El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-31
Great Cases Of Detective Burns---By William J. Burns
IX---A Case of Corruption

r had arrived in the capital of-weu,
lets call the state jefferson, on a
- matter purely personal as regards
business, and had registered at the
Adams hotel under an assumed name.
One the street I happened to meet an
old friend who was a leader Of the re-
form element Of the state, and we ate
dinner together In the evening and dis
cussed, among other things, the pOliti-
cal situation.
Briefly, IT was like this: For years
the government and administration OF
the state Of jefferson had been in the
hands OF a bipartisan gang of political
cOrrupuOnlsts. presided over by boss
whose name had become a national by
word when the matter of political cor
rupuon came up for discussion in any
social chat, no matter how incident
ally.
For years the reform element had
been ruthlessly crushed each recurring
election by the bipartisan corruption
lists. But now the reformers were in the
midst Of a campaign that had aroused
considerable worry among the gang
IS an employe Of the United states
secret service, / had worked many
times in Jefferson, and SO hau come 10
know the political cOnClL0ns OF l-e
state from cellar TO attic, and what my
friend told me led me TO the opinion
that II the election was 10 De close, tLle
odds would favor the corruption Iunus
or the Bipartisan gang, and once AGAIN
the TefOrmers would be crushed under
heel And my friend agreed with me.
The next morning, as / was dressing
Tor eaELaSr this friend sent up WOlu
that he wanted to see me- Pretty soon
ne appeared accompanied By q stranger
whom he introduced TO me as major
Walker, chairman and campaign man
ager of the reform party
BY reputation I knew major walker
n q
had been chronic chairman Of citizens
committees, honest election leagues,
ballot reform organizations, lnQepen-
dence alliances. and good government
clubs almost since the forming Of the
bipartisan gang Of cOrruprOnlstS- And
despite piuless defeat after defeat ne
still marched undaunted at the head
Of the reform column
'I have taken the liberty Of bringing
major Walker here my friend ex-
planned, because I think you can help
him in a confidential matter
1T concerns our political situation"
interrupted major Walker
Can you talk it over with me while
Pm having breakfast asked
wed better not be seen together
said the major. Some reported
So the men unfOlded their case to NE
IN the privacy of my room
Burns Asked to Come Into Game.
They had learned that the forces op-
posed TO political reform had been
Z
canvass mad shown lnaL the REFORM
ers were likely TO carry the election
unless an extraordinary effort was
made to defeat them The boss had I
called a council of his henchmen, and |
together they had gone over the doubt I
fuI districts and figured in dollars and Z
cents the cost OF getting out the 3
votes necessary to keep the machine !
in power The boss had boosted the I
largest "dOugh-bag' in the history OF 4
%
carried TO the district leaders, ward 1
captains. heeiers and political stall \
warts of both party machines; ana
their rejoicing had been almost pub 4
There's no doubt Of it." major /
Walker said. They're going TO de- I
feat us by the grOssest forms of bribery /
and corruption. They have millions.
They've exhausted every other form OF /
influence and coercion Now they're 4
going TO buy the state
what do you propose to doE I
asked
Ny friend replied: Wen, we'd like
you to make an INVESTIGATION, so as 20
be sure that what we've heard is true
And, If IL is true we want you 10 get
the evidence of IL, on election day, Tor
the purpose Of unseaung their COVER
when are the eIectons?7
''Ten days from to-day"
Rush Order in Detective Work
In the ordinary course OF leLeE--fr
methods. it would be impossible 10
ma Ike such an Investigation in ten
lavs. The operatives would have 10
have time TO work through a careful
approach from a distance, slowly, I
without any appearance Of Showing
IN" Ordinarily they move in a sort
Of circular progress that narrOWs 10
is center, with every step protected
by credentials obtained by ruse and
''EOuu have TO try these people be-
Tore their own judges, practically,
won't your / asked.
yes. but even If we fail to unseat