The San Francisco call., 1905-03-26

new book so called, means the tree
from which fall those political plums
OF emolument and preferment which
come sometimes as the reward of the
conscientious worker. and perhaps as
often fall plump into the lap of the
cleverly unscrupulous, is a story which
may well set US wondering TO what ex-
tent we are becoming the slaves Of
greedy corporations and corrupt poiiti-
cal bosses. 1t is written by man who,
very highly paid position as political
editor of one OF the largest New York
dailes. may be presumed TO have the
interests. the talents and the oppOrtu-
mites TO make his story true TO the
realities sf the methods pursued and
the characters who act in that life OF
practical politics which he reveals TO
US as being SO tricky and SO uncon-
scientious.
The book is not exactly literature.
but it is a strong outline sketch out or
which literature might be made. 1t is
the picture OF a great national boss.
holding such position OF power behind
the throne as men OF the type OF Mark
Hanna have made the country IA
nliliar with the potencies OF. Phil
lips will probably have a large num-
Der of readers for The Plum Tree" as
he is we'll known as the author OF that
much-called-for book, The Cost" and
because the subject he treats OF, civic
corruption, is coming more and more,
as our country advances in wealth, 10
be one of most vital concern TO the
people. The published facts of the lack
of conscience in our civil life show that
the fiction is not wildly imagined ex-
aggeration. but such a vivid picturing
OF actually as is the province OF the
art of realism to make US See the truth
The story is told in the first person.
and this method was well chosen by
Phillips in order to get the<full power
OF his art TO bring out one of the
strongest features Of the book. which
is the portrayal of the self-cOntempt
that mingles with all the triumphs of
the great political boss career. After
he has lived this life OF compromise
between unscrupulous acts and the
sensitive pride of one who was natur-
ally noble when. as youth, he formed
his ideals, he meets. after long sepa-
ration, the woman who was his boy
hoods love. and in this sentence to her
sums up the story which was his life:
II have convinced other people that ]
am somebody at the cost of convincing
myself that L am nobody"
1t is this fact of the chief actor in
/ the novel being so much nobler than
/ the men who were playing the game
with him which gives the unfolding of
( the story much of it's psychological in
/ terest 1t seems TO be making il so
compellingly plain TO our minds that
! in all actually important world-work
/ there must be line of compromise to
which high ideal OF honor descends.
I touches. and there even partly mingles
/ with corrupt methods in accomplish
+ ing results So cleverly does Phillips
do this that the story is actually re-
pellant in places. causing US 10 feel
that the author himself is advocating
/ too far descent from ideals OF honor
down to the schemes that put plans
/ through to fulfllment. In one page he
+ says, in regard to his early career: II
was then ignorant OF the great founda-
ton truth of practical ethics. that a
mans conscience Is not the producer
but the product or his career In an
/ other place he says he has no doubt
i that the average citizen, leading a
small. quiet life. cannot understand
the way superior men play the great
games. the heartlessness Of ambition.
the cynicism OF political and CONNER
cial prostitution. the sense OF superir-
ity to the legal and moral codes which
comes to most men with success
There is a love story running through
the book which is reDellant. too. be-
cause of its compromise of romance
and high honor for the sake OF prac-
/ tical success
1t would seem that Phillips might
well have summed up the lesson OF the
book in the line from Jean Paul Rich
ter: ITO the dreams OF thy youth be
true-'tis that alone leads life TO ex-
cellence."
tBobbs- Merrill Company. Indianapo-