The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-09-30
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
THE ROAD TO POWER.
TIME lure Of politics had caught
Bob. From the night of his
fight with Haggin be began
to take the game seriously.
devoting much time and work to the
perfection of his organization. A few
months later the new field suddenly
opened wider before him. An era OF
reform" was impending.
Now, the Steel City was ruled by
what was popularity and appropriately
denominated the hog combine"
group of gentlemen headed and herd
ed by Steele and Harmon, voluntarily
associated to relieve the public of the
burden of government.
While Steele, born political strate-
gist and man of magnetic PERSONAL
ty, the heart and brains of the organ
ization, lived the machine found
smooth sailing. But the combine"
fell upon hard times. Steele died. and
the leadership devolved upon Harmon.
Harmon possessed none Of the per-
sonal magnetism that had made
SteeleAs critics love the man while
they hated his misdeeds: also he lack
ed the sagacity and caution of the
dead leader. So the machine was al
lowed to fall into excuses that Steele
never would have permitted. The
Tenderloin ran openly and fiagrantly.
A big boodlng escapade in the halls
of the city fathers came to light. Ger
tain public contracts were let with
such incautious unfairness that MUIR
murs Of discomfort began to be heard.
All this might have had no important
results Of itself But to cap the climax
Harmon. to satisfy long cherished
dislike. dismissed MACPHERSON from
the directorate of public works.
Macpherson was Ratchet faced
saturnine votary Of Mammon; also
there was enough Of the indian in him
to make revenge for all affronts a ne
cessity. He accepted his dismissal
with apparent equanimity and institut-
ed a campaign to destroy his enemy.
A sturdy little band of reformers that
had fought long but fruitlessly to over
throw Steele's defenses suddenly and
mysterously took a new lease on life.
Macpherson bought morning and
an evening newspaper Sensational ex-
posures followed startling revelations
with great effect The city began to
stir uneasily. One day Macpherson
called few men into his Office.
''Gentlemen." said he, 'let us reform
the CITY,"
And thereupon the Citizens party"
was formed.
So it happened that one evening Bob
received a call from Robbins, a Mac
Pherson henchman who had the repu-
tation OF knowing how to deal with all
sorts Of men.
''McAdoo." Robbins greeted him,
without beating round the bush I'll
tell you what I'm after. come from
Mac. We want you with US In our
fight against Harmon and"-
"All right" Bob interrupted care
1essly. Tell MACPHERSON I'll talk to
him any time be says"
But l have authority
II don't talk to m1ddlemen," Bob
said CURLY. Good night"
All right" Robbins laughed
"You're the DOCTOR
The next evening Bob was by ap-
polntment shown into MacPherson's
downtown Office. Besides the prospec-
tive boss. there were in the Office Rob-
bins and Graham, the Independents
candidate for mayor. Mr.. Graham was
an elderly gentleman with a pretty
complexion. white mutton chop whisk-
ers and shapely, beautifully manicured
hands. He thought he was reformer
and gentleman of the old school.
"How are you. McAdoo?" MacPher.
son greeted the newcomer with 4 cor.
diality cleverly toned down to At the
man be saluted. "Shake hands with
Mr.. Graham. You have met Robbins
believe. Mr.. Graham, this Is the
young leader OF the Fourth whom
we're hoping to have with U.S."
y Bob maliciously caught Graham's
ladylike hand In his own iron GRASP
and squeezed it until the little mans
eyeballs rolled in agony.
"You have strong grip, Mr.. Nc
Adoo, an abnormally strong grip, If
may say so, sir. But"-he recalled thu
effusively patronizing manner that he
thought so highly politic-"1 am glaG
/. to meet you, my dear sir, very glac
indeed. l am glad to meet all those
who are helping me in my fight.
may say it has been with no inconsid
cradle Inconvenience that I have con
scented to lead in this great reform
But have refused to permit persona
considerations to stand in the way Of
manifest duty. am tor political
z purity, sir. In the past the methods
OF the tough wards, applied to gentle
men in politics, may have HI
stopped suddenly, warned by a sharp
III y monitory cough from Robbins.
Bob grinned sardonically. .'Oh, dom
mind me- I'm tough, all right, but
don't mind me-" .s5 /. #. .5;5.s q