLeader, August 19,p. 4,Augusi'21,p. 1,aTulAugu :«), 1879, p. 4. 12. Cheyenne DailySun. No\cniluT 9. 1879, p. 2. 10. CheyenneDailyLeader, Augusi 19, p. 4, and August 21, 187!), | i:5. CheyenneDailySun. Augusi M). 187'», p. 1; CheyenneDailyLeader. 4. See also CheyenneDailySun. August 21, 1879, p. 1. .Scptcuihrr 1, 1879,p.2;.uulL.um.u, IIntoryofWyoniino, p. 125. 11. CheyenneDailySun, August 22, 1879, p. 4. 14. CheyenneDailyLeader, .\ugusiiU).p.4.antl.\ugu.st!)1. 1879.p.4. ANNALS OF WYOMING WINTER 1991 Obviously, Hardin had support among all political equal, andHardincouldeasilyhavelosthadhenotbeen factionsinCheyenne. Notsurprisingly, Blacksinthecity on both tickets."' wereelatedwithhisnominationandsupportedhimwhole- HardindidmuchbetterinthecityofCheyennethan heartedly. Theyheld a meetinganddrafted a resolution intheruralprecinctsofLaramieCounty. Sixteencandi- thatwaspublishedintheDailySunonthemorningofthe dateswererunningfortheninecountyHouseseats. These election. Inthedeclaration, theypraisedHardin andthe includedtheninefusioncandidatesandsevenadditional White political leaders who had supported his nomina- workingmen's nominees. Hardinfinishedsecondamong tion. "We believe him to be a good man," their state- all candidates in Cheyenne, winning903 votes from the ment said, "andonewhoisworthyofthisposition . . . . 1,256 people who cast ballots there; thus, 79.1 percent We rejoice to know that our white fellow-citizens were of Cheyenne's voters gave one of their nine votes to mindful enough of the colored race to give them one Hardin. In the rural precincts, however, only 29.1 per- representative in Wyoming Territory."''' cent oftheelectorate supportedhim. There, he received Thefactthat HardinhadmanyfriendsinCheyenne eighty-five votes from 292 voters and finished fifteenth and strong support amongthose friends is evident in an amongthecandidates. Thus, hedidverywellamonghis analysisoftheelectionreturns. Forthe House, eachvoter fellowcitydwellers, butnotwellatallamongruralvoters wasallowedtovoteforninecandidates, andtheninepeo- plewiththemostvoteswouldbeelected. Hardinwoneas- OfficialelectionreturnsarereproducedinCheyenneDailyLeader, ily, finishingthirdamongall candidates. One additional September14, 1879,p. 4;andinErwin, WyomingHistoricalBlue victorwasendorsedbyboth the fusion and the working- Book, pp. 224-225. Hardinreceived988votesfrom 1,548voters; men'stickets, whiletheotherwinnersincludedfourfusion 63.8percentoftheelectoratevotedforhim.HermanGlafckewas TcahnedifdoautreCsoaunndcitlhrseeeatmsewmerbeertsakoefntbhyeownoerkpienrgsmonene'nsdosrlasteed. emClhieencygteenHdniesttDooariitclhayelLCBeoalduueenrc,BiolSoekw,phtipelpme.beE2rd24w1-4a2,r2d51.87S9lT,ahcrpk.eew4a;osathndederfEepraetwoeipdnl.,eWwyhoo- byboth factions, onefusioncandidate, andtwoworking- hadbeennominatedontheworkingmen'sticketbutlaterwith- men. Thus, the strength ofthe two tickets was roughly drewreceivedafewscatteredvotesfromtheruralprecinctsprob- ablybecausetheballotssenttothoseprecinctswereprintedbefore 15. CheyenneDailySun, September 2, 1879, p. 4. they announced theirwithdrawals. OFFICIAL 1879 ELECTION RETURNS: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, LARAMIE COUNTY Candidates in Cheyenne Cheyenne Rural Rural Total order of finish Votes Rank Votes Rank Votes *1. S.K. Sharpless 1140 1 215 1 1355 *2. John E. Davis 814 3 181 4 995 *3. W.J. Hardin 903 2 85 15 988 *4. W.H. Hibbard 807 4 177 5 984 *5. W.C. Irvine 702 5 198 2 900 *6. Thomas Conroy 695 6 157 7 852 *7. E.W. Mann 660 8 129 9 789 *8. J.S. Taylor 661 7 121 11 782 *9. B.F. Deitrick 614 10 125 10 739 10. Peter Hamma 530 14 195 3 725 11. D.C. Tracy 621 9 92 14 713 12. R.B. Horrie 540 12 152 8 692 13. J.R. Whitehead 539 13 118 12 657 14. I.N. Bard 477 16 176 6 653 15. Milton Taylor 568 11 67 16 635 16. F.L. Greene 491 —15 98 13 589 17. H.B. Kelly — 43 17 43 18. E. Nagle — 39 18 39 19. T.N. Shanks 29 19 29 * = Elected Figuresarefrom theC1 Lcidn, Srpinnhcr 14, 1879, /;. 4. WILLIAM JEFFERSON HARDIN who surely did not know him as well as did Cheyen- The Sixth LegislativeAssemblymetinCheyennefor neites.'^ forty days, from November 4 to December 13, 1879. Anotherobvious observation is that most Cheyenne Hardin was appointed to only one ofthe sixteen stand- voters exhibited no racial prejudice. Certainly, some ingcommitteesofthe House, the relativelyminoroneof Whites refused tovote fora Black man, butthe number Indian and Military Affairs. He was also the House wassosmallastobeinsignificant. Ruralvoters,however, representative on a two-manJoint Standing Committee musthave allowed race to affect theirvotingbehaviorto on Printingwhichwaslikewise not achoice assignment. a great extent. The other House candidate endorsed by That Hardinwasnotgivenbettercommitteeassignments bothfactionsfinishedfirstinbothCheyenneandtherural ispuzzlingsince Republicansheld sixteenofthe twenty- areas. One would expect Hardin, the only other candi- seven House seats, and the Speaker of the House and date with a dual endorsement, to finish at least second Hardin were friends. Perhaps Hardin was appointed to in the rural precincts as he did in the city. Had he been the committees on which he wished to serve, or perhaps as well known among rural voters as he was with city the HouseleadershipwasreluctanttoassignaBlacklegis- dwellersperhapshewouldhavereceivedmoreruralvotes. latortomoresignificantcommittees. Anotherpossiblefac- Butthedifferencebetweenhiscityand rural results is so toristhatHousemembersdidnotsimplylineuponissues great that racial prejudice is the only plausible explana- by party affiliation. Some ofthe more important issues tion.'*^ facing the lawmakers were sectional in nature, with FurtherevidenceoftheracialtoleranceofCheyenne's representativesfrom outside Laramie Countyseekingto 1879Whitevotersisfoundinexaminingthedemographics move the capital west andattemptingto reapportion the ofLaramie County. This can best be done by studying legislature by shiftingseatsfrom Laramie County to the the 1880 Wyoming census. In that year, only 194 (or 3 state's other regions. Thus, the Speaker, who was from percent)ofthe6,409peoplecountedbythecensusbureau Albany County, perhaps believed that he should gi\'e inthecountywereBlack; mostofthemlivedinCheyenne. choice committee assignments to his western supporters Just how many Blacks voted in—1879 is not known, but regardless of party membership.2° thenumberwasobviouslysmall lessthan 194. Hardin's Hardin lived up to his reputation as a distinguished marginofvictoryoverthelosingcandidatewiththe most orator during the 1879 session ofthe Wyoming legisla- votes, thepersonwhofinishedtenth, was263votes. Had ture. When, on openingday, the membersofthe House every Black person in Laramie County been eligible to selected H.L. Myrick as Speaker, Hardin waschosen to vote in 1879 and had all voted for Hardin, he would make the speech introducing the new leader to the neverthelesshave hadenough White votestobe elected. representatives. On at least one occasion he was called Consequently, Hardin's election shows that, compared upontositintheSpeaker'schairtopresideo\erthe House to other frontier areas and even rural Laramie County, whenitmetasacommitteeofthewhole. Perhapsthetwo the voters of Cheyenne were remarkably free of racial most memorable speeches ofthe session were Hardin's prejudice in 1879. The Daily Leader agreed, calling opposing the move ofthe capital from Cheyenne to the Hardin's election "a moral triumph for the people." cityofLaramie, and resistingareapportionmentbill that Moreover, the paper added, "what other territory or wouldhavecost LaramieCountyseats inthelegislature. northern state can boast of such liberality?"'^ On both occasions, the gallery ofthe House was packed with local citizens who applauded KnulK their representative's stirring words.-' Hardin iiilioduced six billsduring(he Sixth Lt-gisla- 18. CheyenneDailyLmder, September14, 1879, p. 4;andErvvin, Wyo- tiveAssemblw Thesul)jectsofthoseinc-asuivstanged from 19. mChienygenHniestDoariilcyalLeBaldueer,BoSoek],jtepnpi.be2r244,-2p.254,,andScpiember14, 187!), buiitlingienccsand killingchickt'ii liawkstosettingsalaries p. 4; Erwin, VVyomint^HislorualBlurBook, |)p. 224-22r);andCom- pendiumofthe I'rnth Census(fuiir I. 1880), Com/i/IrdPuruiauttoAn ActofCongressApprovedAugust7, 1882, Pari 1 (\Vaslli^^l()n: Ll.S. 20. ChrrenurDailv Leader. IVeember 14, 1879. pp. 4-5; and Krwiii GovernmentPrintingOffiee, 1883), p. :57'). lioiiuallv, die 1880 Wyomnig llisloiiral Blur Hook. p. 1(.2. TWhyeomoinnlgyCCrinllueiryI'p..la.:!k!(p;,.iin.sc(,uiii,rl,e-d,liv,dIimsl<-,d,sIilaa:i.d-mm atsrMbieiiiuini;alWhlielgies.- 21. CnhereyernmubreDrali.ly1S8uu7.9.Np(..\(1;-mll.)aneiri5n.ir1S8ru7t9n,irlp.. 4I;VCehermybrnenrr2D0a,ily18L7r9a,day lature out.side the Sonlh m 187') was (ieori;.' Wasiim-i.ui Wil- 2; andC.C. Com,ml, "llisicrv ofWn,nuim;. Written bv C.G liamsofOhio. LettertoaulhorIrom(iarvj.Ariuild,()Iih,1lislor- Coulani, I'lone.-r1IrsicM.ni, ,md Ileieiot.Mv I npublislu-d,CU,\\ ieal Society, May 23, 1990. (er XXII," Auuals oj ll'yomnig 11 (.\piil 1!»-12): 151. ANNALS OF WYOMING WINTER 1991 ofcountyofficials. Anyone reviewingthe 1879legislative jectexists. ThetitleofanotherHardinbill, however, gives journals and laws passed at that session, however, has someindicationofthelegislator'sphilosophyeventhough difficultydeterminingjustwhateffectHardinhadonthe this law, too, neverpassed. That measure was designed legalhistoryofterritorialWyoming. Forexample, thebill "to prevent non-tax payers from voting at elections for Hardin introduced concerning county officials' salaries theissuingofbondsorimposingtaxes."Thetaxesreferred wasreplacedbyacommitteesubstitutemeasure. Thebill to were property assessments, and Hardin, who had Ihatwasultimatelyenactedisprintedin the 1879 session become a property owner in Cheyenne in April, 1878, laws, but Hardin's bill in its original form has not been didnotwanthispropertytaxesraisedbythosewhowould preserved. Thus, how much ofthe final law came from not have to bear the burden of a tax increase.-^ Hardin's proposal is not known.'^ Two ofHardin's proposed laws were enacted. One, Moreover, bills are mentionedinthelegislativejour- "toprotectdairymen," isimpossibletotrackthroughthe nalsonlybytheirtitlesand, ifthemeasuresneverbecame 1879 sessionlawsunderthattitleorsubjectmatter. This law, nowayexiststodeterminethecontentofthosebills. is not surprising when one realizes that Hardin's other OneofHardin'sbills, regulatingtheconstructionofwire successful bill, "to protect poultry," was renamed "an fences, was amended to delete a section. Hardin moved actforthedestructionofhawksandeagles" beforeitsfinal to put the clause back in and, when this motion was enactment. Thislatterlaw is an interestingone, and the defeated, hewasforcedtovote againsthisownmeasure. nature ofits contents suggests to some degree what was But thejournals do not explain what Hardin's original important to the residents ofa sparsely populated front- billproposednorwhatwasinthecrucialsectionremoved ierterritoryinthelatenineteenthcentury. Hardin'sorigi- againsthiswishes. AnotherofHardin'sprofferedstatutes nal idea was to protect poultry by establishing a bounty proposed "to bind out and apprentice certain minors," forchickenhawks. Thisbillbreezed through the House, but no explanation ofwhat he had in mind on this sub- twenty-fivetozero, withtwolegislatorsabsent. TheCoun- cil, however, wanted a bounty on eagles as well, and 22. CheyenneDailyLeader, December14, 1879,pp.4-5;andSessionLaws amended the bill. When the House voted again on the ofWyomingTerritory, PassedbytheSixthLegislativeAssembly, Convened measure, asamendedbytheCouncil, thevotewasanar- atCheyenne, November4, 1879(Cheyenne:LeaderSteamBookand rowsixteentoeleveninfavorofpassage. Oneofthe "no" Job Printing, 1879), chapter 35, pp. 74-87. votes was cast by a member who was absent when the firstvotewastaken, buttheothertendissenterswerelegis- latorswhohadsupportedtheoriginalproposal, butcould Chapter 46. not bring themselves to advocate the demise of a bird, one species ofwhich was a symbol ofthe country. The Hawksand Eagles—Bounty For. lawaspassedrequiredtheterritory'scountycommissions AnActtortheDestructionofHawksandEagles. topayatwenty-fivecentrewardtoanyonekillingahawk Beit enactedby the Counciland Houseof Representativesof or eagle. To claim the money, a person had to present the Territuryof Wyoming: to the commissioners the head ofthe dead bird and an Section 1. The countycommissionersof the various affidavitattestingthatthepersonclaimingthebountyhad counties in this Territoryare hereby authorized and required to encourage the destruction of hawks and killed the predator.'* eagles by making paymentoutof thecountyfundtoany One ofthe more significant bills passed by the Sixth person whoshall engage iu the destruction of hawlo or LegislativeAssemblychangedthemeetingdatesoffuture eeaaggllees,kitlhleedsbuyrasuoufhtpweernstoyn-.tivTehceen[)tesrsfoonrsoeaecnhgahgaedwkwhoor territorial legislatures. Instead ofconvening in Novem- may desire the compensation above named shall present berofodd-numberedyears, legislatureswouldnowmeet to the chairman of the boardof conntycommissionersof beginning inJanuary ofeven-numbered years starting the county, in which the hawks or eagles were killed, the heads of such hawks and eagles claimed to have Iteen killed, together with an affidavit, t.hat the 2.3. HouseJournal1879. p. 197, typescriptcopywithnodateorplace hawkoreagle from which said head was taken, was olliuhlicaiidn inWyomingStateArchives,DivisionofPari<sand okwirhlileceaidhjlihenewatadhseacnkodiulanlfetfdyidabbvyyitt,thhsehealppleerbrsesoonenvpisrdoeesnepcnretoidtunhaegtisnta>ihrdeithh.eaawdIk,t ((DhHeiieledlyuRerenacnloerd;,RCeLhsaeoyruearnmcnieeesD,CaoiulnWytyyL,eoamdWeiyr,onmgDiengcD,eempDbaeerertdm1eB4no,oti18<7Jo9,f,ppCpp.o.m14m6-e45;-r1ca6en5,.d 24. CheyenneDailyLeader, December 12, 1879, pp. 4-5;HouseJournal wDhuircihngbtehcea1m8e7'")AlnegiAslcattifveorsetshseioDnesHtarrudiitnioinntorlodHuacwedkashialnld''Etoagplroetse.ct"poultry 11887799., pcph.ap9t4e,r14264,, p1,p3.2;1a0n1d-1S0e2s.sionLawsofWyomingTerritory. . .