The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-09-04
"But the people don't understand

that's all
Not understand! You can say that! |
DO you suppose there's an intelligent |
ulan in the state who doesn't know that |
you have rs 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 Nurchclls and the Sherrods rep
resent the 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
ernment. and they have rudimentary
social instinct that tells them it is
wrong Sometimes that incipient sense
gets them interested in reform. but
the interest lasts only for about one
campaign Just as you have found It
We don't really care. We don't want
things changed"
But
Here, | have the floor. Things are
rotten-yes! There's Il stink in every
plane of our national life. You think
you have purpose in life to clean
up this state Well. then play the
game lis you find it. make Of yourself
deSpot And when you have your
power. use it to win compromises from
the other strong ones. and to give the
people Just as much as they are abl"
to use and enjoy. Among selfish
oti0
can lead
Haig sat back. relighting his pipe
"Gosh,'' he grinned. Reminds me OF
my college debating society. But J
mean it, he added earnestly.
John smiled family He leaned for
ward and caught up the poker. absent
ty iabbing the Goals in the stove. He
was thinking OF another time when
ont of her ignorance. young woman
had stumbled. far less cleverly. upon
the same theory He said:
"One must build from the bottom up
ward The nation can be saved from
it's sins neither by strong individuals
| nor by mechanical systems. Only by
the aroused moral sense of the people.
Il realization and acceptance Of political
responsibility. and a man can't very
successfully preach political morality
unless he practices it. He has to serve
in the way for which he's best fitted
don't think I'm cut out for a boss.
Haig."
Hal. growled again. "Service-whO
wants your service? What you need
is some woman to come along and
marry you out of hand and teach you
common sense Why didn't you marry
Katherine Hampden when you had the
chance?"
Il never really had the chance" John
replied calmly.
"Oh. go to the devilv' And witt
characteristic abruptness Haig ROSE
and walked out Of the office.
minute later he reappeared to de
mand. DO you still want to!'
want to what?" said John so blank
~ that Haig again recommended the
devil rs his ultimate destination aDt
Withdrew.
Out in the street he stopped Ions
enough to look back through the win
dow. John was still absently jabbin,
the Goals Haig shook his head ant
passed OH, muttering to the snow.
night:
Il have seen 4 miracle-a man VIII
has tested. yet believes in the peopl
and who has loved the same womal
!. through five years. wonder hov
long his courage will hold out!'
John drew up to the desk and bega
. Il letter. 1t did not progress rapidly
His pen had gone as far as "Replyin
:, to your favor of the Goth inst.," whe
a it fell unnoticed from his fingers. H
+, returned to his contemplation of th
q fire.
= He was thinking of Katherine HamT
den He had been thinking of her
. great deal lately, after a long periO
in which he had kept the remembrance
of her in the secret, rarely opene
.. chamber Of his innermost conscious
=. ness.
= 1t had been the easier to bury, il nc
:, completely to forget. the past. becaus
katherines life and his had not Ofte
y crossed The incident of the flower
:" has been told. One day. week b.
;. fore the conversation just narrate'
they had accidentally met.
:, He was in the Steel City to delivt
Is his lecture on "Civic Responsibility
~ before one Of the reform bodies tn;
!, discussed. but did nothing to allevia
q the city's Ills For early luncheon
:, went into restaurant where ella
n crate trappings and service enable
y the patron to ignore the moderate
-. well cooked food and immoderate
10 high prices.
AS he was passing through Il
!, foyer he came face to face with Kat
=. crime Hampden and another lad
to whose attire proclaimed her one
n. fashions elect There was q moment
/ hesitation, and then impulsively Kat
9. crime held out her hand. Mutual
" quiries concerning each others heal
t.. followed. were satisfactorily answere
r. and Katherine introduced him to b
Id companion. Mrs Deland nodded d
Ia family. as from great height, doy
~ upon the rather countrified looki
man who carried the queer. bla
IS sloucl hat
o ''This is the Mr.. Dunlneade." Ka
crime explained
"Oh indced!" was the murmured :
7" swcr. accompanied by vacuous sm
81 Mrs Deland. II was clear had no,
heard of "the Mr. Dunmeade." j
Is. then another group entered the 70.
dc and with scant ceremony she escaI
Of 10 ioin them. Katherine said: