The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-12-26
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Self Education Through the Medium Of Specially 5:
Prepared Articles by Prominent Instructors Z:

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David, you're not well. Why don't
you take Harris advice and go out to
Colorado, not for a week, but for a
year,
"As bad as thatw David Barton
said dryly Il think I'm good for the
FIVE years. But tell me about your
self"
.Tve left home, and I'm going to take
up residence in Hope House"
mo! What! Live there?'
David Barton seemed to pay no at
tention to the fact of his friends .leav
ing home.
"I've been there tonight and made
definite arrangements with Miss An
drews. 1 must go there in order to fit
myself for my work"
"Your work 2"
Yes; for the people," replied John
Gordon simply.
"Poohi The peopler
David Barton shifted contemptuously.
"Who knows who the people are| He
stopped suddenly, and his whole man
ner changed His sharp, abrupt, indif-
ferent alertness was smothered out OF
his face like magic. He rose and
walked through the room while John
Gordon, who understood his moods
quite well, listened in establishment.
John, listen to me. believe /
know something of your plans and am
billions. You're the only man know
who would do what you propose to do.
I don't have much faith in it. At the
same time | believe I'm you. John. j
spoke contemptuously of the people,
but in my heart. John. | love the peo-
ple | am one of them. Tonight as l
saw children rotting in those holes j
could have died for them. But the
martyrs stuff is not in me to die for
them except by proxy. Let me tell you,
John, you are going at the thing back
handed. What do you want to go and
live in Hope House for? Miss Andrews
Is doing splendid work. but even her
efforts don't accomplish anything. Con-
ditions are as bad there now as they
were twelve years ago. It's good flesh
and blood thrown to the lions while
the politicians and the gang look on
and laugh at the human helplessness.
Why, it is simply an outrage ON civil
cation that a city like this lets wom-
an like Miss Andrews die by martyr
dom in that Internal hell on earth and
never gives her the financial and social
support she ought to have And the
hounds that own the tanements and
saloons and vaudeville property live in
luxury and pose as leaders in society
and allow conditions to be created that
roll stream of desperate human prob
lens over Miss Andrews that will kill
her in few years. Yes, kill her!''
David Barton spoke with a savage
energy that made John Gordon shud-
der. But when Barton had been silent
q moment he continued in a calmer
tome to make a proposition to John Cor
don that John was totally unprepared
for.
INSTEAD Of going into Hope House
why don't you come into the News? /
can speak for Harris that he will give
you full swing on the reform page of
your own. You can have it all your
own way. I'll help you with special
stories and pictures that will make the
property owners around Riverside
street squirm. Harris is savage with
the mayor because of last years cam
paign. He'll be glad to get even with
the administration by showing up the
rotten concern. tell you, John, there's
an earthquake going to rattle the city
6o1 hic infn 4ar .ric nd hn
News will be one name for the earth
quake. The old man is just In the
mood for pushing the reform business
in the name of the people. He will
agree to anything say. The press Is
the only real power left in the city any
how. Think of what you can do for
the people with the News back Of you.
We can make a special business of the
slum holes and make it mighty inter-
esting for some Of the old moneybags
Of this God forsaken metropolis. Don't
answer at once. At any rate, give me
time to cough"
David Barton sat down close by John
Gordon and had coughing spell that
lasted few minutes. John Gordon ST.
lently watched him. steadily excited
by the offer just made to him. Could
he accept it? Was it not one Of those
opportunities that men have come to
them but once? What might he not do
for the people If whole page Of a
great, powerful. practically boundless,
wealthy paper were at his disposal?
The material he could put before the
public! The conditions he could ex-
posei The wrongs he could right! The
lives he might savel The possibilities
grew larger every moment he thought
Of 1t.
David Barton finally ceased cough
ing and spoke again.
"Well, will you come into the News?
What do you sayY
But John Gordon did not answer at
once. Suddenly he had thought Of Lu-
ella Marsh. II she would not marry
him as resident of Hope House, would
she not be proud to be the wife Of a
writer on one Of the most powerful
dailies of the world? And the same
object would be gained for the people.
But how about his declaration that be
must know the people by direct knowl-
edge gained by living among them
Yet could he not do that in some
way and still put this modern lever of
the press under the problem?
He faced his friend with strong feel
ing. The day had been full Of events
for him, but this closing event affected
him in some ways deeper than all the
rest.
Annual Meeting.