Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-01-11
CHAPTER XVIII.

Rollins came as an astounding
surprise to the public, for their
i names in connection with the
presidency had been carefully suppress
ed throughout. though Senator Sawyer's
publicity bureau had kept the papers
full of both men in other ways. They
were the new economic conscience.
They were the new commercial philan-
thropy They were the new justice.
They We're the new foe of the oppressor
and friend OF the poor Kelvin. individu
ally, had forced Henry Breed to reduce
the price of bread permanently from
5 to cents loaf. That was the story
that touched every mans fearful con-
Perm for the poor mans pocketbook.
dozen favorite sons were first put
in nomination at the convention. and
then Senator Killan. recounting the
story Of the breaking up of the Stock
Exchange and of the capture of th
railroads. the smashing of the trusts
and the reduction Of tile price of bread.
put up Kelvin's name for considera
ton. Pandemonium broke loose as per
schedule. one of those carefully ar
ranged spontaneous outbursts so dear
the nomination of Kelvin as candi-
date for the high Office of president Of
the United States. the youngest man
ever to achieve that honor. became
but mere counting of long since ar
ranged for ballots. after which the
convention much more calmly and ra
tionally proceeded to nominate Rol
Inns.
One-half Of the public received those
two names with gasps of gratitude
the other half received them with
snarls of scorn. and the campaign was
on. Kelvin. refusing to make mounte
bank Of himself. let his managers fight
1t out for he was busy. Out upon his
vast stretches OF Long Island waste
there now sprang up long succession
of residence blocks. each surrounded
with its cement sidewalk. each con
taining neat little cement houses mold
ed after the Edison idea. and each
house set In generous plot of ground
Water. light. sewerage. parks. schools
all were provided as II by magic. ano
the whole was made easily accessible
by the new and wonderful transporta
ton system that Rollins had inaugural
ed at the same time.
As soon as the work had begun to as
sumo form Its magnitude could not rs
cape the newspapers Their first two
questions were What is this?" an(
"Who Is doing IT," To both of thes.
queries Kelvin's publicity bureau haG
ready answer-light and air ant
clea nliness and life for the working
man at cheaper price than he paiC
for darkness and poisoned atmospher,
and dirt and death.
Kelvin. appealed TO. CURLY pointeo
out that the scheme had been projected
long before his name had been men
TONED for the nomination and that Il
was merely one of Henry Breeds plans
ameliorating the condition of mankind
Nor did he deny that the undertaking
was expected TO pay II legitimate rate
of interest upon the outlay. He was
entirely practical. he stated. and the
inference was that he would make ar
entirely practical president: also q
working president, for he was busy
right up to the time of election.
As II arranged by Providence, q
chance to display his vigorous practi
cality came just few days before
election. One Pellman. remembered
as once forceful man OF Wall street
then as "has-been." had suddenly
blossomed into the limelight as the
real estate sensation OF New York.
Working quietly. he had secured op-
tons upon tenement house districts,
block after block in extent Now ne
announced the formation Of monster
terminal company which should take
care of all the freight and passenger
transportation entering New York and
the erection OF huge structures cover.
ing blocks In extent. Immediately fol-
lowing this notices OF eviction were
served upon every miserable dweller
In the congested tenement districts
that he had purchased. Thousands
upon thousands OF families were rem.
dered homeless. and every newspaper
blazed with the wholesale oppression.
Who then came to the rescueY Why
Kelvin. Kelvin the disburser Of Breeds
billions. Kelvin the annihilatOr of the
Stock Exchange. Kelvin the breaker
of trusts. Kelvin the reducer Of the
price IF bread. Kelvin the poor mans
friend. Kelvin the candidate for pres.
tdent Of the United States! ! he would