New-York tribune., 1906-12-11
THE MAN OF THE HOUR"
Savoy Theatre

4, s,sadnv drawing crowded houses and greatly
chasing them. The purpose OF this play is 10 de-
-,rt the charscte- and conduct of an honorable
mar who being intrusted with public responsibility,
s,-u firmly snG steadily from e sense Of duty, and.
4, situations of painful trial. chooses 10 90 right
:. anv cost and even al the probable or certain
,r+scs of sl tnat is dearest 10 him II the world
T,at ideal IS neither new nor original. and II ab-
.----+lv portrayed It would attract no atten-
~, than is usually accorded 10 abstract rectit1de.
T. this drama # IS shown IN e way TO make II
sssrvly effective and significant for its central
srlre is the Mayor of an American city, and its
,hsrrs IS lis resolute conflict with the partisan
ahoas Tie situation Is known 10 exist IN more
,tss than ous IN this play the principal char
s,,s-s clearly seem 70 have been intended more
or less representative of actual persons suggestive
they certainly are The play contains too much talk.
mr. since the talk relates largely 10 principles OF
vita pubHc interest = holds attention. and, 10
ssr extent the action keeps pace with the coloQuy.
Some account o. t-s story will best denote its worth
me Dlav telIs a tale Of love IN idleness and OF
graft" n politics. ALVIN Bennett, the Man OF
ne Hour" is the son OF g rich father, deceased
whose memory ne -evares. and whom his widowed
mother has urged her son 10 emulate. Bennett ST.
las gained fame as q commander II the Civil War
and subsequently had gained fortune n the con-
t-scrng business. Bennett. 5r- loves e beautiful
spir.se6 gir., Dallas Wainwright niece OF Charles
wainwright. q wealthy and powerful hnancier
largely interested tl street railways. and, there
fore. IN civic pOIiJlcs- Dallas Wainwright loves
Bennett but perceiv.rg that he possesses q strong
character ard great natural abilities hampered by
s somewhat sluggish temperament, requiring oppo-
siron 70 rouse aim. IS resectful OF his apparent
Incidence. also she is somewhat inclined 10 favor
he sust Of Scott r Gibbs, rich man, prominent
II business and socieJy, who, though outwardly
T,spectahle IS q sneak and q scamp Between
Gibbs a1d Bennett there IS strong aversion. ex-
Eszt since their first acquaintance, az college
Gibbs wishes 10 mary Dallas Wainwright and he
has caused the Newspaper publication OF runors
Indicating a beJrotaaI between her and himself
thinking thereby 70 improve his chances Of winnr
hsr assent Charles Wainwright who, Incidentally,
approves a. Gtbbs's suit. IS especially anxious
the result cf Al approaching metropolitan cleo
tor and ne Eas invited Richard Earrtgan and
James Fhelaz. respectively boss" of the city
snd powerful ward politician. 10 meet him az his
house,-l-s purpose being 10 effect a friendly IN
dsrstand.ng between those political forces, who are
strongly opposed each ether IN that attempt ne
.sis. and after al avOWal OF vindictive animosity
has passed between the rival politicians he Is let
alone with Llar-isaa, with whom he proceeds 10
arrange Tor The dishonest passage 0f q civic bill,
gTa1ttng t7 The Borough Railway corporation
secretly controlled BY Wainwright perpetual
irsnchlse worth uliIuons,-Wa ainwr1ght agreeing 10
cary. for Ear-iEan. Borough" stock that when
lie franchise becomes operative VIII he worth
EaeQ, and Is tneu 10 be delivered 70 Harr.gan.
-lat corrupt compact Is overheard by a young
mar called Thompson employed 4 private
fscretary and implicitly trusted by Wainwright
IN spite NJ Harrlgan's suspicious. excited BY the
oenaF-1r o. Thompson Wainwright remains un-
shaken .l rs belief in the secreuarys fidelity. The
Franchise deal" having been arranged. Harrigan
and Wainwright turn TO discussion Of the best can
ooste fo- Mayor. 20 head the regular ticket at
me coming election finally agreeing Alywn
bslnett-hecause Of thaC young mans social posi-
lion and wealth. ana because oc Harrigan's belief
II MS ability a public speaker.
cynt1 ia Garrison. an orphan. whose father. hav-
ing been BETRAYED hv a financial associate. pres
tatly seen 70 be Wainwright, committed suicide.
has made her hone with Mrs Bennett, and has
'oF wears, received a small income from an uil-
known source she now feels constrained 10 relieve
heF friends Cf q burden. and 70 work for her own
Elpporr.-s Determination not approved by Perry
carter W'sirwriRr-. brother of Dallas, a fresh
sangy bgt kindly young man, 70 whom Cynthia
. an object Of admiration.
AlEyr Bennett accepts ITarrtzan's of1e- q the
termination e-- Mayor. being moved thereto ny
he reply u Dallas Wainwright, 70 his proposal OF
marriage win Dallas, that Le ought 10 DO soTne-
hing worth while" Bennett. however, warns
far1igaa and Wainwright that. Il elected, ne VIII
Keep his cath OF Office. and be no mans man, -
warning received by Harrigan and Wainwright
Win The ilcredlLty natural 20 machine politicians.
Bennett is elected 8Iayor-''tLe youngest Mayor
ne city ever hac.'-aud one Cf Mayor Bennetts
nrEi steps after studying che franchise nil ana
Deroelrtng 7 dubious nature. is 10 oppose Harfl-
T" nave that bin become n law. As a result OF
nat opposition Bennett has hesitared 20 present
himself 70 Dallas Wainwright, " 10 resides a. her
4nciss hcuse Wainwright has, meantime, done
"n2i he could % injgre Bennett II the estimation
" dallas and 20 advance the suit q GibDs. VINO
e-so is Interested in ths Borough road oeihs
"aiawrghts broker Bennett IS encouraged ard
assisted a. h.s opposition 10 Harrisan and tho
Nanealss bll b. pnelan but the Mayor has nor
uscaed whether 10 sign the bin or veto IT, An
e-gTy interview occurs between Harrlgan ana
Sshiett n which the boss upDraids the Mayor
.1 ing-at-tIde and attempts 70 browbeat MN
- scqutesooIce. finally urging that 'nariss
ea"flgat. believing tn rhe passage Of the iran
-4'ae h- has uo- only himself heavily invested,
- has placed ne entire fortune of Dallas and
tsitg n ''E0ro-gn" stock Bennett IS thus placed
wen TIE choice OF vetoing the bin. IN accord
S with h.s public duty. Of approving H. I"r
sake q the sir whom he loves. Bennett de-
-@ 10 veto fn- b.Il. and the furious AarFgah
-saisns % pass it over the veto This is an
s.lNe c.lnaE- and 81 IS reached II an uheoHl-
- ELECTIVE manner
-. scene shifts L. G reception room IN The ar
-A Hoiel. during the administration bali u
@1e known that Bennett piedGins nm 70
-, mas loaned money TO Perry Nalf"Fie'l'
s%aie him 90 cell Borough stock short.
- '@-s 70 oeser lIs losses and those or MS sister
,s-s9leat On Chagles wainwright investment OF
-, -Il-ne - that stock Harrl9ah requires
- votes. ~ pass the franchise bill over tho
y. veto lie has thirteen. He Is trying 40 WIN
49, alderman whom there is a chhil'e o-
tsa-t- t--s' Richard = Roberts. koDfft ~ ia
br,r.- having borrowed money inVoFlEs an i'S
,ss- - Aom a Trust Company That lfhsl '"4Ii-
-. : Controlled be- wainwright. VINO is 10 turn
tsr AoLrs over 10 Harrigan, who VIII h'1nd
rror,t '"e linperuuiaus Roberts, on me iali'l =
s1..- - wolfe right" HaTTigan - doHni ui
Gzs @sF's VIA deliver his vote "ieh me