Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1911-12-28

| the real McAdoo."
And what did you disco7er?"
4 She shook her head. Il can't tell
yet" she answered grayely, then she
added abruptly, "Mr. McAdoo, will
you tell me what you think of my
husband honestly?"
Bob looked her straight in the eyes.
/ II used to think him merely a shall
low demagogue. That was before
knew him. Now / believe him to be
a sincere but very foolish man. He
has the knack Of getting hold Of the
4 popular heart. He could make almost
anything of himself ii it weren't for
his reform notions. He's ahead of his
time
"There must always be pioneer.
''And the pioneer is generally sacri-
feed to his cause" Bob said senten-
/ tiously. HE does the work and sees
another reap the glory"
Yet MurcheIl, the shrewdest politi-
clan we have ever had. has Joined
forces with my husband"
"That merely proves my statement
Murchell has been considered inyinci-
BILE. Lately, since his open alliance
with your husband, his organization
has been falling to pieces. He is Ike
ly to lose his hold on the railroad.
And he can't make up in popular sup
port what he loses among us politi
Clans"
Mrs. Dunmeade raised protesting
hand. Please don't say us poiti-
Clans Because-one must speak
4 right out to you, mustn't one?-l
brought you in here to ask you to join
forces with us"
I'm my city they would call that
joke Mrs. Dunmeade."
ut isn't joke to you. is it?'
"a Steel City newspaper once re-
marked editorially," he answered grim
", ''that could be explained only on
the hypothesis that am totally lack
ing in moral sensibility."
"You are willing that the world
should hold that opinionw
Really, Mrs. Dunmeade, I never
bother about what the world thinks"
She studied him grayely. IF it be
true that you frankly, deliberately
choose the career Of corruption-the
/ editorial was wrong; you are not a
moral idiot-what monster, what an
abnormality, you are!1 l can't believe
that of any man. You haven't an
swered my proposal that you join with
u.s."
IF that is all you need to set you
right" he said quietly, no."
But you said my husband is sin
cere"
ssHe is. or. rather. he thinks he is
Bob answered. all his brutal cynicism
/ finding expression. He really desires
reform. but not for the reforms sake.
He'll never be content unless it is
worked out through him."
"Ah," she cried how you misjudge
him! l tell you John Dunmeade
/ would gladly smash the god of self to
i atoms for the sake of his great pur-
pose. He has already made the bit
terest sacrifice possible for man like
him. He has gone along with the old
order, compromising and dealing, ac-
cepting little infnitesimal = better
| ments, to make a beginning, to pave
the way for the sweeping reforms ne
/ thinks necessary. You wonder why
/ talk to you, a total stranger. in this
fashion. 1t is because have marked
you out as one who can be tire
mendous help to us-to him. lit is
part of my atonement. Even when he
was a boy in college he was an en-
thusiast, worshiping high ideals. And
he fought hard to make politics clean.
Then he loved me. | was ambitious
for him to rise. In small, careless
way | shared your philosophy then.
and tempted him with the sophistry
of expediency. Because Of me he
made his first compromise. l made
John Dunmeade a trickster. | was
wrong, and he was right. All / can
do to make up for 1t is to win posi-
ton where he can force some of his
dear reforms. I've done little. |
made Murchell his friend. Murchell
has made him governor. You could
help us so much" she added. looking
at him wistfully
Bob smoked slowly and thoughtfully
for few minutes. Then he threw his
cigar into the fire and rose.
I'm keeping you too long" be said
Mrs. Dunmeade rose too.
! You're not TO be moved. see, by a
! personal appeal" she said. Il have
very definite purpose in telling you OF
ny husband and myself. | want you
to know US as we really are because
the time is coming when you will be
forced to join with u.s.
'sForced?'
| "Yes. forced. You said that man Is
fool to be another's puppet. Yet you
know that you have been the servant
Of the financial ring controlling this
state. Unless am sadly mistaken in
you. you will soon find it impossible to
play both your game and theirs Your
-. L. l. .n rr<>lrr- c,aI