Adam Weirauch

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