Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-12-22

A minute later came a knock at his
door. Come" he said.
The senator entered. Afternoon,
John"
What can l do for you?''
''Humph. Don't seem very glad to see
me. You might ask me to sit down
John pointed to chair. why hest
tate? It's your courthouse, isn't it?'
Understood you'd taken a mortgage
on it yourself lately Murchell sat
down, looking genially at John.
$50 you think I'm bad man and a
disgrace to the state?' the senator in
quired at last.
well. just about that" John said
quickly.
Told Miss Roberta I'm bad man,
didn't you?"
II could have said that You are q
shameful force in politics; that you
have exploited a great party and the
ignorance of the people, that you have
built up machine for the sole pur-
pose of footing the state; that you have
got and held power by compelling pub
lie servants to use the influence OF
their office to perpetunie your machine
and by buying the votes OF the cor
ruptible. There's probably lot more.
il / only knew 1t. I've never heard
that you used your power for any good
thing. without profession or business
YOU are d rich man. How"
"Humph,n grunted Murchell, who
had listened without display Of feeling.
Doesn't mean much. You'd have hard
work proving any Of it"
They relapsed into silence. John
looked out of the window, awaiting in
cold silence the senator's next words.
Murcheil preserved his usual impas
sivc front. 1t was not the first time
he had encountered the intolerance of
youth. But never before. save during
the Sheehan trial. had the intolerance
pierced the crust Of the man.
He broke the silence. What do you
want to do
"a good many things you wouldn't
understandings principally, ! suppose, to
smash you and your organization.
That probably sounds funny to you
Murchell did not laugh. He merely
felt pity for an impractical young
dreamer.
You can't smash the organization"
1T must be smashed, because it ex-
lists 70 deprive the people OF the right
of self government"
a pretty phrase. It's common sense
politics. The people don't want to gov
prn themselves they can't. They need
some one TO take the burden from thsin.
How are you going TO smash usE'
at may be simpler than you think,
Senator Murchel. When the people
understand what you are they'll smash
you
The other smiled pityingly. you
think because you've sent a few poor
devils 10 jail you're man of destiny,
don't yous You think I'm merely a
wicked old fellow who's got power
and Is using it for his own selfish ends
If ] We're Just that you could smash
me But I'm more than that | an,
All institutional part Of necessary
institution, one that society, that prop
crty, that business, can't get along
without Yon can smash William
Murehell-that is. put some one in his
place. But you can't smash the insti
tuition. And you can't judge system
by its incidental errors"
| John smiled, not very happily, I've
heard that before The weakness oil
your argument is that the errors seen
10 be essential Government isn't, Of
shouldn't be. merely a matter Of force
nor exist only as The servant Of prop
erty, even if al you say is true. And
I've got 10 so on
and where.ll yon come OUT
Il? You viii Try to break me. Yor
may succeed. But you will obsery,