Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-03
COPYRIGHT, 1910 , BY
CHAPTER III.
THE ROAD TO POWER


Y TIE ROAD TO POWER.
HE lure OF politics mad canGht
Bob. From the night Of his
hight with Haggtn be begar
to take the game seriously
devoting muca time and work to til,
perfection Of his organization. A few
months later the new deld suddenl!
opened wider before bin. An era o.
reform" WAS impending.
Now. the Sieei City was ruled BY
what was popularity and appropriately
| denominated the bog combine" .
group of gentlemen beaded aud herd
i ed by Steele ans, Harmon. voluntarily
associated to relieve the public of the
burden Of goyernment.
While Steele. . born political strate
| gist ana man OF magnetic personals
| ~. the heart and brains of the organ
izati0n. lived the machine found
smooth sailing. But the combine
fell upon hard times Steele died. and
the leadership devoived upon Harmon.
sonai magnetism that had made
Steeie's critics love the man while
they hated his misdeeds: also be lack
ed the sagacity ana caution OF the
dead leader. So the machine was al
/ lowed to fall into excuses that Steeie
| never would have permitted. The
! Tenderloin run openly ana tiagrantly.
A big boodl:ng escapade In the halls
/, Of the city fathers came to light. Ger.
/ tain public contracts were let with
such incautiouy 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 ne.
cessity. He accepted his dismissal
with apparent equanimity aud institute
ed q campaign to destroy his enemy
A sturdy little band of reformers that
had fought long but fruitlessiy to over.
throw Steeie's defenses suddenly and
mysterousiy took new lease on life.
MacPherson bought morning and
an evening newspaper. Sensational ex.
ppsures followed startling revelations
With great effect The city began to
sur uneasiiy. One day Macpherson
called q few men into nis office.
''Gentiemen." said he. ''iet us reform
the CITY,"
And thereupon thu Citizens party"
was formed.
So 1t happened that one evening Bob
received a call from Robbins. 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 % in our
light against Harmon and
"Ail right" Bob interrupted care
lessly. "TeiI MACPHERSON III talk to
him any time he says
"But ! have authority
II don't talk to middlemen." Bob
said CURLY Good night"
"All right" Robbins laughed
"You're the doctor"
The next evening Bob was by up
pointment shown into MacPherson's
downtown office. Besides the prospec-
tive boss. there were Ia the Office Rob-
bins and Graham. the independents
candidate for mayor. Mr.. Graham was
nlf
complexion. white mutton chop whisk-
srs and shapeiy. BEAUTIFULLY manicured
hands. He thought he was Q reformer
and gentleman OF the Old school,
"How are you. McAdooI" MacPher-
son greeted the newcomer with 4 cor
diaiity cleverIy toned down to at the
man he saluted. .'Shuke hands with
Mr.. Graham. You have met Robbins.
believe. Mr.. Graham. this 10 the
young lender Of the Fourth whom
we're hoping to have With us."
Bob maiici0usiy caught Graham's
iadyliks hand in bis own iron grasp
and squeezed It until the little mans
eyehalls rolled In agony.
"YOu have q strong grip. Mr.. Nc
AdOo. an sbnormully Strvng grip. u
mag say %. sir. But' -hs resaiIed the
e6usiveiy patrOnising manner that be
thought % highly pOIitic-''l AN glad
to meet you. my dear cir. very glad
indeed am glad to meet Ill th.ass
who are helping me 10 my 1Rht
may say Il has been With no insonsid-
erable Inconvenience that I have con-
- ehl 0SaPr