Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-07-27

action OF your convention WHICH mas
not yet assembled
It's easy to see. Mr.. Gormly," said
Benson half pityingiy. ":that you don't
know anything about practical poll
tics. The committee OF a hundred
will carry out the will OF the party
because the will Of tie party Will be
the will of the committee OF a I'M
dred; and the committee OF a hundred
will carry out the will Of this com.
mittee visiting you. because the will
of this committee Is the Will OF the
committee of q hundred. III say
mean II we say-that our party wants
you for mayor, you can bet your last
dollar that you're the man 1t wants
Seer"
Il see," said Gormly. In that case
why have any convention at all! Why
have any committee OF a hundred?
Why have anybody but you, Mr.. Ben
son." he stopped long enough to make
the pause appreciate, land your CO.
adjutors? Why have n people, as
a 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 have?"
We'll, Mr.. Gormly, since you put 1t
that way" said Benson coolly, III
was a little stronger than l am, If
this city wasn't so hopelessly in Char
ley Liffey's grasp, that's about what
we'd do. Now, We think that you've
got certain elements of strength with
the people thatll sort of balance
things. | don't know whether you
can be elected or not. I'm speakin'
frankly now, gentlemen. and 10 a prac-
teal politician; but | believe you're
more apt to be elected than anybody
else, IL we can get a fair count. or
count the ballots ourselves. which is
more or less doubtful with Liffey 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 a fair, respectable
graft; he wants everything. But
when 1T comes down to talkin' bust
ness with the candidate in his private
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 ext year.
II We can deliver the goods in New
York city, why, our voice is goin' to
mean something, our influence is
goin' to be worth something. and that
accounts for Mr.. Poole's 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 N. He wants to be district at.
torney and run with you, and you
couldn't get a better campaigner to
stand by your side. AS for me, all the
power we've got, which | admit amt
as much as we'd ought to have, | con-
troll. | put it at your disposal. Now
what do you say"
Il protest." began Poole angrily
while Fitchett bit his lip, but managed
to control himself better than the
banker.
Gentlemen" said Gormly, 1T will
hardly be necessary for you to contin-
he the interview further on these
lines"
What do you mean" exclaimed
Benson.
Il mean that while | am. of course
deeply touched by your hearty and
spontaneous promises Of support in
this coming campaign, and while |
appreciate highly the honor that you
propose to me OF making me your can
didate, l 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 eff
feet, have T."
But" ~interposed Poole, you cant
expect to succeed without any organ
ization back Of you. Why, man. the
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 wir
an election"
The ballots have got to be count
ed" said Benson, land the moneys
got to be spent. In common with al
the rest OF us, | read those accounts
you're publishing from week to week
and 1t makes me sick to see SO muct
good money goin' to waste. Not bu'
what it's dom some good; but a prac
teal man like myself could administer
it so much better. You could buy {