In 1968, I was Bill Morris’ campaign coordinator when he ran for Lt. Governor. I worked almost full time for no pay. It was getting close to the primary election when we were told that we were going to lose in the old 10th Congressional District because Bill’s major opponent was Ed Dowd, who was from the area. Bill immediately sent me and a group of young volunteers to southeast Missouri. My job was to try to get the support of the renegade political groups who were looking for someone other than Dowd to support.
I was in Bonne Terre and everybody told me to talk to old man Simmons who was very influential in elections, and had not endorsed anyone for Lt. Governor. He lived on the edge of town and when I came to his house, there was a huge tree growing in the middle of the road next to his house. The street actually did a half circle around the tree. I parked and as I walked up to his porch I noticed there were several political signs on the tree, and about 10,000 nails. He said, “Tell me about your candidate, and if I like him better than Dowd I’ll put his picture on the winning tree. No one has ever lost if I let them put their sign on the winning tree.” Simmons and the winning tree had been featured in all the area newspapers including St. Louis Post Dispatch.
I told him how Morris was a high school drop out and was making a living hustling pool in the local pool hall when he was recognized as someone with a future after having organized the Lafayette County Young Democrats. The County Collector encouraged him to enroll in Wentworth Military Academy and paid his way. Bill was drafted in the Army as a Private and came out a Major, got his law degree on the G.I. Bill and was currently Public Administrator of Jackson County.
The old man finally agreed to let me nail Morris’ picture on the winning tree and said, “You can quit worrying now, your man is going to win.” And he did.
Jack can be reached at PO Box 40, Oak Grove, MO 64075 or jackremembers@aol.com
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