The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-03-24

he scoNISu- bo you, VI 0on
you2"
Yes" said II was thinking Of
the debts and mother and Betty.
Yes. indeed; Id esteem it a great
honor. and I'd be grateful 10 you. ;"
II l had thrust myself overhead into
a sewer / should have felt less vile
than I did as my fears and lonsings
uttered those degrading words.
He grunted We'll, we'll see. Tell
the boys at the other table TO cobe
back" He nodded a dismissal and
gave me that moist. strong grip
again
As | went toward the other table
each man there had a hand round
his glass in readiness for the message
OF recall. l mentally called the roll
wealth, responsibility. honor, all on
their knees before Dominick, each
with his eye upon the branch of the
plum tree that bore the kind OF fruit
he fancied And l wondered how
they felt inside-for I was then ig-
norant of the great foundation truth
of practical ethics, that mans con-
science is not the producer but the
product of his career
Fessenden accompanied me To the
door. THE old man is in a hell OF
a humor tonight said he. His wife's
caught on to little game he's been
up to, and she's the only human be-
ing he's afraid of. She came in
here. one night, and led him out by
the ear What a fool a man is to
marry when there's a chance of run
ming into mess like that, But
you made a hit with him. Besides,
he needs you Your family" Buck
checked himself, feeling that drink
was making him voluble.
He's a strong man, isn't he?" said
/; "a born leader"
"Middle-weight champion in his
day." replied Fessenden. He can still
knock out anybody in the organiza-
ton in one round"
Good night, and thank you" said
l. So l went my way, not elated
but utterly depressed-more than de-
pressed when 1 Won. the first case in
which l knew my clients opponent
was In the right and had lost only be-
cause / outgeneraled his stupid law
yer. / was, like most of the sons and
daughters of the vigorous families of
the earnest, deeply religious early
west. an idealist by inheritance and
by training; but / suppose any young
man. however practical. must feel a
shock when he begins those compro-
misses between theoretical and prac-
tical right which are part of the daily
routine OF active life. and without
which active life is impossible
| had said nothing to my mother,
because / did not wish to raise her
hopes-or her objections l now de-
cided to be silent until the matter
should be settled. The next day but
one Fessenden came, bad news in his
face. THE old man like you" he
began, but
/ had not then learned to control my
expression. l could not help show
ing what ruins of lofty castles that
ominous but" dropped upon my head
You'll soon be used to getting it
in the neck If you stay in politics."
said Fessenden There's not much
else. But you amt SO bad off as you
think. The old man decided that
he can afford to run one of his reli-
able hacks for the place. He's sud-
denly found a way of sinking his
hooks into the head devil of the re-
formers and Ben Cass' chief bac6er,
Singer-you know him-the lawyer
Singer was one of the leaders OF
the state bar and superintendent OF
our sunday school.
"Dominick has made De Forest
give Singer the law business of the
Gas and Street Railway company. so
Singer is coming over to u.s." Buck
grinned. HE has found that local
interests must be subordinated to the
broader interests of the party in state
and nation"
l had been reading in our party's
morning paper what wise and pat
riotic move Singer had made in ad-
vising the putting off of reform
campaign-and l had believed in the
sincerity of his motive.
Fessenden echoed my sheer, and
went on: Hes a rotten hypocrfte;
but then, we can always pull the
bung out of those reform movements
that way"
You said it isn't as had for me as
1t seems" I interrupted
ooh, yes. You're to be on the tick
ct The old mans going to send you
to the gislature-Iower house, OF
course
/ did not cheer up. An assembly
man got only a thousand a year
The pay amt much confessed
Buck, but there amt nothing to do
except vote according TO order. Then
there's a great deal TO be picked up
on the side-the old man understands
that others have got to live besides
him. Salaries in politics don't cut
no figure nowadays, anyhow. It's the
chance the place gives for pick
ups"
At first I fatty refused, but Buck
pointed out that / was foolish to
throw away the benefits sure TO come
through the old mans" liking for
me. He'll take care OF YOU" he as
sured me. He's got You booked for
a quick rise" Ny poverty was SO
pressing that / had not the courage
to refuse-the year and a half Of fe-
rocious struggle and the longing TO