The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-02-15


day after the latter had returned from
. dinner with notorious lobbyist.
1.-THE railroad and the steel people ever
since the war have been looting this
state through us politicians. So far
the people have stood for it. but there's
bound to be change. The people
swing from one extreme to the other.
There are forces at work in the state
now" He had Dunmeade and Muir
chell in mind. 'There'll be an earth
quake hereabouts some day soon aud
when it's over there'll be good many
political corpses scattered around. I
don't suppose you're anxious to accom-
plish a premature demise. And. be-
| sides, in tight place the kicker can
always get more than the fellow who
goes along"
Remington laughed. Then you're
discarding the meat Ak for the rapier.
chr" ". .@u30 "a 0 .a
As for himself, Bob had no regrets for
his past disreputable practices, deem
ing them to have been necessary to
his financial equipment. Now. how
ever. he decided that his equipment
was sufficient to his needs. and the old
contracting firm was dissolved. Also
the Steel City was treated to the
strange spectacle Of the tough" coun-
cilmen consistently voting against graft
measures. Bob was not turning re-
former by any means. On the contra
~, his plans for the future involved
the use Of some very questionable
means. but he was unburdening him
self Of every unnecessary weight that
might prove hindrance in the battle
he foresaw And he was learning to
make concessions.
The battle that Bob had foreseen
came sooner than he expected. In
fact. before he was entirely ready.
In the second year Of Paul's legisla-
tive career and the last Of Duumeade's
first term opposition suddenly devel-
oped to the latter's denomination. An
obscure Judge from one Of the western
counties announced himself as can
didate for the gubernatorial nomina
ton upon platform the principal
plank of which was. Down with the
Murciell ring" At first the announce
ment was treated us Il jest-by all save
Murchell. who knew he judge to have
been put on the bench through rail
road influence. But as by magic the
judges candidacy grew into formid
able strength.
Six weeks before the convention Dun
meade was. so it seemed to the public,
hopelessly beaten. Only few know
ing ones, among them Bob McAdoO,
refused to believe that Murchers re.
sources We're exhausted.
/ Then the great boss executed
stroke Of characteristic daring. A
month before the convention, like "A
bolt out of clear sky. came the cover.
nor's call for a special session of the
legislature to consider the passage OF
laws regulating freight rates and the
restriction of rebating and providing
for committee to investigate the
methods of the railroads. The know
ing ones chuckled. Murchell waited.
The legislature convened. surrounded
by a swarm of railroad lobbyists. Muir
chell was present in person. At the
end of week the bills had been pass
ed by the senate. Two days more, and
they were favorably reported by the
railways committee of the lower house
and passed the first reading Then the
railroad attorney called upon Murchell
The latter refused him an interview
Next Murchell received a Geographic
Invitation from a gentleman in Adel.
phia to run over to that city to discuss
the gubernat0rial situation. The invi.
tation was CURLY declined. BY the
next train came the gentleman from
Adelphia to see Murchell in person. He
went into the interview in a towering
rage He came from it outwardly as
meek as the proverbial lamb-and with
hatred ranking in his heart.
When the interview. which had TAX
On place in the governors library. was
over Murchel sent for Dunmeade and
told him what had been said. As the
governor listened lines of suffering
came into his fine face.
ut is the only thing, Of course" he
said in discouraged tone. 1.-The trick
worked. But it is shameful-shame-
ful to barter away the peoples rights
for petty Office. Why wouldn't it
be better to pass the bills, push the
Investigation through and accept the
defeat?"
Because. John Dunmeade,' Muir
chell said quietly, II promised your
wife to place you where you can reap
the reward of your sacrifice. and we
haven't reached that point yet. Pa
thence, man. His voice changed to a
gruf tenderness, and he put his hand
on the others shoulder affectionately
ut isn't like you to lose courage. The
light Is just opening. Wait!'
When the convention met at the cap
ital the lower house was still debat-
ing the bills. nor were the final votes
taken until Dunmeade was nominated
Then the bills were quietly amended
80 as to render them wholly ineffec.
tive. Dunmeade was subsequently re-