The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-02-24
CagIer's Clean Record
By Elliott Flower.

~ worried. He stood between the devi
OF rum and the deep sea OF reform. AM
there was trouble for him on eithe
side. A sunday-closing ordinance ha'
been introduced in the council. "A
another time this might not have beer
sweeping over the city, and Alderman
cagler's ward was deeply moved by
the agitation. On the other hand, the
alderman could not afford to antago-
nize the saloon interests. His was not
what is known as a saloon ward, ous
the brewers are powerful In some
branches OF municipal politics and the
brewers were decidedly aggressive In
this matter.
sTf I vote against this ordinance"
unused Alderman Cagler, this Is my
last term in the council. II I vote for
the ordinance, I make powerful enc
miles where I now have friends"
Alderman Cagler's personal interests
and inclinations lay with the brewers
and their allies He did not believe in
a Sunday-closing law Furthermore,
certain local leaders. whose friend
->.hin. was of the utmost political i'm
nortance to him, were violently OPP
posed to it. The brewers are large
contributors to campaign funds. But
Alderman Cagler's ward demanded
that such a law be passed. and how
does it help a man to hold brewer
If he lose his ward. He had made
friends and alliances that promised
better things after another term in the
council. but this second term was
necessary to the success of his plans
And so were the men whom he would
antagor,ize if he voted for the Sunday
closing law.
Devil take the reformersi" grum-
bled Alderman Cagler. They're always
mixing in and spelling things"
To add to the annoyance of the situa-
ton. the result did not rest upon his
vote. Nothing rested upon his vote ex-
cept his own future. The reform wave
was of such proportions that it carried
the wavering along, and there could be
no doubt that the Sunday-closing Or
dinAnce would be passed. no matte,
which way he voted. 1t would have
been Of some satisfaction, giving him
greater personal Importance. if the de,
cision rested with him; but the fact
that 1t did not would make neither
side more tolerant if he voted wrong"
And how can / vote right two ops
posite ways?" Alderman Cagler asked
himself when he had reached this point
In his meditations.
This being a crisis in his political
life. he finally decided to consult Paul
Dandy, the political expert. Danby's
services usually came high, but he had
studied politics as other men study
the law or medicine: he understood
human nature, and all the tricks and
expedients of history seemed to be at
his Command. Whenever anything I'M
expected happened. he investigated the
cause. just as an up-to-date physician
follows the. reports OF an interesting
and novel case And his success lay
I'm selecting just the right remedy for
the conditions under consideration-not
a new remedy, but the old one best
suited TO the need Of the moment.
Dandy frankly stated that he never
had invented a trick in his life, but he
knew all. that had been tried, and ne
knew people.
: las I understand it, said Dandy. |
when Cagier finally located him in an |
obscure corner of a reference library, |
you haye clean record so far"
" II have credit marks on all the re-
forra lists" returned Cagler.
/, But vote against this Sunday |
closing ordinance will put large,
black blot on your record" !
Ill will defeat me for reelection" |
said Czgler- glooJnily.
Then keep your record clean," adj
vised Dandy.
You don't understand the situation"
explained Cagier. "a vote for this |
ordinance will make me |
all right in my ward, but it will kill |
me- in other quarters. / don't want to |
he an alderman all my life; I have a |
higher ambition than that; and the |
men who can help me to something |
tefter are identified with the LIQUOR in
terests in this row. Why. they are de-
handing that I lead the fight"
what good will it do?"
None"
THE ordinance is sure to be passed, |
isn't it?"
In the present state of public feel
ing yes"
Tt is not so difficult" said Dandy, |
ito be on both sides of the fence in |
politics as it is in some OF the other
affairs OF life. In fact, 1 confess that 1 /
End you politicians very obtuse at |
times, which is a good thing for my
Business Suppose you keep your rec
srd clean by voting in favor of this |
ordinance. and then nullify the law a |
nftle later. Suppose you explain to |
your saloon and brewery friends that, |
II you vote with them now, it will de- |
stroy your opportunity to really serve |
them after the ordinance is passed: |
that. If they will trust you and give you
q little support at the right time, you |
Will fix them up within a few weeks. |
They can't help seeing that this Is
their only chance, for. with or without |
your vote, the ordinance is sure to be
nassed- They must give you free rein |
In the matter. and they'll do 1T"
oh. can fix 1t with them on that |
basis" asserted Cagler. but" doubt |
fully can 1 deliver the goods?"
Ma you can't" returned Dandy, |
but you and together can"
Without queering myself with the |
reorners?"
My dear SIR said Dandy YEARLY. |
do I usually bungle things? Either |
the case is in my hands or 1t is not"
1T is in your hands" said Cagler |
promptly. What am I to dog"