The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-07
CHAPTER XIII.
A POLITICAL DEAL.


and he had no friend to whom he dared
confess himself freely, asking the advice
he needed. Indeed, Russell had made no
friends among his recent associates, partly
because he had drifted into an extravagant
and light-headed set with few attractive
men in IT, but more because he was too
deeply engrossed with his own affairs to
permit of warm interest In others. He
continued to see Ray frequently, but he was
too much afraid of the old mans irascible
temper to take advantage of the help that
Ray was in reality always ready to give.
There were fewer Sundays at the villa for
Russell than IN the previous summer, not
because OF any lack of invitations, but be-
cause Russell fancied it easier to avoid
Alice than TO be simply friends with her.
To all appearances, however, there was no
interruption OF the cordiality of their feel
ing for each other.
In the early fall, when a little chill creeps
into the air, and fires are rekindled under
the great stew-pan OF politics. scheme
which Ray and Russell had formulated
during the summer began to broaden and
assume definite shape
I'VE shall need some political influence
in working this motor right" Ray had
u
little7 1t would give you chance to- get
acquainted with great many men who
might be useful TO u.s."
Russell had replied that he would just as
lief go into politics as anything else, and
he had looked about him for an oppor-
tunity. 1t was not hard to find. He had
become member of the Pocahontas Club,
an organization having handsome house
q E<..s taxx ax.1
among its members many practical poll
ticians. The Poeah ontas was ostafsibly
fishing club, and was devoted to both
branches of the sport. Some of its MEM
bers were expert fishermen and only in
different drinkers. while others cared little
for rod and line, but could absorb more
alcoholic poison between Saturday night
and Monday morning than any other set
of men ON earth. and took pride in il.
They were an influential body, politically,
and the club house was q great place to
get pointers" When too or three men,
bers had been INDUCING rather too freely
and began to rake up each others records,
they furnished any listener with valuable
inside information as to success sful poiiti-
cal methods.
Russell was popular in the club and had
won the special favor of few old fellows
by listening TO their stories of their own
greatness. These were the men who had
retired from conspicuous politics because
the newspapers had treated them unfairly
by publishing the facts In certain interest
ing cases. They were as much of a power
as ever. though. Behind the scenes they
gave the orders and regulated the exits and
entrances of other men. Mike Rooney, IN
particular, had taken great fancy to Rus
sell, and often told him stories of the days
when politics were worth something"
Rooney was worshiper of old times, but
he did not neglect himself in the present
He had been an alderman for good many
years previous TO the Eighty ninth street
railway expose, but had been treated coldly
by the Organization" since that time. He
claimed to have been treated unfairly by
Tammany and bad gone to the counties,
and there received equally bad usage
i've got tired working for those fell
lows" said Mike. land this fall I'm going
to do little work for Mike Rooney. /
haven't lost my grip on the 1hirtieth as
sembly district yet, and you bet your life
on il"
Russell replied that while he never bet
on elections, he did not doubt Mr.. Rooney's
power. He lived in that district himself
and had had occasion to observe it.
"l'm laboring for an independent Demo-
cratic candidate for the assembly," said
Rooney. King would get a denomination
anu an election If Tammany was left to run
things, but he's weak, and believe can
down him with the right man."
Russell ventured to inquire how he
would do so, and TO his surprise Rooney
seemed pleased with the suggestion.
Neither OF them gave it much thought at
the time, but when politics began to thrust
Itself into prominence in the fall, Rooney
took the subject up seriously, Ray prom
ised financial backing. and it began to look
AS If Russell had Il chance OF going to the
assembly. King was sure TO be the regu-
lar Tammany nominee, but Rooney car
ried good many votes in his pocket. and
be believed that he could fight his man
through. But there was a man named
cunningham who was making q strong
effort 10 get the nomination from the
county Democrats ana Independents, who
were 10 coalesce. There was practically no
Republican strength in the district.
cunningham felt so sure OF the nomina-
ton that he mad ordered banquet to be
ready when the affair was over. and had
invited about a hundred prominent poll.
ucians 10 sit down and rejoice with him.
They had all accepted without regard to
sentiment, for Thirteth district politi-
clan never declines anything. Rooney
learned of this banoaet on the day before
the primary, and he told Russell that the
influence OF such munitcence might affect
the result
Il II tell you what Well do, " said Rooney:
''we'n just borrow that banquet"
Borrow it," exclaimed RUSSELL how 2"
We'll SEMI word TO the men he's invited
that the banquet's TO be held before in
Stead OF after the primary. Make the time
about hall past D. Then We'll tell the ca
terer OF the changes in the hour. All these
people Will come expecting TO meet Cum
ningham. They'll ind you there as the
host, and We'll do great work before we let
'em out Wen march 'em around from
there to the hall, and those that l can't
bring around TO my views I'll set so fun
that they can't walk. III tel you, my boy,
we've got EN- on the run"
Rooney worked his plan so cleyerly that
Cunningham's banquet carried the day for
Russell. lie secured the nomination aud
the campaign opened with general laugh
in his favor.
But serious obstacle soon presented
Itself. The strength OF the vote in the dis
trict was Hibernian in its tendencies, and
the whisper that Russell was an English-
man began 10 burt him. IL was very little
use 10 contradict that rumor by showing
that his great-grsndfsther had been born
on Cape Cod. The exigency required
something much better than that Roo