The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-01-13

A Glimpse of Practical Politics
bad, bad, bad!" commented
Billy Ryan, when he heard of the
interview between Mason and Sen
ator Pepper.
Ryan had called to see Mason,
and the two were alone in the lit
tie parlor, Mrs Mason being up
stairs with the children.
Why" demanded Mason. "Pep-
per wanted me to use my influence
| to retain his men on the city pay
| roll, regardless of their fitness, and
he demanded the promise of my
support for himself. | don't know
anything about his men, and what
| know of him is notparticularly to
| his credit. Am to tie myself up
on every proposition before l even
get the nomination."
Ryan was hardly prepared for
this, but he laughed it Off
you'll understand better when
you've learned to handle the
ropes" he said. "Its sometimes
necessary in politics to do some
things you don't want to do in Or
der to be able to do some other
things that you really ought to do.
That's where the reformer makes
his mistake The greatest good for
the greatest number is the motto
You've a great chance in this ward,
and there's no use throwing it
away, just to show that you don't
approve of Pepper. That isn't prac-
teal"
This sounded plasible, and it
cannot be denied that Mason was
willing to be convinced. He wanted
to be nominated and elected.
you've got to make some sacri-
fees for the people of your ward"
Ryan went on, 'and you might
even say for the city. You can do
them more good in the council than
you can here. can't you? Well
then, your business is to get elect.
ed. OF course Pepper worked for
the Allen bill, but what's that to
you? Because he did one or two
bad things is no reason why you
shouldn't put him in the way of
doing a good one, like electing you
to the council. You'd better go
back and tell him you're with
him"
"I'll think it over" said Mason.
do you think he could beat me?"
81 don't think he would" re-
turn ii Ryan. 81 think the Old Man
would find a way to bring him into
line, but there's no use taking
chance, when you can just as well
have cinch."
ooh, WE'LL" said Mason at last,
eff he doesn't ask too much Of me
when he gets down to details I'll
fix it up with him. But 1t comes
hard"
'By the way" Ryan continued,
"do you know anything about the
independent gas measure?"
Mason was instantly alert
1.-THE one that raised such a cry
of 'boodle!' when they tried to put
1t through a few months ago." he
asked.
Yes; that's the one Some OF
the people back Of that are good
friends of the Old Man. You under
stand, of course" Ryan went on
hastily, that the Old Man never
touched dishonest penny in his
life. But there's good bit in that
measure for the campaign fund,
he said, land the Old Man never
loses sight of the needs of the
party treasury. Then, some of the
men behind it have been useful tc
him, and can be of a lot more
use"
ITS a notorious Doodle and sand
bagging scheme!' exclaimed Ma
son.
Ryan shrugged his shoulders.
'We've got nothing to do with
that" he urged. "All we've got tc
do is to take care of the men who
can deliver the goods, and these
men can deliver just what the Ole
Man needs to enable him to spread
out little. They can strengthen
him at Springfield. One of them is
there now as the representative Of
a district the Old Man never has
been able to control Now, that in
dependent gas ordinance is coming
up again in the next council, Ma
son, and the Old Man wants tc
have it passed"
81 won't vote for it," said Mason
almost angrily.
THE people Of this ward AIM
worrying about it, and you're go
ing to represent Them" insinuated
Ryan. why, you're practically
pledged to run. If you don't after
the way they've rallied to your sup
port you might as well move out OF
the ward"
well, | will rum" asserted Ma.
son, holly 81 may have no chance