The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-05-02
3 OBJ BIS ne RRILL CO.

right out to you, mustn't onet-l
brought you in here to ask you to join
forces with u.s.
"In my city they would call that a
joke, Mrs. Dunmeade."
at isn't joke to you, is itT'
"a Steel City newspaper once re-
marked editorially," be answered grim
ly. that could he explained only on
the hypothesis that | am totally lack
ing i'm moral sensibilty.'
"You are willing that the world
should hold that opinionT
Really, Mrs. Dunmeade. | never
bother about what the world thinks
She studied him gravely. IF 1t be
true that you frankly, deliberately
choose the career of corruption-the
/ editorial was wrong; you are not a
moral idiot--what a monster, what an
abnormality, you are! can't believe
that OF any man. You haven't an
swered my proposal that you join with
us"
IF that Is all you need to set you
right" he said quietly, no"
But you said my husband is sin.
cere"
"He 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 1t Is
worked out through him."
"Ah." she cried, how you misjudge
him! tell you John Dunmeade
would gladly smash the god of self to
atoms for the sake Of his great pur.
pose. He has already made the bit
terest sacrifice possible for a man like
him. He has gone along with the old
order, compromising and dealing, ac-
cepting little - inhnitesimal - better
ments, to make a beginning, to pave
the way for the sweeping reforms he
thinks necessary. You wonder why
talk to you, total stranger, In this
fashion. II is because have marked
you out as one who can be n tre-
mendous help to us-to him. lit Is
part of my atonenent, 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 a 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 a posi-
tion 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," he said.
Mrs. Dunmeade rose too.
you're not to be moved. see, by q
personal appeal" she said. 81 have a
very definite purpose in telling you OF
my 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."
"Forced2"
"Yes. forced You said that a man is
a 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 1t impossible ia
play both your game and theirs. Your
wants are too big. The very self
which you worship. will forbid you tC
be the tool of other men. Then be
cause you will not be the tool of the
interests you must join u.s."
In that session of the legislature
there was but one notable feature, O
corrupt practices bill regulating tho
collection and disbursement Of cam
paign funds This measure had long
been one OF Dunmeade's pet schemes
A few independent newspapers came
out boldly for the bill. The state al
large received 1t alphabetically. TheT
Murchel, who had consented to the
bill reluctantly, put forth his hand. ant
the measure was defeated. The maj
In the governors mansion added anoth
er to his disappointments.
At the close of the debate on this bill
Paul Remington made his first impor
tant speech in the legislature. really
fine effort. Even Bob broke over bis
custom and complimented Paul.
1T was a good speech" he said.
'But it did no good" Remington an
swered. '"The bill was lost"
"of course. Murchell knows his busi-
ness. Did you notice any wild out
burst of popular approval? No. The
people are asleep. They don't know
and don't want TO know how cam
paigns are conducted. Until the peo-
pie are with them strongly Murchell
and Dunmeade can't AFFORD an act like
this"
Ito be continued