Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-16

BoBBS MERRILL CO.
When Bob first broachcd the subject
to him Martin demurred.
"If I took it Id want to make a rec
ord" he said. There's a certain line
Of prosecutions for political oYenses
that Id like to push. and l don't care
to be used as a club to force Mac
Pherson into a deal and then be pulled
of from the prosecutions"
"That's all right" Bob explained.
II want you to make a record. OF
course l shouldn't want you to hurt
any of our people. but so long as you
stand by rs ycu may go after Mac
Pherson and his crowd rs hard rs you
please. There'll be no deal in that
quarter"
II don't know what your game IS"
Martin answered. But. by George. l
liEc your style Of fighting. and If you
give me this opportunity III be square
with you!"
During that campaign the fame of
Bob's struggle spread to the borders Of
his state and out into the nation. Men.
absorbed though they were in the is.
sues OF . national campaign, foun4
time to turn their eyes toward the
Steel City aud ask themselves the Ques.
tons: Who and what Is this grim. lone
" figure lighting for the mastery Of
his city single handed against a ALI
ance whose tremendous power is be-
ginning vaguely to be realized. and
what does his success portend7
The nomination won, Martin safely
elected and the county patronage so
disposed as to rivet the weak points in
his machine. for SO 1t must be called,
Fob was in the position of a man who
owns all the water around n coveted
island. but not the island itself. The
county government was his. but the
city administration, the goal of his ef-
fort, was still in MacPherson's hands
and would be at least until the next
mayoralty election. more than two
years distant. Bob made tentative eff
forts to bride Mayor Henry to a deser-
ton of his boss, but Henry was loyal.
Many a long hour Bob spent Eel the
problem how to gain control Of the city
and complete his boss-ship. It was
Remington who suggested the method.
Martin as soon as indicted into office
began a successful series Of prosecu-
tons against election frauds and cor
ruption in the city councils-Bob's sup
porters were. according to agreement.
immune-that Kept the pot Of public re
sentiment boiling against acPherson's
ring. Bob then secured u conference
with Dunmeade and Murchell and to
them unfolded his scheme.
II want" he said. ian act of the leg
islature changing the charters Of all
cities Of the second Sass, giving the
mayor the power Of appointment Of all
department heads without Interference
from councils, with a provision en-
powering the governor to unseat the
present mayors at once and appoint
substitutes. And l want you to let me
name the man for my city"
"That is a dangerous game. young
man." Murchell said. "You have the
people with you now. A move like
that is apt to drive them away"
"Give me the city administration and
payroll and Ill risk It," Bob replied
confidently.
After a long discussion Of details
Murchell said:
well. If we do that for you-what?"
Dunmeade extended his hand pro-
testingly. mo: wen do it. Let there
be no bargains for once"
At the next session Of the legislature
Bob's bill passed. Dunmeade rip
ped" Mayor Henry out Of office and
appointed Stuart in his place. That
night Irishtown held high revel.
How would Bob use his power? In
a cartoon appearing in MacPherson's
newspaper the morning after Stuart's
appointment Bob was represented as a
hideous giant: in his outstretched hand
was a cruel looking lash. Before him
covered a shackled figure representing
"The People," Beneath was the cap.
ton, "Woe to the conquered"