Arizona republican., 1911-04-11

Straight, " broke in Vining. 90
course I've got 1t straight. Now, FOL
example, hasn't The New Telephone
Company been promised a franchise?
They have" replied Tank with the
utmost frankness.
And somebody paid you a chunk Of
money or will pay 1t, before they gel
it?"
Vining looked intently at Tank
Tank gazed sleepily at Vining. The
silence was intense.
For the sake of argument. yes.
said Tank finally, with imperturbable
face.
Then. exclaimed Vining exultantly
where do the people come in?"
They get competing telephone
system" exclaimed Tank calmly, with
an urbanity that was almost sweet
They get better service and lower
rates. It's what I'm tellin' you, Vim
ing. l represent the peoples view
point. You say. Let the people be
BANKED. Let them go to. Here,
Tank, block this franchise, and here's
a hundred thou But | don't take
your hundred thou. 1t amt to the
peoples interest for me to take it, and
it ain't to my interest, 1t amt good
politics"
The disgust, the fine scorn. the noble
curl OF the patriciaa lip Of Vining was
beautiful to see.
You mean to say" he asked. THAT
If my purse is longer than the New
Phone Company's, l can't get that
franchise blocked right here before |
leave this room?
Not il you was to offer me twice
IS much money and then double 1t and
90 around and give them their money
back on the side" said Tank with
slow, cumulative emphasis.
Then" gasped vining, you're a
new type of politician"
I'm the type that's runnin' this
mans town, and the kind that's goin'
to run it for long time to come"
Now, Tank" declared vining. re-
turning to the charge with a kind Of
syasperated calmness, "you know you
graft right and left"
Right, but not left" calculated
Tank. sententiously.
Vinirg looked at him in amazed ST
lence.
:" You amt quite got my point of
view. have you?" Tank asked. "Well.
let ne give 1t TO you. Somebody has
to run the town, look after elections,
tend to the departments, decide who's
Who and what's what. Somebody
GOT to organize and run things. You
know that. now, don't your"
Yes. suppose" said the man who
was himself the representative of or
SaHization methods.
Well. do that" explained Tank.
Yes" assented Eining.
And I don't do II for nothing, do
n"
Well. no. suppose not"
Il get it by honest graft, that's
how. IT'S provided that way in the
charter"
Graft provided in the charter?
lueried Vining. pinching himself and
wondering what he could have over
looked.
"Yes. There's salaries for the
mayer and the street-sweep and the
nan that empties tne swili, for the
councilman and the chiaf ~ police and
the cop on the beat. But there amt
no provision for the boss-sor me-
for the hardest workin', most impor-
tant man Of all, who's on the job night
and day. year In and year out. and
carries all the rsSponsibility-nOthin'
at all for that. Now that's plain in
for riE: TO get his when he
can. So he gets It."
I" / sea,' said Vining. with a grim
smile Of triumph. You get yours
where you can. Now. here's a chance
on this telephone DEAL
1T amt no chance at ALL" said
Tank. "iiet me tell you two things
First place. IL you come In here and
promised you something, wouldn't
you expect to get it?"
Yes" admitted Vining, at rather
.hink.I would"
Heard some pretty mean things
about me in the last ten years, haven't |
your"
Why, since you ask it. must con-
Confess nothin'-you have?"
Yes, have"
You never did hear that I ever
)roke a promise. though. did your"
Iueried the Boss. with little note OF |
,ride in his voice.
Come to think, believe I never |
lid"
No. Mr. Vining. and you never will. |
that's one reason why you can't talk |
o me about blockin' the new fran
hise? It's goin' through. Bu; there's |
mother reason. I'm benevolent |
oss. take legitimate commission
or doin' the town good. You can't
ever get me to take money Cor dom
harm. I'm the original patriot, I
eckon. You may be the grandson OF |
our granddaddie. Vining. but I'm the /
ather of my country all right" and /
e waved his hand toward "Th' i
Yards"
Let me tell you, Vining." he con-
inued, my game may seem new to
on, but It's right and it's square.
cen workin' it from the beginning ia
his town. | always leave something II
DR. the other fellow. I done 4 in the |,
recinct. and l done 1t in the ward. Il
nd now do It in the whole city
IS right. 1t works. Oh. tell you
We watched EN- all. Broker and Fox
nd Cutler and Buef They all got II
/ the neck from playin' both ends
gainst the middle. Watch me play
ne middle and one end against your
nd, and see where you come out and
here I come out. They may get me, IL
)metimp VininP hut not yet-nOr III