The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-02-19
The Election of
Senator Gitkinz.

Unfortunately his prOSpectS did not ap-
pear to be the brightest. The legisla-
ture of the far western state which
would meet to choose his successor
within two months was evenly divided.
Exactly half its members on joint bal
lot belonged to the political organiza-
ton of which Senator Gitkinz was one
Of the heads. For purposes of identifi-
cation it may be called the Blue party.
The Red party, which was bitterly OPP
posed to Senator Gitkinz, had an equal
number of votes in the legislature,
lacking only one The odd man was
State Senator Mari, elected as an indie
pendent from one of the interior coun-
ties of the state. If Mari voted for
Senator Gitkinz, his election was as
sured. If, as was expected, he voted
for the caucus nominee of the Red par
ty, it would be necessary to detacn
some opposition member from his par
ty allegiance. That was the problem
which Senator Gitkinz was facing.
Three men sat in little room open
ing into the library of Senator Git
kinz's house in the town of Carton.
They were smoking and looking into
the fire. Gitkinz himself was a large
man Of 55, dressed so well that his
clothes were not at all noticeable. His
heavy figure was topped by large and
well shaped head. His iron gray hair
was worn long and his face smooth
shaver. With his deep set black eyes
and eagle beak he looked not unlike the
pictures of Daniel Webster. Early in
his political career the resemblance
had been marked, and he had ever
since cultivated it. Even great men, it
may be remarked, have their little van
tiles.
The man standing next the table was
Gregory Uppman, for more than Is
years the private secretary Of Senator
Gitkinz. He was rather small, with a
smooth manner, an educated hand
grasp and a thorough acquaintance
with practical politics.
The third man in the room was
Charles Swerin, tall, thin and gaunt,
with faded blue eyes looking out
through big bowed gold glasses. He
looked the part of student, chess
player, perhaps, or a philosopher. used
to concentrating his mind for long
time on an abstruse problem. Swerin's
name never got into the papers. He
had no apparent business. Yet he liv-
ed well and was always well supplied
with money. To the few he was known
as 'sthe brains of Senator Gitkinz."
The three were completing their plan
of action for the campaign so close at
hand.
"I've gone over all of them" said
Swerin, land l think we had better
concentrate on old Senator Mari. 1t
will seem more natural If he fops than
If one of the regular Reds comes over
to us. Let's see what you've got on
Mari, Gregg"
The private secretary got up, unlock
ed and opened the doors Of tall cabi-
net. 1t was filed with little pigeon
holes, each of them numbered. In a
drawer below was list of the men,
bers of the state legislature, the num-
Der opposite each name being the same
as that on one of the pigeonholes above.
He ran his finger down the list to the
name of Mari, noted the number OPP
posite it and then pulled from the cabi-
net the little tin box which bore the
same number The box was half filed
with papers and clippings.
"Marr was born in New York state, y
began Uppman. "His father was a
farmer. The old man died while MARI
was in the district school. and he has
had to support the family ever since.
He was admitted to the bar when he
was 40 years old. He is attorney for
the street car company which owns the
line In Hartil, his home town. This is
the first time he has ever held Office. He
is rated at from $4,000 to $4,000. Per
sonally he is said to be prohibition
list, though when he was in Chicago
last winter he took little fun with the
boys. He has an exemplary reputation
In Hartil. Dorson does not think him
a man of strong character"
st think l know how to manage old
man MARI" said Swerin, after a mo-
ment's pause. "Does he know you,
Gregg"
mo; never saw him in my life
"Well, / want you to find out all
about that street railway line which
he represents as attorney. Get its cap
ital, It's condition, and the names of its
chief owners, and try to find out
whether it can be bought at reason
able price"
Within a week State Senator Mari
received a letter from a Chicago law
yer asking If the Hartil street car line,
for which he was attorney, was on the
market. If it could be bought at a
reasonable figure, the lawyer wrote, he
might be able to find a purchaser for
1t.
1t happened that the Hartil Street
Car company had never been a profit
able investment Its owners were 10
cal capitalists. who had been chiefly
moved to build the line by town pride
The best 1t had ever done was to pay
expenses. Its owners. as Mari knew,
would be delighted to get the property
off their hands, provided only that 1t
might be maintained and kept running.
He held conference with the men
who owned most of it's stock before he
answered the letter from Chicago.
Then he wrote that while the COM
pany was not anxious to sell out 1t
might consider an offer of $4,000. The
Chicago man came back with propo-
sition to pay $4,000. There followed
further negotiations by correspondence
Finally Mari was asked to make q
trip to Chicago to talk the matter over
Before he left an upset price of $4,000
was fixed for the property
"We'll let it go at $55,000," the presi
dent of the company said to Mari as
the latter stepped on the train.
Gregory Uppman met him at the
Union station and introduced himself
as one of the men interested in the pur
chase of the road. The two went di
rectly to the lawyers office. There the
deal was discussed at length. AS q
final proposition the new syndicate
made an offer of $4,000, TO which
Mari refused to listen.
Finally Uppman came to the point
"I'll tell you what, MARI" he said
''You use your influence with the com
pany to get them to accept $4,000, and
we'll be glad to pay you a persona
commission of $1,000 when the deeds
are signed"
At first Mari was Mortified at thu
thought. 1t seemed to Aim that to taxi
such commission would be selling hi
professional honor. He shook his head
Uppman went on explaining smoothly
that commission on large sales O
this kind was quite the usual thing. l
was not intended in any way as bride