The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-10
And Tim Collins departed. cursing

And linn collins QGpdTLeu,
the folly of Dorsey.
The extra edition of the Express haQ
been issued shortly after noon, and by
o'clock 1t seemed as if most of the
men and every woman in the ward
had seen a copy OF the paper. Ordl-
narily women are not interested IN
local politics, although the Tenth s~ard
was somewhat of an exception to this
rule. But now every woman was dis
cussing politics volubiy and indignant
ly.
To think of him saying that about
the babies" said Mrs. ONeil, the
mother of the fat Johnnie. And the
poor darlints almost persisted with the
heat Damn the babies because they
can't vote, is it? o, but l wish the
women had a vote We'd show Mr..
Dorsey what it meant. It's little conf
fort my man will have until he has
promised me solemn that he'll vote
against that Dorsey
And the sentiments of Mrs. O'Neil
were forcibly echoed by all the women
present.
All that afternoon the local bench
men of McMannis visited his saloon.
Each gloomily condemned the impru-
dence of Dorsey. And each, at first
timidly, and then more boldly sug-
&c sted to MoMannis that it was abso
lutely necessary for the Tenth ward
to rebel against the rule of the boss.
But McMannis, bound by years of al
legiance to the organization, hesitated
to declare against it. Early that even
ing, while he was discussing the sit
uation with Tim Collins, a message
came, stating that Dorsey desired to
see both of them at the organization
he adquarters. The message was a little
peremptory and did not add to McMan-
lis good humor. Still, he and his lieu
tenant prepared to obey. A few yards
from the saloon the Tenth ward poll
ticians met Mrs. O'Neil, accompanied
by pretty Mollie Grady, for whom Tim
Collins had more than a faint affec-
ton.
And did you see what Dorsey said
about the babies?" asked Mrs. O'Neil,
stopping McMannis. You're a good
man, Mr.. McMannis. and we all like
you and know you've done what you
could to get the recreation pier and
other things for the people in this
ward. But good man that you are,
there are few votes you can control in
the Tenth as long as you stick by that
Dorsey. All, don't smile and think the
women have no votes. It's many a vote
you will find we control when they
curse our babies"
well. Mrs. O'Neil," replied McMan-
Eis. trying to placate the offended
mother. I'm loyal to my party, but
you will find me looking out for the
Tenth, my own ward, first"
A moment later he was rejoined by
Tim Collins, who had stopped to speak
to brown-eyed Mollie.
Il asked her if she would go to the
picnic with me-" observed Tim gloom
lily. And she said, Are you a Dorsey
man?' And / says, I suppose / am
90 n wi n
fellow who backs up man that curses
little babies and says they can die of
the heat
The ward leader and his lieutenant
locked doubtfully at each other. Then
each understood. McMannis called to
DOrsey's messenger, who had been
waiting across the street
You tell Mr.. Dorsey" said McMan-
MS tersely, that Tim and 1 are too
busy to come now. After election we'll
have more time
Dorsey and his adherents were not
men to sit quietly in the face of i'm
pending defeat. They worked desper-
ately; the whole influence of the police
force and of city employees was thrown
in favor of the organization. Yet each
day it was evident the once invincible
boss was losing ground. The detection
of McMannis and the formerly solid
heavy blow. McMannis and Tim
Collins were practical politicians and
once committed against Dorsey knew
1t was his political life or theirs and
spared no efforts to strengthen the
combination against the boss. The
reform element in the city acquired
new strength. AS election day APP
preached the feeling grew stronger
and stronger that Dorsey would be
the subtle change of sentiment, but
every politician knows that whichever
way that vague almost tmperceptible
feeling is shown victory goes. And
each day. in big headlines on its first
page. the Express and other organiza-
ton papers published the words of the
now famous interview: Damn the ba-
bies! They can't vote."
ON election night the result was
practically certain long before the to-
tails were known. The uptown dis
tricts, as had been expected voted
against Dorsey. Then came scattering
districts, slightly in his favor. Then
the result in the Tenth ward was an
nounced. 1t was solidly against the
BOSS. But when the districts in which
the organization was strongest were
counted Dorsey and his adherents gave
up nope. Instead of an almost straight
organization vote the returns in these
districts showed small majorities which
would fall far short of overcoming the
vote in the anti-organization districts
and the Tenth ward. Then Dorsey and
his lieutenants gave up the fight, and.
leaving the organization headquarters,
sought place where they could drown
their grief and make plans, for the flu
ture. Near headquarters Dorsey met
Harry Wendell. The defeated leader
looked at the young lawyer with a
scowl.
You think you beat me, don't me?"
growled the ex-boss. You and Your
reformers? Well, you didn't. 1 can
down your crowd every time. 1t was
| the babies that beat me-"
Miss Maggie ]. Walz, of Calumet.
Mich iS the oplIy