The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-06-03

I'LL, Will YOU please lOOk at Clause
six Of that bill and give me your candid
| opinion about it?' ..
The mayor glanced down the page.
his face showing faint trace of per.
plexity, as if he scarcely comprenended
what the reporter was driving at.
'Oh-er-er-about South Clayton" he
remarked at last, the wrinkles on bis
forehead melting away. well, I'll tell
you. That's the strongest part Of the
BILL It's the principal reason decided
to sign 1.-THE people over the river
should have had better accommoda-
! lions long ago and"
McCracken interrupted. "Mr. Gro
| ver," he said, eagerly laying his hand
impulsively on the mayors arm.
doesn't it strike you that there is a
great deal more in that clause than
appears on the surface? Suppose you
sign the bill? You'll have given the
South Side Railroad company a grip
on South Clayton that can't be loosened
for 80 years. The railroad will have
the place by the throat and can do as
they please about fares, accommoda-
tons and everything else. The bill
doesn't say anything about three-cent
fares over the river; it says, exclusive
right to cross North river etc. That
seems to me to tie up South Clayton
pretty effectually in the way of trans
portation and prevent it's getting any
kind of service but what the South Side
| railroad is willing to give. That 'ex-
elusive right business bars any other
road getting in there for 80 years,
doesn't it?
South Clayton is bound to grow.
, There's two big mills there now and
more coming. BY and by, when the
people over there wake up to the fact
that this franchise mas sold them into
bondage to the South Side railroad,
wouldn't give much for the political fu-
ture OF the men responsible"
McCrachen paused, his swift speech
halted by the look Of astounded COM
prehension dawning on the mayors
face. Good Lord" Grover exclaimed,
running one hand excitedly through his
hair, and staring at the newspaper in
the ether as if it was an Internal ma
chine about to annihilate him, "why
didn't | have sense enough to see
through the trick myself? The South
Side railroad worked mighty shrewd
scheme in that clause, but I'll block
their game if it costs me second term
as mayor: You're right enough about
the future, but the South Claytonites
won't thank me for preventing their
getting street railway service, I can
tell you-just now, anyway. You've
done Clayton good turn, McCracken,"
the mayor concluded, obviously, "but
I'm afraid you've done for me politi-
cally."
Il don't see it in that light" said
McCracken, warmly. Suppose you
veto the bill, and then put signed
article in the Clayton papers stating
your reasons? Every man in the city
that stands for good, clean politics and
has got sense enough to look ahead a
few years, will see that you have done
wise thing and safeguarded munich
pal interests. Of course, you'll have
the railroad and it's influence to fight,
but that isn't strong enough to defeat
YOU"
The mayor dashed the newspaper to
the floor. you've hit it," he cried,
Selling the reporters hand, and shak-
ing it like a pump handle IT believe
I'm losing my own wits. The bills
downright steal, of course, on the face
of it. If show it up in the papers to,
morrow morning I believe on my soul
I'd be sure of a second term even on
an Independent ticket" Growers eyes
suddenly narrowed at the corners.
Look here, McCracken," he said,
bluntly, II wish you'd tell me how you
happened to come to me with this
business instead OF rushing it into
your paper? A sensation of this sort
would be cinch for the Telegram
and would have meant something to
, you personally, Ell? Besides, I've never
regarded Mr.. Nichols as very friendly
to me politically. There's always 4
reason at the bottom of everything.
What's yours?"
Mr.. McCracken looked the mayor
squarely in the eyes. 1--WE got two
reasons, Mr.. Grover" he said, slowly.
Firstly, I have always believed you
to be that uncommon person, a clean
politician, and hated to see your fu-
tire chances ruined by something that
wasn't your fault; secondly-well,
don't always intend to be a newspaper
man, hope to get into politics my,
self some time, and if you 60 higher, as
am sure man as you will, I'd like
to have your friendship-and help"
Grover silently regarded for a full
minute the alert, frank young face
looking into his own. then all at once
he laid his hand Familiarity on Nc
Crackers shoulder. II thank you, Mr.
! McCracken, for your good opinion" he
said, feelingly. land I can truly say
that have tried to be what you claim
am. AS for the other part of it,"
with quick smile, you can rely on
me now or in the future for any as
| sistance in my power that will further