The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1911-11-25
CHAPTER II.
The Lineup Of che Fiaht.

too rough--too rough
kind OF talk. Thelismer,"
I1kS protested the state chair
man. "You can't handle
voters the way you used to-you'ye
got 10 hair oil em these days"
Thornton was at the window. silent.
The crowd had not left the yard-an
additional insult to Tim. They were
gathering around Niles md his sheep
and Niles va declaiming again.
1T isn't best to tongue lash the
boys that are for YOU" advised Pres
son fretfully. mot this year. when re-
formers have got 'em filled up with
lot of skittish notions. Where's the
crowd that's backing you--your own
boys%
Luke. I swear don't know.
knew there was some growing In this
district-there always Is in district.
A man like Ivus Niles would growl
about John the Baptist II he came
back to earth and went In for politics.
But this thing here gets me-" He
turned to the window once more.
There's men out there l thought I
could reckon on like I'd tie to my own
grandson, and they're standing with
their mouths open whooping on that
old blatherskite."
"I've known 1t was bad" said Pres
son. IL knew they meant you.
warned you they were going to get In
early and hit hard In this district
but l didn't realize It was as bad al
this. They're calling 1t reform, but
tell you, Thelismer. there's big money
and big men sitting back in the darl
and rubbing the ears Of these prohibit
ton pussies and tomcats. It's stat
overturn that they're playing for"
He began to stride around the bill
room.
There used to be some sensible poll
tics in this state" he went on. "Bu
it's got so now that a state COMMITTEE
Is called on to consult lot Of crank
before drawing up the convention plat
form. Even a fellow In the legisla
ture can't do what he wants to 70
the boys"
II Thornton listened he gave NJ
sign. He had his elbows on the win
dow sill and was glowering on hi
constituents. They seemed determined
to keep up the hateful ser snade.
There was dingy wall msp besid
him between the windows. a red lin
surrounded a section Of 1.-TWO towns
dozen plantations and a score o
unorganized townships, a Thousand
square miles of territory that compos
ed his political barony. And on tina
section double red lines marked OF
half a million acres of timberland
mountain, plain and lake that Thelis
mer Thornton owned.
Between you and me, Thelismer
they've got quite lot to grumbl
about, the farmers have. You will
land fellows have grabbed good deal
and you don't pay much taxes on II
You ought to have loosened a nttl'
earlier"
"You feel the cold water on you
feet, and you lay 1t to me rocking tn
boat, heyT returned the duke. "Thi
Is no time to begin to call names
Luke. But / want to tell you tina
where there's one man in this stat
grumbling about wild land taxes Their
are a hundred up and bowling agains
you and the rest of the gilt edged he
tel keepers that are selling rum an
running bars just as though ther
wasn't any prohibitory law In on
constitution" He had turned fror
the window. you're looking at tina
map. Ell? You think I've stolen lant
do your Look here; I've had to liv
to be eighty-five to get little some
thing out of life, and my wife worke
herself to death in spite of all coul
say to stop her. Dollars don't pay u
man and woman for being pit
neers. I'm not INVITING you or som
Of the rest of the men in this state
regard to how you got your none!
but you know how you did get It"
We've stood by you on the tax que
ton"
"And I've stood by you against tn
prohibition ramrodders, who wer
foolish enough to think that rum shop
ought to be shut up because the LAY
said so, and I've stood with the col
porations, and I've stood. with the pc
iticians and played the game accort
ing to the rules. The tough part Of
Is, Presson, those men out there ar
right--at bottom. They're playin
traitor to me and acting like inferno
fools, and I wouldn't let them kno,
that I thought them anything els'
But I'd like to step out there. Lux,
and say: Boys, you're right. I've bee
working you. I've done you lot @
favors, I've brought a lot Of benefit
home to this district, but I've bee
looking after myself and standing 1
with the bunch that has got the bef
things Of the state tied up In sma
bundle. I've only done what ever
successful politician has done-playe
the game. But you're right. Now G
ahead and clean the state"
"You don't mean to say you'd d
thatT' demanded Presson, looking b
old friend over pityingly.
Luke. mean that. but don't II