Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-09-02

one-horse town by Fathers orders till
after election, I'll make him sorry he
ever"
Good for you!" cried Ansel.
you've got the spirit of man, after
ALL Here's a bunch of our member
ship blanks. Fill this one out, and
give the rest to your club friends. We
why, Standish!" he broke off, furi-
Gus and dumfounded; for Give had
calmly stepped between the two,
taken the membership blank from
Gerald's shaky hand and torn it
across.
1--WE don't care for members of your
sort, Gerald" he said, with cold
contempt that was worse than kick
"This League was formed to help our
City and State, not to crafty private
grudges; for white men, not for ours
who want to betray their own flesh
and blood. Get out of here!"
"Standish," protested the Mortified
Ansel, you're crazy! You're throw
ing away our best chance. You are"
"If this apology for a human being
is our best chance, III throw him out
bodily, unless he goes at once" re-
torted Give, advancing on the COVER
ing and utterly astonished boy.
"Why!" sputtered, Gerald, as he
backed doorward before the menacing
approach of the Lacquer Il thought
you'd want mel Oh, III go, then,
if you've no more sense than that
But I'll find way of downing the old
man in spite of you! Maybe you'll
be glad enough to get my help when
the time comes! I"
His heels hit against the threshold
in his retrograde march Still de-
claiming, he stepped over the sill into
the outer office, and Give Standish
slammed the door upon him, break
ing off his threats in the middle of
their fretful outpouring,
There" said Give, returning to the
gaping, frowning committeeman,
that's off our hands. Now let's get
down to business.
MIR. Standish," remarked Ansel,
after a moments battle with words he
found hard to check, you're the most
Quixotic, impractical idealist that ever
got hold of the foolish idea he had
a ghost of a chance for success in
politics. And" he added after
pause, I'm blest if | don't think I'd
rather lose with leader like you
than win with any other man in the
Mountain State"
Meanwhile, at the head of the great
study table in his Pompton Avenue
"Mausoleum" sat Caleb Conover, Rail-
roader. And about him, on either side
of the board, like feuddl retainers of
old, were grouped the pick of his lieu
tenants and henchmen. A rare CO.
terie they were, these Knights Of
Graft. Separated by ten thousand
varying interests, social strata and as
pirations, they were as one on the
main issue-their blind adherence to
the Boss and to the lightest of his
orders.
This impelling force was difficult
of defining. Love, fear, trust, desire
for spoils? Perhaps a little of all
four; perhaps much perhaps an in
definable something apart from these.
Conover's dominance, none could for
a moment doubt its presence. So
ever-present was it that it had long
since choked down all opposition from
within his own ranks.
At the Boss's right in to-day's con-
clave sat Billy Shevlin most trusted
and adoring of all his followers. At
loft
and the Boss's jackal Next to Billy
was Bonham, Mayor of Granite, "a ad
next Giacomo Baltazzi, who held the
whole Italian section force of the G.
G. & X. and the Sicilian quarter of
Granite in the hollow of his un-
washed hand. Beyond was Nicholas
Caine, proprietor of the Star, and to
his right Beiser, the Democratic State
Chairman. Between second news
paper editor and the President of the
Board of Aldermen lounsed Kerrigan,
the Ghetto saloon-keeper. A sprinkl-
ing of railroad men, heelers and dis
trict leaders made up the remainder.
Conover was speaking:
And that's the layout" said he.
And that's why I'm not content for
this to be just a plain win Two
years ago l thought Shearn would be
our best man for governor. So gave
the word, and Shearn got in with a
decent majority. But it's got to be
landslide this time, and not a tricks
to be overlooked in the whole hand
Nick, you know the line of editorial
policy to start in to-morrows Star
And be on the lookout for the first
break in any of the Leagues speeches.
It's easier to think of a fool thing than
not to say it, and those Reform jays
are always putting their feet in their
mouths when they try to preach poll
tics. And, knowing nothing about the
game, they're sure to talk heap.
They never seem to realize that the
man who really practices politics