The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-05-31

1T would that" aSsented McMannis /
81 was telling Dorsey the same only
yesterday But he didn't seem to look
at 1t that way"
And McMannis. after giving the
now cheered fat baby some pennies
and telling him to run and get a bit
of candy" strolled into the saloon
which was his political headquarters.
while Wendell FASTENED up the street.
On his way to the meeting Harry
Wendelrs thoughts reverted TO the
ward leader from whom he had Just
parted. McMannis was uneducated,
unprincipled in both public and per-
sonal life. a machine politician OF the
worst type-and not bit ashamed Of
the fact. Yet McMannis was the alb
solute ruler Of the crowded Tenth
ward.
However corrupt local politics might
be, the fact must be faced that the or
ganization, led by Dorsey. was strong,
we'll disciplined and could put up a
hard fight And, while it would be for
their own good. the big foreign ele-
ment and the poorer classes generally
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
Ha 10 tn, %ha q
MeMannis, 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.
Its 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 good thing for the
babies in those big Tenth ward tene-
ments, however 1t Is obtained"
The next day while Tom McMannis,
/ e
was talking over the details OF the
coming campaign with a few of his
favored henchmen a bartender entered
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 look ed
at him with complacent hostility.
81 was at the meeting of the City
Reform club yesterday" began Harry.
II heard there was TO be one," muir
INJURED McMannis, but j couldn't get
the time to co..
McMannis and Wendell while polit-
zeal opponents. were personally friend
~ 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 II
we fight each other on other matters p
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 beer
one of McMannis' heartfelt desires fol
the last two years.
What you say is right" replied Nc
Mannis after moments thought. 81
certainly do want the pier, and. wha
Is more important. so do my people
but didn't expect help from the City
Reform club"
ut isn't necessarily a political mat
ter" answered Harry. land perhaps i
both crowds combined we could force
the board of aldermen to appropriat,
the money"
eve could" assented McMannis
land mighty glad would I be to Sc,
the pier here whether the reformers o.
the devil himself helped me to get
| I've been after Dorsey about 1t, but b
i says the city needs the money fc
something else. 1t makes me angry
think" added McMannis naively, 'ths
just because I've got the Tenth war
so that it is safe they insist all ii
money ought to be spent in othe
wards. It's coming election tim
though, and Dorsey won't want |
make any enemies"
Its worth trying anyhow" answe
|, ed Harry. 'I'H hustle around an
i bring all the pressure on the part {
t the people I know to bear on him."
G IF the other reformers were like h;
boy" declared McMannis impress We
q to one of his lieutenants, its mol
{ they would do in this world"
Q A week later Richard Dorsey, tt
Il head of the organization, the reco
|. nized ruler of city politics. was sittir
4 in his private Office, a frown on
b face. For days the Express, the r
), form mouthpiece, had been printir
e stories about the sufferings of Il
n children on the crowded east side du