Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-11-23

As the young foreman heard the
shrek Of the five o'clock whistle he
saw that the employees left things in
proper order. and as they filed out
into the hot spring evening, came
himself into the dirty, smoky factory
yard, with his cap far back on his
curly dark head and his blue shirt
sleeves. rolled to his muscular shout
ders. He had bright, dark eyes, and
quick smile:>-, AS the men passed
him, each had word, jest, loving
sort OF recognition for him. He was
fair and square, quick to take uI
their interests, although no alarmist
He could have been their leader any
where. OF to one corner a fat, gross
looking man stood smoking and
watching him-a man who was nc
stranger. But young Willis, the
foreman, had not yet observed the
politician.
Jerry Willis had pulled down his
sleeves and remarked forty times on
the unreasonable heat OF this early
April when Bill Dugan and a half
dozen others stopped him. The city
elections were due for next week,
and candidates were "in the hands of
their friends
Whose yours for mayor, Willis?"
Dugan asked the question carelessly
enough, but he really wanted to
know. He had no initiative of his
own, and the others were much the
him.
John Preston for me-a clean
town, tight shut and the machine
out Of commission. Amt that the
ticket for working man? This town
Is getting so poor girl hasn't a
chance-if she keeps decent, and the
machine has spread like a net over
the workingman," replied Willis. Il
know a doZen-no. hundred-fellows
who can't vote as they like because
they are under some obligation to
some of the city hall gang. Not for
me!'
Guess you're right" agreed the
others, but Dugan finished heartily:
I'm caught in the net, but I'll be
Messed If don't break loose if you
70, Jerry. The south end, being wide
9pen, is getting something fierce, and
Name, my girl, has to go through
there to get to her work twice a. day.
It amt safe-you're night"
The politician, casting an eye after
hem, decided to let them alone for
The present. This Willis was better
a n 11rn yof ho
swing the workingman's vote in his
precinct. And man with wife and
Two babies, and little home not yet
salt paid for-on the installment
plan-has an eye open to "bettering
himself" He came forward and
hailed the young foreman. who was
pow aware of him Tor the first time.
How're We, Willis? Coin home?
Let me drive you-got my mare tied
put here. Have a smoker"
Fine mare, Ryan," he remarked,
climbing in. The politician followed
him heavily.
Then Ryan approached" Willis, In
the manner of his kind, and with in
finite skill. He had overheard, he
said, Willis's remarks on the mayor.
atty, and while it was none of his
business, he was on the inside and
knew thing or two. He hated to
see bright young fellow like Willis
make such mistake. He would put
him WISE"
BY the time they reached the little
cottage and the young mother with
the baby In her arms came to the
door to see who was bringing her
husband home in such style Ryan had
made the foreman proposition. It
was nattering- advantageous.
Jerry was to swing the labor vote
the fright way"-not for Preston and
decenc9 and, as return favor, the
machine would give him a soft lob"
Ryan Knew of a position where Willis
could double his present salary-with
a bonus on the side sufficient to nav
off the remaining payments on the
house. It was a perfectly fair thing
As he lot the young fellow down and
complimented Mrs. Willis, who had
come out with her baby, he remarked:
Think it over a day or two. and
I'll come over and fix things up
Then he drove away, and the little
happy family went into it's simple
evening meal. They had little save
necessities, hut they owed no man:
they had health and love-and hon
esty
Never so much as on this night had
he young head Of the family realized
his blessings. And as he smoked on
the porch while after supper he did
lot of thinking The proposition
teemed square enough. Perhaps Ryan
was right, politically. And if he, Will.
lis. did political work it was surely
no bribery to be paid for it in favor
and influence. He thought of the little
place debt-free, the chance of a fuller
life for Molly, and a. better prospect
tor educating the babies, and a better
position for himself. Perhaps this
was indeed his chance.
~~~~~~~-~~~~~~