Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-11-11


sen" he stopped long enough 10 make
the pause appreciate, and your CO
AUDITORS? Why have any people. as
matter Of fact? why don't You and
Mr.. Liffey, who believe holds a some
what analogous position to yours in
The other party, get together with two
able coadjutors like those You have
brought and settle the question what
the people are going to haye?"
Wen, Mr. Gormly. since you put 1t
that way" said Benson coolly, III
was little stronger than / am, IL
this city wasn't so hopelessly in Char
ley Lifey's grasp, that's about what
we'd do Now, we think that you've
got certain elements of strength with
the people that'll sort of balance
things. | don't know whether you
can be elected or not I'm speakin'
frankly now, gentlemen, and as prac-
teal politician; but / believe you're
more apt to be elected than anybody
else. if We can get a fair count, or
count the ballots ourselves, which is
more or less doubtful with Lffey in
power. and therefore we want you for
our candidate, because we think we
can win.
"Liffey has been In power so long
that he amt even decent. He amt
willing to take fair, respectable
graft; he wants everything But
when IL comes down to talkin bust
. ~ \,
Office, the best thing is the whole
truth. Certainly it's important from
one point OF view that we should win
this year, 1t may give us more power
in the national convention next year.
If we can deliver the goods in New
mean something, our influence is
goin' to be worth something, and that
accounts for Mr.. Pooles presence
here. AS for Mr. Fitchett, he's one of
the brightest young lawyers we've got.
He knows which side his breads but
tered on. He wants to be district at
torney and run with you, and you
couldn't get better campaigner to
stand by your side. AS for me, all the
power we've got, which l admit amt
as much as we'd ought to have, l con-
troll, | put it at your disposal, Now
what do you say
Il protest" began Poole angrily;
while Fftchett bit his lip, but managed
to control himself better than the
banker.
Gentlemen" said Gormly. ut will
hardly be necessary for you to contin-
he the interview further on these
lines"
What do you mean?" exclaimed
Benson.
81 mean that while | am, of course
deeply touched by your hearty and
spontaneous promises of support in
this coming campaign, and while l
appreciate highly the honor that you
propose to me of making me your can
didate, | regret to say that | must de-
cline your proposition"
What" roared Benson. You amt
goin' to run them"
Il haven't said anything to that ef-
feet, have II"
But" interposed Poole, you can't
expect to succeed without any organ
ring that's against you, the influences
that are opposed to you, both financial
and political, is something that you
can't, imagine!
1T requires much more than a candi-
date and a majority of votes to win
an election"
THE ballots have got to be count
ed" said Benson, land the moneys
got to be spent. In common with all
the rest of us, I read those accounts
you're publishing from week to week,
and it makes me sick to see SO much
good money goin' to waste. Not but
what it's dom some good; but prac-
tical man like myself could administer
it so much better. You could buy
voting precinct with what you spend
on a single ad Wastin good money
on the press! It's men you want to
buy, not newspapers. That's the rea-
son Liffey always gets the best of me-
He's got more money than l can get,
consequently he's got the men. But
with your own contributions and the
chances for success that you'll give
us, there's let's Of other rich men
that'd be willing to take on our gettin
in power"
q am not one of these men, Mr.
Benson. I'll take no chances what
ever on your getting in power"
well, it's got to be Liffey's crowd
or ours, and your fightin' Liffey's
crowd from beginning to end. There
fore logically You belong to u.s.
81 cannot see the force of your rea-
soning,' said Gormly, and | tell you
here and now that while | shall be
very glad to have the votes of any or
every man in New York, yet l will
be beholden to no political party In
the city. l have entered this cam
paign as an Independent. If the peo-
pie wish to elect me, they can do SO;
If not. not"
"Why I told YOU" said Benson pity-