The Tucumcari news. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1906-05-12
The Politicians
Narnesake
By ARTHUR HENDRcK vANDENBERC
Ccopyrlght, lo06, BY Joseph Is. powIes,

There comes a time in the career
or every autocrat when his mower
Wanes II his supremacy crumbles in
defeat. The career of Dan CrimInins,
Boss. was no exception.
The politicians said that Dan car.
ried the Fifth ward in his vest peck It.
The politicians said that Dan asked
an exorbitant price for the Fifth ward,
nut they were always on the anxious
scat until arrangements were COM
p!eted' for Dams influence. Many a
time the knowing ones had tried TO
win in the Fifth without the Boss.
Their measures proved to engender
a strange and fatal ~unpopularitj
among the people.
The politicians were sure to carry
the city If Dan was with them, be
cause Dan swung the Fifth ward. and
the Fifth decided the result. They
were equally sure to lose If Dan was
against them.
The politicians said Dan was dis.
honest. I'm straight as a string"
answered the Boss. When I'm
bought, | stay bought. Honesty is
the best policy-sometimes. It's
more satisfactory to beat a man at his
own game, and in politics that don't
mean honesty. | never dickered with
the tally sheets yet, and | never in
tend to-not while | live to look my
son in the face
hon Mo, 6;g u'otoxloo - tl,o (ro,,
Sullivan mayoralty contest. Sullivan
was VIGOROUSLY crooked. Clay was as
VIGOROUSLY straight. Sullivan hal
served one term as mayor. and had
narrowly escaped indict uent ny the
grand jury on charges Of bribery and
conspiracy growing ont of a water
scandal. Now he was out for an
other term, "for vindication." as he
called 1t. Clay was a fusion Candi'
date, and carried several Yards solid
ly at his back.
Dan acted with unusual care in TAX
ing sides in the contest, because his
son had returned and was associated
with him. The politicians namesake
was his only son, and the boy was
the pride of his fathers heart. Dan
would have battered every cent OF
his somewhat shady gains before he
would have allowed the boy TO :athom
the inside story of his political career
Inscrutable destiny made him give u
his supremacy in the Fifth ward Il
MAINTAIN the respect of his namesakc
Some one asked him whether tht
boy inherited his fathers p~Olitica
genius.
Dams never going to put IS in
ger in tn game, gentlemen" repliet
the Boss, earnestly. Hes too honest
can't even control his vote myself
No, stree, the boys going to grow ul
In another ward besides the Fifth
Sullivan called on Crimmins tn,
day after he landed the nomination
He came on business, and little TIM
was wasted over preliminaries. Dal
knew Sullivan would be sorely pressed
without the Fifth, so the price was up
my dear alderman" said the nom
inee, with a great affectation of dignl
ty, now doubtless you know that
have been renominated for mayor oil
the strength of my recent very abb
administration and that | am goini
before the people To ask for anothe
term. NATURALIZATION, wan
my good Fifth ward friends to be wit
me again, Mr., Crimmins, and asa
"a token of my-ah-esteem-yes
let us call it esteem-I am OF course
ready and anxious to do anything tina
is right" He took a long black wa
let from his pocket and gently Tape
the palm of his hand.
"Well?" returned Dan, gazing at tn
patterns in the wall paper win
bored and uninterested expression
"No-ah-what should you say-a
-to-ah-well-ah-l want you
distinctly understand, Mr.. Crimmin'