The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-11-23
CHAPTER VII-Continued

CHAPTER VII-Continued
'The railroad and the steer people ever
since the war have been looting this
state through us politicians. So far
the people have stood for it. but there's
bound to be a change. The people
swing from one extreme to the other
There are forces at work in the state
now" He had Dunmeade and Muir
chell In mind 'There'll be an earth.
quake bereabouts some day soon. and
when it's over there'll be a good many
political corpses scattered around |
don't suppose you're anxious TO accom
plish a premature demise. And. be-
sides. in a tight place the kicker can
always get more than the fellow who
goes along"
Remington laughed. Then you're
d%iscarding the meat ak for the rapier.
eh?"
AS for himself. Bob had no regrets for
his past disreputable practices. deem
ing them TO have been necessary to
his financial equipment. Now. how
ever. he decided that his equipment
was sufficient to his needs. and the old
contracting firm was dissolved Also
the Steel City was treated to the
strange spectacle of the tough" cOun-
cilmen consistently voting against graft
measures. Bob was not turning re-
former by any means. On the contra
ry. his plans for the future involved
the use of some very questionable
means, but he was unburdening him
self of every unnecessary weight that
might prove a hindrance in the battle
he foresaw And he was learning to
make concessions.
The battle that Bob had foreseen
came sooner than be expected. In
fact. before he was entirely ready
In the second year of Paul's Iegisla
tive career and the last Of Dunmeadp's
first term opposition suddenly deve,
oppd to the ~lattpr's denomination An
obscure fudge from one of the western
counties announced himself as a cnn-
didate for the gubernatOrial nomina-
ton upon a platform the principal
plank of which was. Down with the
Murcnell ring." At first the announce
ment was treated as a jest-by all save
Murchell. who knew the judge to have
been put on the bench through rail
road influence. But as by magic the
judges candidacy grew into formtd
able strength
Six weeks before the convention Dun
meade was. sc II seemed to the public.
hopelessly beaten. Only a few know
ing ones. among them Bob McAdoo.
refused to believe that Murcheli's re
sources were exhausted.
Then the great boss executed n
stroke Of characteristic daring. a
month before the convention. like Il
bolt out Of clear sky. came the cover
nor's call for a special session OF the
legislature to consider the passage OF
laws regulating freight rates and the
restriction Of rebating and providing
for a committee to investigate the
methods of the railroads. The know
ing ones chuckled. MurcheIl waited.
The Legislature convened. surrounded
by a swarm Of railroad lobbyists. Muir.
chell was present in person. At the
end of a week the bills had been pass
ed by the senat Two days more. and
they were favorably reported by the
railways committee Of the lower house
and passed the first reading. Then the
railroad attorney called upon Murchell.
The latter refused him an interview.
Next Murchell received q Geographic
invitation from a gentleman in Adel-
phia TO run over to that city to discuss
the gubernatorial situation. The inyi.
tation was CURLY declined. BY the
e train came the gentleman from
went into the interview in a towering
rage. He came from 1t outwardly az
meek as the %proverbial lamb-and with
hatred ranking In his heart.
When the interview. which had TAX
en- lrace In the governors library. was
over Murchell sent for Dunmeade and
told him what had been said. AS the
governor listened lines Of suffering
came into his fine face.
ut is the only thing, of course" he
said In a discouraged tone. THE trick
worked. But 1t Is shameful-shame-
full to barter away the peoples rights
for a petty office. Why wouldn't 1t
be better to pass the bills. push the
investigation through and accept the
defeatT'
Because. John Dunmeade." Muir
chell said quietly. II promised your
wife to place you where you ran rear
the reward Of your sacrifice. and we
haven't reached that point yet. Pa
thence. man." His voice changed to a
gruf tenderness, and he put his hand
on the others shoulder af%fectionately.
ut isn't like you to lose courage. The
fight Ia just opening. Waltz"
When the convention met at the cap
itai the lower house was still debat-
ing the bills. nor were the final votes
taken until Dunmpade was nominated.
Then the bills were quietly amended