River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-10-30
The Daughter of David Kerr
By HARRY KING TOOTLE
Ray Walters
Illustrations by Ray Walters
Copyright By A. c. McClurg & Co.. IorL
T O O T L E

| it was of Mr.. David Kerr. Jim Nc
Minitry liked to pose before the pub
lie and to make f1amboyant speeches.
Kerr preferred to sit i9 his dingy real
estate Office and pull the strings that
made the puppets dance. To him
speech making and posing were like
! the tinsel on a drum majors uniform.
| He cared only for power, it was i'm
material to him how gaudy glory was
apportioned
! 1T looks like he's got you in bad,
/ Dave" said the senator. Il don't see
/ how l can help you this trip"
Kerr slowly set down his glass of
water and Strengthened up in his
chair, for he knew that the deal was
now under way. He had played fair
with Jim McMinitry and told him just
the exact situation.
Lots O. things can happen Jim.
I've decided to get his paper, but |
! need votes It's too close to election
You amt going to let him play you
for a sucker We've got to clean him.
or he'll turn on you just as ne has
on me-
Il guess l ought to wait till he
does was the cautious response
I've got enough troubles without go
ing out and lassoing young grizzly
bear"
He amt got no party" urged K err,
and you know how 1t happens in
them towns where such paper gifts
a start. He's got these fools in Bel
mont believing he's George Washing
ton come to life again"
I'm sorry for you, Dave, but hon
estly | don't see where / can help
OUT any. 1t would give me too black
an eye, because the boys here have
set their hearts on winning this time"
Kerr saw that McMinitry was fore
ing his hand, and be decided 10 ap-
proach the situation from another
side
"'rhe next legislature II elect your
SUCCESSOR" he suggested
I'm going to be my own success
sor," asserted the senator
It's going to be d hot fight" con
tinued Kerr unmindful of McMini-
try's remark. THE state will swing
back tc our party, but nobody knows
how the legislature II be on Joint bal !
lot"
It's going to be for me if can
have anything to say about it
We'll, you don't seem to be going
about it very actively" retorted Kerr
with the nearest approach to sarcasm
he permitted himself during the inter !
;, IL
trolled by your party, you've got |
fight on your hands. There's Con |
gresham Jenkinson and old man Ora /
ham down in Washington County. /
He's almost as strong IS you are, and .
his part of the state amt had no rec
ogr&tion for a long time
McMinitry did not answer ar once .
He got up from the table and walked /
to the window When at last he +
turned to Kerr the question had beer
gone over thoroughly in his mind
We'll, Dave" he asked with smile,
whats the answer"
You've got to knife your ricket !
SOS these fool rcformers can't carry
Belmont"
"Whatd I get out of it, drawled
out the senator.
Seven votes in the house and two
in the senate"
Again the apostle of practical poll
tics sat back and took stock of the
situation Belmont was nothing to
him. 1t mattered nothing at al to
him how the town went as far as city |
affairs were concerned. Nine votes |
were not to be despised. He was eau
tious, however, and wanted partfcn-
lars.
How you going to deliver?" he
asked
We've got that many to run this
fall and I'll let the opposition have il |
their own way. Name your men now
if you want to-"
That many's bound to make the |
Legislature ours on joint ballot"
Kerr knew this, but he was quite |
willing to change the political com
plexion of the legislature Of a great |
state, perhaps hamper the governor |
in wise and necessary legislation and |
keep the state from having a senator |
of its own choice, all to hold Belmont |
for his own. McMinitry was no less /