Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-29
HIS RISE
TO
POWER
By Heafy Russell Miller;
AstApe ~
THE Man Higher W: !.
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cs,yhsls Oh. y ~ Bssbs-aas"a
CHAPTER XIII.
The eoe0eunnor.

Y sea in one. preparing with
logged energy to begin 2 new campaign
against the state machine.
The campaign that followed was but
a weary rspstitdop Of other years. with.
out the stimulus OF hope. The spazm
Of enthusiasm past. the people had
sunk back into habitual lack Of inter.
est. The only notable political feature
Of that year was the quiet contest
within the organization between the
old boss and the new, struggle In
which Murcheil was forced to Yield.
When man sees the best years Of
his life slipping away with no accom-
plishment, when he has suffered not
only denunciation and misrepresenta-
ton, which are not easy to bear, but
also treachery and ridicule. which are
harder, and Misunderstanding and In
difference from the people he Is trying
to serve, which are hardest Of all, he
cannot be greatly blamed for wanting
sometimes to "chuck the game" as
Haig put Il to John one evening in
early winter. The bantering friend
ship between them. grown deeper as
the years passed, had been worth more
to John than he quite realized.
why don't you chuck the game?
You're further back than You were four
years ago. The novelty's worn OF; the
dear pee-pul's tired Of hearing you. and
they believe that somehow you're worse
than an anarchist. And you're even
going to be kicked out Of ONCE here
next spring. Do you know that?
You're breaking down your health.
You're doing the work Of three men
and a small boy-for nothing. This
county is growing. There's going to be
plenty Of Law business. And you could
be the biggest lawyer around here.
You are that now in point Of ability,
though the Lord knows where you ind
time to study your cases. Why don't
you chuck it, Serving the people is the
most worthless. thaukless Job in the
world"
You besotted cynicr' John laughed.
what II We don't get any farther for
ward7 We can't let 'em have the state
by default, can wei And 1t isn't alto
gether thankless. Once in while I
run into men like Granshawe or Girls
well or Sykes. When see how they
depend on me. II have to stick It out.
It isn't necessarily worthless. either.
I've gene.slly found that II you hold
on to the breaking point and then hold
on little longer, things get easier all
Of a sudden"
Sunday school aphorisms. What's
to be the next slaughter Of the inno-
centsT'
1--WE elect governor next year"
"And where'll you find caudidate?"
WELL" said John cheerfully. II
could run myself. you know"
"And offer 'em more bread pills.
chr Haig was trying to decide
whether he was Socialist or not.
hence was critical Of all remedies and
theories.
Il suppose you are thinking Of your
brotherhood as substitute"
"Not my brotherhood" Haig snort
ed .'I wouldn't have the dolts you
call the people as ny brothers. They're
interesting to me only as q study In
asininity. What can you expect Of a
people whose very ideal IL concentrat-
ed seldshnessT
"But the people don't understand
that's all"
mot understand! You can say that!
Do you suppose there's an intelligent
man in the state who doesn't know that
You have as much brains and capacity
for government, and far more charac-
ter. than either Murchell or Sherrod or
any Of their tribe? Yet they turn you
down for them every time. Why? Be-
cause the NsyoAslls ssd tho GAsvrods rep-
resent tho people. You don't. Ninety
nine out Of hundred men. all over
the nation. have . pretty clear notion
Of what's goinG. on IN politics and gov
eminent, and they have q rudimentary
social instinct that tells them it Is
wrong. Sometimes that incipient sense
gets them Interested in a reform. but
the interest lasts only for about one
campaign: Just 40 you have found 1t.
we don't really care. We don't want
things changed"
But
"HSre, I have the Aoor. Things are
rottea-yes! There's stink in every
pIane Of our national life. You think
you have . purpose in life to clean
mn this state Well. then play the
same. - you ind 1t, make Of yourself a
despot. And when you have your
rover, use 1t to win compromises from
the other strong ones. and to give the
people Just as much as they are able
TO use and enjoy. Among a selfish
people only Z supreme. practical egoist
can lad.
Haig sat back. relghting his pipe
..Goshr' he grinned Reminds me OF
ny college debating society. But l
mean Il" he added earnestly.
John smiled family. He leaned for
ward and caught up the poker. absent
- iabbing the Goals in the stove. He
vas thinking Of another time when.
ont af Her ignorance. young woman
had stumbled, tar lees cleverly. upon
the ssnlo thaesy. He said:
~One'mu build from the bottom up
ward The nation can be saved from
70 sins neither BY strong individuals
~ 81 mechanical systems. Only by
tbe aroused motal stnse Of the people.
! ~ m. aess1tsnes = naaaAa'aa
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