Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-09-29


paused, choked by his own fury. "If
don't sign it-what then?"
'Tf you don't, your political career Is
ended from this time on. See? It's
ended. Smashed fat. You think of
yourself as a file. promising young
man who's on the road to the gov.
ernorship and maybe to the White
House. Well, you aren't. You're what
Dick Horrigan made you, and your
future will be what Dick Horrigan
chooses to make 1t. lifted you up.
and can tear you down just as easy.
And, what's more, by -, III do 1t II
you don't sign the Borough bill. I'm
a man of my word. and before ever
you were nominated pledged my
word to have that bill put through.
The bill paid your election expenses.
IT,
81 paid my own election expenses.
You know that"
your personal expenses, perhaps.
But who paid for parades, halls. ban
ners, fireworks. speakers. advertise
ments, workers and watchers and all
the other million things that elected
you? The men behind that Borough
bill paid them. And they did It on the
understanding you'd sign the BILL"
"In other words" remarked Ben
nett, you made bargain for me.
Well, / can't keep it."
"Oh, I'll keep 1t all right You'll
sign that bill or you'll"-
"Mr. Horrigan," exclaimed Bennett.
controlling his temper with more and
more difficulty, "you said something
just now about our coming to show
down. This Is the time for it. want
you to remember henceforth that |
wear no mans collar-yours or any
one else's-and that you can't deliver
am goods you've bargained for in my
name. II | sign that bill it won't be
under your orders, but because think
1t right"
"Oh," laughed Horrigan, who thought
he began to see the drift Of the 9th
ers mind. 81 don't hold out for that. |
don't care why you sign 1t as long as
you do sign it."
What do you think about the bill
yourself?" inquired Alwyn. "Do you
consider it honest?"
What do Il care? It's got to be
signed, and"-
81 care. And I think the bill is
fraudulent"
Getting tender in the conscience,
aren't your Well"-
IF you put it that way, yes. think
this Borough bill Is crooked from first
to last But
whats the matter with It? Aln't"-
Let me explain" pursued Alwyn.
This bill gives the Borough Street
Railway company the right to use
whatever motive power they choose 10.
1t gives them the right to charge five
cent fares without any transfers In
one paragraph there's clause permit
ting them to build subway If they
want one BY another paragraphs con-
,essions they can build conduit and
lease 1t out for telephone or telegraph
wires. BY another they can do an ex-
press business. But all these provi-
sions are as nothing compared to the
fact that the bill gives the streets
above and below ground to the Bor-
ough company forever and ever-not
for term Of years. but until the end
Of the world. 1t delivers that route to
the company not only for our time, but
for always, and binds US and our de-
scendants to its terms. That is the
chief outrage Of the whole thing. To
think that the
ooh. we've got a bowling reformer
In the mayors seat, have we? scoffed
| Horrigan. "If I'd known that
"The people have got man who is
trying to protect their rights and prop
erty. Here's letter l received to-
day. You'll recognize the name Of the
capitalist who wrote 1t. You know he
Is honest as well as wise. This is his
proposition: He will pay 100000 for
that same franchise. give the city 10
per cent Of the gross receipts and turn
over the whole plant to 1t at the end
Of fifty years. What do you think of
thatT
| "It's fake"
ut is a bona fide offer. He volun-
teers to deposit s1,0O0.OOO to bind the
bargain. Now, what l want to ask
you, Mr.. Horrlgan. Is this: If the fran
chise is worth 100000. why are you
and your faction In the board Of alder
men so anxious to give it away for
nothing?"
Look herew clustered the boss.
| ~
II am looking" returned Bennett.
sI'ye been looking deeper into 1t than
you realize. asked you question
lust now. I'll answer 1t myself in
Dne word-'Graft! That Is why you
want to give away franchise that is
worth $2O00.OOO."
"Graftw snorted IIorrigan contemptu-
,usly. "The same old reformer howl!
What's your idea Of graft anyway"
| Graft Is unearned increment. Money
% which the recipient has no legal or
moral right That ls'-
$50! Then show me the man who
amt CRATER! A lawyer shows his
client how TO evade the law. and he
lakes a fee for doing It. What's that
but graft? A magazine takes pay for
printing an advertisement its editors
know is a fake. What's that? Graft!
When congressman votes for an ap-
propriation because another congress
man has agreed to vote for one Of
his. what's that? Graft! When Ave
thousand year senator retires at the
end Of ten years worth million. what's
that? Graft! A police captain on 81
$50 a year buys yachts and country
estates. Craft! How about the rail-
road president who gets stock free In
a corporation that ships over his road.
or the insurance man or banker who
gives or takes fat loans on fancy Sc
curities and clears 1000 per cent?
Gnfters, all of 'em! Grafters! Every
one CRAFTS who can or who isn't too
stupid. Show me man who doesn't
graft and I'll show you fool. Present
company not excepted"
That's where you're wrong" return
I'd Alywn, ignoring the slur and speak