Evening star., 1908-01-21
THE THEATE R .
New National.

A play of politics, in which graft is pitt
lessly exposed and grafters thwarted and
left with indictments hanging over their
neads, was seen at the New National
last night, when .'The Man of the Hour"
by George Broadhurst. received its first
presentation in Washington. A young
idler, Alwyn Bennett, accepts the nomina-
tion for mayor of a large city from the
organizations boss and street railway
operator. who controls two systems which
are apparently competitors. Bennett, in
accepting, declares that he will keep his
oath of office. 'Of course you will, says
the boss. as if he We're speaking to petu-
liant child But Bennett. once elected,
does keep his oath, vetoing d bill to give
perpetual franchise to one of the street
railways. Around this point the fight
centers, and every sort of pressure is
brought to bear upon the young mayor to
get the bill run through. The woman he
loves, and for whose sake he entered upon
his career, Is made to suspect him of self
ish ends in opposing the bill, and thinks
that her own fortune is haZarded; he Is
convinced that his father, whom he had
been brought up to regard as the soul of
honor, was rascal, and is threatened
with the revelation. Of his grating
schemes; he is promised the nomination
for governor, and finally the rival in poll
tics and love, who has become engaged to
lie WOIldu upon WnOm the mayor mas
set his heart. promises to release her If
the young man will withdraw his opposi-
ton. But, determined to do the right,
the mayor keeps on. and emerges tri-
umphant, thanks to the aid of an alder
man who hates the boss and a young man
who has served as the private secretary of
the railway operator in order to gain in
formation which will help him get revenge
for his fathers death.
great part of the pleasure of the
rr1i 10 1o,i1, ~ ,l,, aata
of two professional politicians-Horrigan.
blunt and brutal. of the sledgehammer
type, and Phelan. his enemy, jovial, but
cunning and revengeful. These two utter
many political aphorisms which are as true
as they are unpleasant. Their fidelity to
life received the hallmark from the most
distinguished spectator. VINO smiled APP
proval and punctuated many of the lines
with frequent mods Of approval. Yes,
the people vote-but we count, was one
of the knock-dOwn arguments Of Boss
Horrigan, part well taken by Robert A.
Fischer. James Phelan. played by Harold
Russell, made good picture of what may
be called the virtuously dishonest ward
politician. while William Deming supplied
some of the comedy as a young man In
love and not caring who knew it. The
virtuous mayor was played by Orrin john
son. and his reSam blance to Mayor Nc
Clellan of New York was emphasized by
the background of City Hall park, which
was seen through the windows of the set
ting of the second act. A certain atmos-
phere of unreaity that hung about his
role appeared to handicap him, but In his
impassioned moments he supplied all the
requisite fire. Miss Frances Ring made
a charming young society woman, whose
stupidity helped to pile up the accumula-
ton of trouble on the young mayors
head. and Miss Kate Lester gave finish
ed portrayal of a dignitied mother. Ben
nett Southard. as the revengeful secre-
ftI hif pf acting in the
last act. when he poured out the repress-
ed venom of years upon the head OF the
crushed railway man. and the audience
rewarded him with enthusiastic applause