The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-10-26
HIS RISE
 TO POWER
By He 1ry Russell Miller:
 Aufbor oF v "TEle Man Higher Up"
Copyngh t. 1911. by the BObbs-MerriIl
 Company
CContinued.l

CContinued.1
 '-No chance of that, Ri Hampden doesn't think much of me- He did not tell Cranshawe why he had lost the capitalists favor.
 The net result of his QuIxotism, he thought with some bitterness, was to win Hampden's hostility and to put himself out of the way of protecting ais farmer friends.
 And late in October occurred his par y's rally.
 It was necessary to maRshal the badly shaken party hosts. For into Benton county had marched a young man who. in single opposition speech. broke through the defenses so pains fAkingly reared by Jeremy Applegate and his fellow soldiers. None other than Jerry Brent A big, rawboned, honely fellow, uncouth in manner and sometimes in grammar. but with crude. passionate eloquence that al- ~zys carried his audience with him. He had been a coal miner, a labor organizer, and had, after a struggle 70 common that description stales. been admitted to the practice of law. In all the thirty-fve years of his life the charge of material dishonesty had never been raised against him; he was Etiil poor. And he was counted a ris- Ing man in the opposition party, not with the connivance of his party bcsses, however. They considered him radical, unsafe -and-carainaI crime fn an honest and unmanageab1e young nan-ambitious- Respectab bic people sneered at his antics" It was said that his eyes were fixed on the next termination for governor. Even with this suspicion ranking in their minds the bosses dared not-so popular was he among labor men-refuse him op- portunity to speak during the cam- palgn-s
 John.ezan. tnconspfcuous |. listener. heard Brentis Benton county speech. It troubled him It seemed to him unanswerable. Brent, it was true, dealt in terms of suspicion, not of facts, but it was a suspicion that found q swift echo in the hearts of his audience. He frankly said as much.
 We don't govern this state.'' said Brent "One man. Murchell. picks out our officers and tells lem what to do while in office. You people don't gov ern Benton county. One man, Jim Sbeehan, Murche1Ps tool, chooses your Commissioners. your treasurers, your sheriffs. your district attorneys" John wfnced "And it's wrong, my GodI It's wrongr' the orator cried passionately. s'It would be wrong. even If fhese men were honest And I blame you 7 for it You haven't the right to shove your responsibility on other mems shoulders. and they haven't the right to take the power"
 The mans hot. rough eloquence found Iodgment where least expected in Johns heart, already sensitiZed by his own discoveries and questionings. Jerry Brent was right
 The soldest inhabjtant could not re- member when the old party had been so vigorously attacked To stem the tide of revolt-John felt it strongly in his canvass-an old time rally was to he held in the square. Sheehan i'm structed John as to the part which the latter was to play.
 You're to speak Hit Ter up hard. Tell 'em all about us bein' the friend of the farmer. It's your chance. Parrott and Sherrod'll be there. Parrott's no slouch of a speaker. but you can beat him. Farmers like a good speech"
 -.I don't know that I care to make the speech
 Don't you want to be elected?'' Sbeehan demanded.
 .sT guess SO Yes with sudden vigor and a short laugh that Sheehan did not understand .T do"
 Well. then. play up your 1nde- pendence- Tell 'em there's no strings tied to you.''
 .T can tell them that-witb truth.''
 Sheehan looked long and hard at him. Then he chuck1ed. "Of course. And don't forget the state ticket when you're talkin'-"
 When he was alone John
 wrfthed in his self contempt anu red of the boss.
 He prepared fine speech. and then cau7c the night Of the ralIy-the pomr and panoply of war.
 We stand with John under the big elm at the northwest corner of the square. where Main and North streets meet Before us is the rough board speakers stand. hastily knocked to Eefher and Hberally bedecked with flags and Autographs of Lincoln and of Beck. the candidate for treasurer. In front are many rows, of pine benches. Over all falls the white splendor of the full October moon, to be dimmed when the four kerosene torches guarding the speakers stand are set fiaring and Bmoking, and by many other lights.
 Debouching into Main street from ,ther roads comes a steady stream of steeds, gaunt and strong and slow moving as the human freight they 1raw, shying awkwardIy at the lights Hashed in their eyes by reckless, mis- chievous boys. The steeds are safely hitched in various churchyards, and the drivers gather in the square in shifting, serious groups. Gradually the square fills. hoarse hum of voices rises The air becomes charged with an unnatural excitement-the sense o4 an eceasien-bred of the strange lights and bustle and the presence Of many men. John between handshakes has