The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-01-15
CHAPTER vi.


thing occurred to disarrange the
Old Mans plans. Bob Howe was
going on. The rumor reached his
ears that Mason would be put on
the ballot as an Independent candi
date by petition. For moment he
was disturbed: then he laughed.
$50 much the better" he COM
mented. Mason and O'Hara will
split the vote that we couldn't get
any way, and we can hold enough
in the lower end of the ward to
make it a cinch for Baxter. Either
of them alone would be harder to
beat than both together. They may
cut into the machine a little in
the lower end but not SO much as
they'll cut into each other in the
upper end"
The reasoning was good, but alter
| it was discovered that the facts had
been misunderstood. Word came to
Howe that Mason, O'Hara and ell
bert Norris had been in conference.
Norris was one of the leading men
in the Citizens Safety league,
which was working hard for an
honest council and such confer
ence might mean much. Further
reports showed that Norris had
called to see Mason several times,
bringing O'Hara with him the last
time.
That man O'Hara would do any
thing to beat Baxter" growled
Howe, and he Immediately sent out
scouts with instructions to get"
next to what was going on and do
it in a hurry" They brought back
even more disquieting rumors, and
apparent confirmation of them in
the fact that Martin Appleby. a
| republican, had been present at the
| last conference also, and afterward
| had let fall some very significant
| remarks. Howe waited for no more.
| The ward convention would meet
in a little over two hours, and
| quick action was necessary.
Senator Pepper was leaning
against Casey's bar idly discussing
| the situation when Howe rushed
into the place.
where's the Old Man," cried
Howe. I've been to his office, and
can't find him.
Hes probably at the Democrat
ic club" suggested Senator Pepper.
whats wrong?"
Jump into the cab and I'll tell
you as we go along said Howe,
as he darted out the door, closely
followed by the senator, while
Casey shook his head solemnly, and
remarked: Some lads cast shoe
at tn beginnin' iv the trace, or
ilse he's been heatin thin out iv
tn campaign ASSESSMENT"
The Old Man held an appointive
fee office that paid him so well that
it was unnecessary for him to
make money out Of politics in other
ways. 1t was glorious game he
played. He never headed ticket,
he had been beaten the only time
he had run for minor office in the
gift of the people; but he was a
far-sighted manager, and he had no
trouble in getting any office he de-
sired that was in the fiift of the
men he nominated and helped to
elect.
When Howe and Pepper appear
ed at the Democratic club, the Old
Man was chatting pleasantly with
some of his cronies. But there was
that in the expressions of the two
men that made him stop in the
middle of a sentence.
What is it?" he asked.
There's a new deal in the
Eighth" answered Howe, land
Baxter hasn't one chance in mil
lion. AS soon as he's put up. Ma
son will be nominated by petition,
Endorsed by the Citizens Safety
league, and O'Hara will withdraw
in his favor The petitions are al
ready in circulation. Tom Lewis
saw one, and heard Martin Apple
by say that O'Hara was ready to
do this to beat Baxter"
well, nominate Mason ordered
the Old Man.
"Mason?"
| Eyes, Mason. If he's going to be
elected anyhow, we want him on
our ticket"
"You know how he stands?"
81 know we can do no more with
him as Democratic alderman
than. we can as an Independent
with nothing but a reform back
Ling" asserted the old man. IF we
l