Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-08-22
Boss Dorsep
And the Babies.
BY EDWIN ]. WEBSTER.
Copyright BY EdtDtn J. Webster
BY EDWIN ]. WEBSTER.
1ROWN-EYED Johnnie O'Neil.
better known to his family and
Immediate friends as the "fat
hahvN had wandered to the

AoAAJ WSAASAAS - yooA6 AoWySA WAo
was rapidly becoming prominent in
politics, was hurrying to the meeting
Of the City Reform club. He did not
notice the perspirlng toddler and al
most ran into him. The fat baby made
a frantic effort to dodge, collided with
another pedestrian and fell to the side
walk. 1t was not a hard fall, but the
fat baby's ordinary optimism had been
undermined by the weather. Instead
of scrambling to his feet he lay on the
pavement and sobbed in helpless mis-
cry.
Harry Wendell picked up the small
sufferer and handed him q carnation
he had been wearing. AS the babes
feelings changed from sorrow to Won
der and then to delight his sobs grew
fainter.
"Sure, and these hot days are hard
on the babies, with never a breeze stir
ring except along the river and the
trucks and wagons keeping them away
from there"
Harry Wendell looked around and
saw Tom McMannis, the ward leader
and n of the strongest supporters of
Richard Dorsey, the boss whom the
City Reform club was working hard to
overthrow.
"It's a pity they can't get a recrea-
ton pier for this district" observed
Harry, looking at the river front,
which had been the coveted Canaan
Of the fat baby. "It would be a Won
derful comfort for the children as well
as for older people,"
"It would that" assented McMannis.
81 was telling Dorsey the same only
yesterday. But he didn't seem to look
at it that way"
And McMannis, after giving the
nov cheered fat baby some pennies
and telling him to run and get a bit
of candy" strolled into the saloon
which "a his political headquarters.
while Wendell fastened up the street.
On his way to the meeting Harry
Wendells thoughts reverted to the
ward leader from whom he had just
parted. McMannis was uneducated,
u%nprincipled in both public and per-
sonal life, a machine politician of the
worst type-and not a bit ashamed of
the fact. Yet McMannis was the alb
solute ruler of the crowded Tenth
ward.
However corrupt local politics might
be, the fac must be faced hat the or
%ganization, led by Dorsey, was strong,
we'll disciplined and could put up q
hard fight. And, while it would be for
their own good, the big foreign ele-
ment and the poorer classes generally
did not care for reform. Again and
again the City Reform club had led
campaigns against the machine and
each time either had been defeated at
the polls or after what seemed victory
found that Dorsey had again worked
his way back into power, aided by the
Indifference of the good citizens who
had voted for reform. But if a break
could be made in the machine ranks, if
McMannis, whose sway in his own
ward was indisputed, could be array
ed against the boss, then indeed some
thing might be effected. And as he
pondered the matter Harry Wendell
saw through a glass darkly a plan
whereby a break might possibly be
made in the compact forces of the ma
chine.
cts playing machine politics on my
own account" he soliloquized, but
McMannis is a good deal better man
at heart than Dorsey, and a recreation
pier would be a good thing for the
babies in those big Tenth ward tene-
ments, however it is obtained"
The next day while Tom McMannis,
seated in a little room back of his bar,
was talking over the details of the
coming campaign with a few of his
and in the confidential whisper as
sumed by all practical politicians and
their followers announced that Harry
Wendell would like to speak to the
ward leader. McMannis nodded to his
retainers, who filed out of the room.
When Harry entered, McMannis looked
at him with complacent hostility.
II was at the meeting Of the City
Reform club yesterday" began Harry.
81 heard there was to be one" MUIR
INJURED McMannis, "but l couldn't get
the time to 60"
McMannis and Wendell, while polit-
ical opponents. were personally friend
ly enough. The young lawyer laughed.
81 have been thinking of what you
said yesterday afternoon about a rec
reation pier. 1t would be a godsend to
the babies this hot weather. Now.
can't we combine on this point even if
we fight each other on other matters?'
The leader Of the Tenth ward leaned
back in his chair. his hands in his
pockets, and looked hard at Wendell.
For reformers in general McMannis
had a deep rooted dislike. But the
recreation pier for his ward had been
one of McMannis' heartfelt desires for
the last two years.
"What you say is right" replied Nc
Mannis after a moments thought. II
certainly do want the pier, and, what
is more important. SO do my people,
but l didn't expect help from the City
Reform club"