The Irish standard., 1910-10-22

"somebody else wifi get it, Of
course. He will build the connections,
and hold us up for anything that he
wants"
But it will be no good to anybody
else without what we've got" suggest
ed Van Slyke.
True: but we have got several hum
dred millions involved and can't adopt
donothing policy. Probably ten
millions or even less will cover the
expenses required by rebuilding un-
der the old or new franchise, and that
ten million has us by the throat"
III should be easy for five hundred
millions to freeze out ten" said
Rutherford
Under other circumstances it would
not be at all difficult" answered IT,
dane; but the people are to be con-
sidered in this case. This road was
built as a public convenience and.
gentlemen. 1t has to be run
This is a hell Of fix for men as
smart as you to git yourselves in."'
said I.iffey. "As | take It, we can
secure the franchise or we can make
its future grant the issue of the cam
pnign: aud II we win. pass it then:
and II we fail, take our medicine"
you've stated 1t exactly" 81:
For myself, I'm in favor Of grab i.
bling the franchise now said the
boss. 1T means money. Moneys
what we're here for. The object Of
politics Is money for the crowd that's
in. The aim Of the crowd that's out
is to git in SO they can git the
money With money we can buy
votes; with votes we can get office:
with office and money we can get
immunity from the consequences
Even if we're beaten by the mayor.
we'll still have the district attorney,
we'll still have the police force III
still be here; 50 will you. Mr.. Hal
dane. And therefore, rather'n take
any risk. move that the franchise be
renewed as soon as It expires, and
that the grant be made to the Gotham
Freight Traction company I'd rather
! have something substantial than play
i for chance any time. guess va
wouldn't suffer any therefore, no mat
, ter what happened Besides, all IT'D
mean would be wait for four years.
These reform movements always ga
tired OF Themselves, and then one Of
the other of the old parties comes In.
Well he the one"
y am inclined to believe that much
Of MIR. Liffey's contention is sound"
said Van Slyke at last
We'll. gentlemen" said Hsldana
| Suhnf IN oil hlnlr
Let's get what we can. said the
mayor.
And keep all we've got," added
| Cornell
Very we'll then" said Haldane. 80
| be IT. We are united upon non.
| partisan ticket which we can select
presently. with Warren at the head
Of it, Mr.. Liffey will see Mr.. Benson
and induce his cooperation Mr.. Con-
nell will Investigate Mr. GorMl, g
career. Mr. Rutherford will arrange
to have the franchise renewed MS sccn
as It IS possible to do So Mr. We
Z; rem VIII Mt once announce himself as
candidate for reelection Measrs
! 1Affey. Habberley, and Council will
get their forces in line. And | think
that's all"
Not quite. MIR. Haldane," said LII
fey.
! What else?"
"You'n git the barrel open for the
necessary expenses OF the cam
paign?"
Quite So" said Hadane. dryly.
"Yon may depend upon us to do what
ia proper: oh. gentlemen?" ~.
| Van Slyke and Mcdonald nodded
~ think we've done q pretty good
nights work" said the district attor-
ney. rising to his feet
Don't go yet" said Haldane I'VE
must fix up the slate FIRST and that
will be all"
It was half-hour later when the
last one departed from the house.
Haldane was quite aware of the con-
ditions under which his fortune was
being increased and his power extend
ed. He had been brought IN contact
! with the naked reality of the situa-
tion great many times; but it
seemed to him that never before had
1t presented Itself In so hideous and
unattractive Il guise as on that night.
The financier was hardened His con-
science, while keenly alive in other
directions. in matters concerning poll
tics and the people was scared and
indurnted. But what had been said
and what he had discussed that night
had sickened him.
Haldane felt quite lonely, quite old.
as he sat there In the small hours Of
the morning. his cigar gone out,
musing over the situation. He pulled
himself together at last. The battle
was not lost. The enemy had not won.
and before that came about there
would be a struggle which would beg
gar description. The cards seemed to
be in his hands, or in the hands Of the
ring of which he was chief. No more
experienced players ever sat at
game than those associated with him.
They ought to win; but would they?