Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-08-22

che devil himself helped me to get II.
i've been after Dorsey about It, but he
says the city needs the money for
something else. 1t makes me angry TO
think" added McMannis naively, that
Just because I've got the Tenth ward
so that 1t is safe they insist all the
money ought to be spent in other
wards. It's coming election time,
though, and Dorsey won't want to
make any enemies"
Its worth trying anyhow" answer
ed Harry. "Tll hustle around and
bring all the pressure on the part Of
the people I know to bear on him."
"If the other reformers were like that
boy" declared McMannis impressively
to u Of his %lieutenants, otis more
they would do in this world"
A week later Richard Dorsey, the
head Of the organization, the recog-
nized ruler Of city politics, was sitting
in his private office, a frown on his
face. For days the Express, the re-
form mouthpiece, had been printing
stories about the sufferings of the
children on the crowded east side dur
ing the hot weather and insisting that
a recreation pier was more needed
than the new pavements in the outside
districts. But Dorsey and several Of
his political adherents were financially
interested in the paving contracts.
STIRRING up all this trouble about Il
lot of babies and women who don't
VOTE" thought the boss angrily. "VNhy
can't people mind their own b%usiness?"
And just then Tom McMannis was an
nounced.
McMannis had called to talk over the
political situation in the Tenth ward.
AS usual, this ward, the largest in the
city in point of population, was solidly
for the machine. Dorsey's face bright
ened up at the first part Of his lieuten-
ants discourse. Then it clouded when
McMannis said positively:
"But 1t seems to me that we ought
to have that recreation pier anyway.
This hot weather is mighty hard on
the people,"
"What can 1 do?" replied Dorsey i'm
patiently. eff the city appropriates
money for the pier it will run over the
debt limit. You know the people at
Albany, and the reformers are just
looking to catch us up on that very
point"
"You might let some Of those new
pavements go or have them put in for
half what it is going to COST" answer
ed McMannis bluntly.
Dorsey looked Disguised.
"What's the use of talking that
way? he grumbled. "You know
where the money for that deal is 60
ing. A man has to live, and SO must
his friends. Seems to me that / didn't
hear any howl from you when we put
down the east side sewer And you
know what that cost and who got the
money. Most Of it went right wei to
the Tenth ward"
This unvarnished statement of city
finances was somewhat of a facer for
McMannis.
Well, as long as every Il was get
ting a bit of the coin l didn't see why
I shouldn't myself. But it's the truth
I would give up my share to get that
pier. Sure, if you lived in the ward
and saw the hot kids and the tired wo-
men you would feel the same way
about it."
"Maybe we can do something about
it next year." replied Dorsey, "but just
now it's up to you to do some hard
work for the organization before cleo
ton. You're not going to let this turn
you against the party. are you?"
"Of course not" answered McMannis
almost Indignantly. "You ought to
know better than that. 1t will be
many a long day from now before Tom
McMannis votes against the party.
But l think it is a shame about the
pier" he added obstinately as he left
the room.
Dorsey had not recovered from the
annoyance caused by the discussion OF
the recreation pier when Rev. Alfred
Mann was ushered into the office. II