The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1913-11-28

night as he gave a final touch to his
white cravat and surveyed his fine
young form arrayed in evening
clothes for the reform banquet at the
Palmer house. His speech was The
| Tendencies Of Modern Politics. The
newspapers said 1t was a very brilliant
speech. breathing lofty political serti-
ments that were bound to make John
w. Underwood votes. Also, the Re-
form club Endorsed his candidature.
AS Underwood leaned against the
greasy wall of the little hall on low
er Clark street this morning, the
whole campaign flashed before him,
just as the events of a lifetime are
said In books to fash before the mind
OF a drowning man. He recalled ev-
cry vivid detail of the call Baldwin
had made upon him, how he entered
his private Office without troubling
the pale, pimpled office boy to an
nounce him, how he lifted from his
carefully parted hair his straw hat
with its youthful band of blue, and
laughed out, John. my boy, how are
you? Hot, isn't it?" He could see
Baldwin as he sat in the solid oak
chair that stood intimately beside his
roll-top desk, tanning his rudy face
with the hat, which had impressed a
broad red band on his forehead. I'm
derwood had been glad enough to
close Cooley on Taxation" and re-
volve his chair to face Baldwin, Just
as II he had been a client, for Bald
win was the most important politician
who had ever called upon him profes-
sionally.
He knew Baldwin had come with
some practical proposition, and when
the lobbyist suggested that he was too
respectable, and would run better in
some residence district, that the BOYS
looked upon him as a reformer. and
that the silk stockings were not prac-
ucai enough to help him, Underwood
mad felt that at last it was coming
1t was simple enough. Baldwin had
been talking that very morning about
Underwood's candidature to Mr.. Weed
or the Metropolitan Motor System.
and to Mr.. Peabody, president of the
Gas company, and they had been very
much interested. They had an anxiety
to see good men nominated that year
for they had large business interests
that were more or less affected by
legislation, and had feared they would
have to settle on Conway Conway
mad experience In legislative matters.
and had been friendly enough In the
city council, yet they felt they could
hardly trust him-he was such a
CRATER, and In such things, Baldwin
olandly assured Underwood, they had
to depend upon mans honor alone, |
and so they had sent Baldwin to sug-
gest that Underwood meet them at |
luncheon, and talk matters over. Bald |
win, with his love of ease and luxury. |
had preferred dinner over at the |
Cardinals in the evening, but Mr.. Pea
body had something on hand with the
trustees Of his church and couldn't |
meet them then. Baldwin had taken
tut his watch at this point, with the
'ir OF a man who suddenly remembers
ome important engagement-the de-
ails all came back with a fidelity that
vas painful-and stood awaiting I'm
lerwood's reply, with the open watch
licking impatiently in his palm.
or course, Underwood had under
tood-and he wished ardently to be
ominated and elected. He could see
1mself swinging idly In big chair
ehlnd a walnut desk in the senate
hamber, just as an actor sees him
elf, with an artists ecstatic, half
frightened gasp. in some new part he
about to study. The position would
I've him much Importance. he would
e riding back and forth between Chi
ago and Springfield on pass, It
'ould be SO pleasant to be addressed
senator, to be consulted, to head
elegations In state conventions and
asst the solid vote for any one he
leased, besides. 1t would be a good
raining for Washington, he could
ractice in oratory and parliamentary
wv Just as he practiced on friendless
aupers over in the criminal court
hen his father influenced some
idge to appoint him to defend an
ldigent prisoner. 1t meant only one
tile word. he could be wary of prom
es. His heart had expanded. he had ,
lrned half around in his chair to face
when suddenly the reformer ,
thin him rose to object pointed to
Is ideals, rehearsed the speech on ,
The Tendencies of Modern Politics."
'called all the good words the indie ,
endent papers had spoken of him,
-ged the beauty of great sacrifices )
r principle. At the idea of self-sac- ,
flee, Underwood had felt a melting
'lf-pity, he admired himself in this
wv role of a self-sacrificing reform Il,
:. And so he flung the cigarette out !
the window. watched it whirl down =
the melting tar of the roofs below :
Id said firmly:
Il have an engagement this morn r
g, Mr.. Baldwin. I'm sorry, but | o
less | can't come"
Once more Underwood saw the G
easantness leave Baldwin's face, C
w him fieck "a flake of ash from the a
bite waistcoat he wore with his sum- !,
err suit OF blue, and swapping the lid n