Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-03-17

*@ ~ 80 -
NY fatker b much more likely to
take sides with ron, I ana sorry to
say. No. Dick; you've got only one
man to fight. but you mustn't forget
that his name also II Blount. Go to
1t and send me word and let the frat
word be that you have scetched the
hesd of this lumber company snake.
That's ali for today. Goodby."
Returning to his ONCE In Temple
court. Blount found that the morn
ing mail had been busy with him also.
There were three Invitations from
widely separated cities In the state, all
based upon the newspaper reports of
his Ophir speech, and the afternoon
mail brought three more.
1t was evident that the campaign of
education had struck a popular chord.
and the young political manager saw
what a miraculous opportunity was
opening for the railroad IL only the
powers that Gantry had refused to
name could be broad enough and high
minded enough to seize Il
After that for three weeks Blount
scarcely saw bis Office In the capital.
Ono appointment followed another ia
rapid succession. and everywhere there
was a repetition Of the welcome ex-
tended by the Ophir miners cordial
welcome, generous applause and kind
" hospitality at every turn.
It was not until he was deep into the
fourth week Of the huryings to and
fx~ thnt ha hnra~ ~ oAnoJk . snonirfn~
which grew Ike a jugsler's rose when
he had once given 1t place. These In
vitations, which were now coming
from ali parts of the state-could 1t be
possible that they were all spontane-
ous7 And II they were not
If they were SO many subtle moves
In tho great game he could see nc pos
sible end to be subserved by them save
~onc--they were efectuaily keeping
him away from the capital. which was
th- a-oieus and center Of the cam
paign activities.
Was there something going ON at
headquarters that 'the powers" did
thing he was fairly well assured
Gantry was lodging him, was APP
parently keeping an accurate record
Of his movements, for whenever the
hurryfngs to and fro permitted a n.y.
ing visit to the capital Gantry was al
ways out Of town.
With the awakening suspicion came
4 rapid putting together Of two and
two. Wherever he went there was al
ways the same pressing hospitality.
with many urgings to delay his going.
at the same time 1t became evident In
many little ways that he was in reali-
ty merely Swimming over the surface
In his campaign work.
That a hot political light was going
on all around him he could not doubt.
The ne wspapers were full of it, and In
many sections of the state the Aght
had become acrimonious and bitter.
But, although he was supposed to be
In the fight, 1t began to be apparent
that he was little more than an on
locker when 1t came to the really vital
struggle Of the moment
II was as II everything had been
carefully p~resrranecd. Ike n sort OF
triumphal procession. None the less
the invisible barrier. the barrier which
was shutting hin out from the Inner
workings ct the campaign, Was there,
and he could neither surrnount It nor
pnSk It aside.
Netwithstx ndtns the hard week. and
the hard travelling he was doing he
did not let the missionary effort out
weigh the sturdiex purpose. which was
to hold his principals rixidiy up to the
| mirror Of q vigilant watchfulnexs-
Arguing that the opposition newspe-
PERI would be quick to seize upon any
charge of corruption involving the rail
road company, he read them faithful.
". AZ yet there had been nothing
more than spitefui innuendoes and a
raking owe of past misdeeds. though
many of the editors were charging q
secret alliance between his father and
Ecyickar and warning their readers
to look out for startling developments
Later on.
Not content with mere watchfulness.
however. Biount got his finger upon
the pulse OF occasions whenever he
could. On his brief stopovers In the
capital he kept his eyes and ears open
for the earliest hint of any charge of
~chlcanery, and, though be was IN
able to get hold of Gantry personally,
he kept up a steady 1re Of letters and
f~s'eerams. I'll pointing to the same
end-absolute and utter good faith
and the upholding of his hands In the
public plea for a square deal.
To these the traffic manager replied
g~uardediy. but optimistically. The
management was delighted with this
good work done and doing by the new
division counsel; public opinion was
slowly but surely changing: 1t would
be a landslide election, and Blount
could take credit for his due.
In all this Blount did not fail TO re
mark that there was EVE anything
said about the Hatha way bargain. and
the omission made him the more
wstchfui. A little investigation III
esrthed other and similar bargains
made In the past.
For example. there was q practical
and yery effective irrigation trust. ar
alliance. Offensive and defensive oil
the big irrigation companies. Conf-ot
ling the water under proprietary
rights, as most Of them did, these
companies could influence many votes
among the beneficiary farmers. Land
deals IN the past with the rtflrend
company had been the basis for cor.
rupton here. and. with the electric