The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-10-28
CONTINUED
CHAPTER VIII.
MN --~@~r-e ~@ra


X cipttated the events that resulted
- in the subjugation of the city.
Affection" is accurate. Bob,
once the cold. the ]oveless, now bestowed
on the younger man liking none the
less deep and intense for that it was
quiet and undemonstrat1ve. This liking
was evidenced by the influence Bob ex-
ercised upon Paul's career in the legis-
lature. Not that any orders were CIV
en-; Bob merely by wise counsel guided
his friends footsteps around the pit
falls set for the inexperienced legis-
lator. So that, although he often stood
almost alone, Remington was found
fighting boldly on the honest side of
every measure. His own consummate
audacity and personal popularity Sc
cured for him recognition rarely &C.
corded first term man. The uncom-
promising stand was possible to him
as to few others, since with Bob's in
dorsement his reelection was deemed
assured and he had no need to placate
powerful interests.
Bob's influence may not seem so un-
accountable when it is understood that
It was dictated only by shrewd. far.
seeing policy. Bob knew that he who
enters the political race must run as
lightly as possible and that even at
that time support of dishonest meas
ures was apt to prove handicap to
the swiftest runner, especially If the
goal were, as in Paul's case, advance
ment in Office.
"Never mind what they say, stick it
out" he explained to Remington one
day after the latter had returned from
a dinner with notorious lobbyist.
1.-THE railroad and the steel people ever
since the war have been looting this
state through us politicians. So far
the people have stood for 1t, but there's
bound to be 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 hereabouts 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-
pl1sh a premature demise. And, be-
sides, in tight place the kicker can
always get more than the fellow who
goes along"
Remington laughed "Then you're
discarding the meat Ak for the rapier,
ehY
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 he expected. In
FACT before he was entirely ready.
In the second year of Paul's legisla
tive career and the last of Dunmeade's
first term opposition suddenly devel
oped to the latter's denomination. An
obscure Judge from one Of the western
counties announced himself as q can.
didate for the gubernatorial nomina
ton upon platform the principal
plank Of which was, "Down with the
Murchell r1ng" At first the announce
ment was treated as 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 formid
able strength.
Six weeks before the convention Dun
meade was, SO it seemed to the public
hopelessly beaten. Only few know
ing ones, among them Bob McAdoo
refused to believe that Murchell's re
sources were exhausted.
Then the great boss executed .
stroke Of characteristic daring. 4
Y month before the convention. like i,
bolt out Of clear sky, came the COVER
nors call for special session of tn,
legislature to consider the passage O
laws regulating freight rates and th
restriction Of ,rebating and providin,
for committee to Investigate tn
methods Of the railroads. The know
Z Ing ones chuckled. Murchell waited.
The legislature convened. surrounde
y by a swarm Of railroad lobbyists. Mu,
chell was present in person. At tn
n end Of week. the bills had been pass
ed by the senate. Two days more, an
4 they were favorably reported by tn
railways committee Of the lower hous
and passed the first reading. Then tn
Il Eltlroad attorney called uppn Mnrchel