Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-31

you that was on the point of choosing
new leader"
No one answered. The boss instinct
power rather than his mere words held
creeping the old subservience to the peer
less will that had so long shaped the Noun
tain states destinies and theirs.
Il talk too much, eh?' Knocked Conover.
We'll, to prove that's so, I'm going to give
you ours a little Sunday school talk right
now. You say l cut out the old methods,
this campaign. l did And why did 1 do
it? Because if these reformers had thought
they were licked unfair there's so many of
'em they'd "a carried the case to every
court in the land. and. "a drawed the whole
countrys op'ra glasses onto this pticular
machine, and started another such wave as
swamped Dick Croker and Tammany in 94.
And then where'd the machine and you
fellers have been? There's got to be reform
In state just so often. just like there's
got to be Group in a nursery. Every other
states had 1t. And each time they've
fished UP something queer about their local
machine. and that same machines never
been so strong again. Well, the Mountain
states turn for reform overdue. 1t
had to come. And this was the time. l
thought maybe 1 could beat 'em their
own ground. If l had, that'd "a ended
reform here, forever and amen. Even If
1 was beat l knew the people would get so
sick of one term Of reform, they'd come
Screechlng to US to take 'em back. And
then's the time my kid-glove stunts of this
rotten reform administration. The ma
chine would escape any investigation of the
kind that follers a crooked campaign, and
we'd simply be begged to take everything
in sight for the rest of our lives. Maybe
you think a chance of one term out Of
office was too much to pay for such a
future cinch?'
The speech-reasons and aH-was impro-
vised as he spoke. And again 1t was the
boss manner and his brutal magnetism
rather than<his words that carried convic-
ton.
Because I didn't print this all out in big
letters and simple words that you dOltS
could understand resumed Caleb, you
forget the holes I've got you and the party
out of in the past. and go grouching about
my breaking up. Maybe my brain is soft
ening a bit, just to keep company with the
ninnies l travel with But it's still brain.
And that's moren any enc else here can
boast Of having. Now. I've showed you
how the land lays. Which of you would
"a carried the machine over 1T any safer,
and how would he'd a done 1t? You, Tor
instance. Staatz?"
The big German sheepishly grumbled
something unintelligible under his breath.
Sounds about as clear and sensible as
Caleb. you'll have to learn more words'p
that before you're boss. Now. then" he
resumed, throwing aside his stolid bear
ing and hammertng imperiousy on the
table with his riding crop. well proceed
to choose a new leader. It's irregular. but
there's easy quorum of district leaders
here. WhOll IL De tnat steps into CaleD
Conover's shoes? Who'll say he's strong
enough to hold the re.ns he thinks I'm
too weak to handle? Who'll it be? lifted
the party and every man here from the
dirt to higher, stronger place than any
one dreamed they could be lifted. Who'll
hold 'em there now that I stand aside?
Speak up. Choose your leader:"
"CONOVER.' yelled Billy Shevlin &C.
statically.
shut up you NANCY little tough: fierce
~ ordered Caleb; but a half-score of eager
voices had caught up the cry. About the
railroader pressed the district leaders
smiling him on the back, striving to grab
his hands. over and over again vociferat-
ing his name: crying out on him to stand
by them. to lead them. to forgive their In
gratitude and folly.
l. And In the center of the exultant babel
stood Caleb Conover. unmoved save for q