The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-03-21
CHAPTER I'll.
THE ROAD TO POWER.

THE lure of politics had caught
Bob From the night of his
fight with Haggin he began
to take the game seriously.
devoting much time and work to the
perfection of his organization. few
months later the new held suddenly
opened wider before him. An era of
reform" was impending.
Now, the Steel City was ruled by
what was popularity and appropriately
denominatet the hog combine" a
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 n man of magnetic personali
ty. the heart and brains of the organ
izauon. 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
sOhal magnetism that had made
Steele's critics love the man while
ed the sagacity and caution of the
dead leader. So the machine was al
lowed to fall into excesses that Steele
never would have permitted. The
Tenderloin' ran openly and tiagrantly.
big boodling escapade in the halls
of the city fathers came to light. Ger
tain public contracts were let with
such incautious unfnirness that muir
tnurs OF dis, intent began to be heard
All this mig..t 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 hatchet faced
saturnine votary OF Mammon; also
there was enough OF the Indian in him
10 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 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 1t happened that one evening Bob
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 III
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
lessly TEL MACPHERSON I'll talk to
him any time he says"
But | have authority
81 don't talk TO middlemen." Bob
said curtly. Good night"
"All right" Robbins laughed
you're the doctor"
The next evening Bob was by ap-
pointment shown into MacPherson's
downtown o"ce, Besides the prospec-
tive boss, th re 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 a reformer
and gentleman of the old school.
How are you. McAdooT MacPher-
son greeted the newcomer with a cor.
diality cleverly toned down to ft the
man he saluted. Shake hands with
Mr. Graham. You have met Robbins.
l believe. Mr.. Graham, this is the
young leader of the Fourth whom
we're hoping 70 have with u.s."
Bob maliciously caught Graham's
ladylike hand In his own iron grasp
and squeezed II until the little mans
eyeballs rolled In agony.
"You have strong grip, MIR. Nc
Adoo. an abnormally strong grip. II
may say 80. sir. But"-he recalled the
effusively patronizing manner that be