The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-08-20

"'The right thing" echoed Bennett.
what do you mean by the right
thing?''
II mean you've got to do the right
thing by the men who put you where
you are today"
THAT'S fair. But who put me where
am today?'"
II did,. Dick Horrigan. Who ever
heard Of you till took you up? No.
body. If didn't make you mayor,
who did, I'd like to know"
1.-THE voters. The people of this
city"
"The voters" scoffed Horrigan. '"The
deuce they did! Who had you nomi-
| nated?'
'You did. But it was the public who
elected me, and I'm going to obey
your orders in one thing I'm going to
do the right thing by the men who
put me where am today I'm going
to pay the voters for their trust in me
by giving them fair and square adj
| min1stration. In the case of this Bor-
ough Street railway franchise bill, for
instance" tapping the document lying
before him on his desk, before sign
that bill intend to make sure it's for
the good Of the people, that it is for
the good of the city, not merely for
the good of Richard Horrigan and a
clique Of his friends and heelers. No,
don't swear. It'll do you no good. I'm
firm on this matter. If you're discon-
tented with me it's your own fault
warned you months ago that if
was elected should keep my oath of
Office. AS for this Borough bill'-
GAS for this Borough bill,'' broke in
Horrigan savagely, you'll sign it. If
you DON'T
"Well?" queried Bennett, as the boss
paused, choked by his own fury. IF
don't sign it-what then?'
If you don't, your political career is
ended from this time on. See? It's
ended. Smashed fiat. You think of
yourself as a fine, 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 it. l lifted you up,
and can tear you down just as easy.
And, what's more,> by -, I'll do it if
you don't sign the Borough bill. I'm
man of my word, and before ever
you We're nominated I pledged my
word to have that bill put through.
The bill paid your election expenses.
IT,
II 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"
I'm other Words" remarked Ben
nett, "you made a bargain for me.
Well, can't keep it,
"Oh, III keep it all right. You'll
sign that bill or you'lr'-
MIR. Horrigan," exclaimed Bennett,
controlling his temper with more and
more difficulty, you said something
just now about our coming to a show
down. This is the time for it. I want
you to remember henceforth that
wear no mans collar-yours or any
one else's-and that you can't deliver
any goods you've bargained for in my
name. If sign that bill it won't be
under your orders, but because think
it right"
"Oh," laughed Horrigan, who thought
he began to see the drift Of the 9TH
er's mind, II don't hold out for that.
don't care why you sign it as long as
you do sign it,
what do you think about the bill
yourself?" inquired Alwyn. do you
consider it honest?'
''What do 1 care? It's got to be
signed, and"-
Il care. And I think the bill is
fraudulent"
Getting tender in the conscience,
aren't you? Well'-
IF YOU put it that way, yes l think
this Borough bill is crooked from first
to last. But
whats the matter with it? Ain't''-
LET me explain" pursued Alwyn.
'"This bill gives the Borough Street
Railway company the right to use
whatever motive power they choose to-
1t gives them the right to charge five
cent fares without any transfers. In
one paragraph there's a clause permit
ting them to build subway if they
want one. By another paragraphs con-
cessions they can build a conduit and
lease it 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. It 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