The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1913-05-15

treman hdd something 70 DO With his
mood
Then another vision was accorded
him-a fat white horse lazIly draw.
ing an ancient top buggy In which sat
Senator Murchell. for all the world a
prosperous farmer passing into age
amid peace aud plenty.
A minute later came q knock at his
door Comet" he said.
The senator entered. Afternoon,
John"
what can do for your"
"Humph! Don't seem very glad TO see
me. You might ask me 10 sit down"
John pointed to chair. why hest.
tate? It's your courthouse, isn't itY'
Understood you'd taken mortgage
on Il yourself lately" Murchell sat
down. looking genially at John.
$50 you think I'm bad man and
disgrace TO the stateY" the senator In
quired at last.
well. just about that" John said
quickly.
Told Miss Roberta I'm a bad man.
didn't your
IL could have said that you are
shameful force In politics; that you
have exploited a great party and the
ignorance OF the people; that you have
built up a machine for the sole pur'
pose of looting the state. that you have
got and held power by compelling pub
lie servants 10 use the influence OF
their office to pcrpetuate your machine
and by buying the votes OF the cor
ruptible. There's probably lot more.
IL only knew IT, I've never heard
that you used your power for any good
thing. Without profession or business
you are rich man. Howr
"Humphr grunted Murchell. who
had listened without display OF feeling.
Doesn't mean much. You'd have hard
work proving any Of IT,"
They relapsed into silence. John
looked out OF the window, awaiting In
cold silence the senator's next words
Murchel preserved his usual impas'
slve front IL was not the nrst time
he had encountered the Intolerance or
youth. Hut never before. save during
the Sheehan trial. had the Intolerance
pierced the crust of the man.
lie broke the silence. What do you
want to dor
"a good many things you wouldn't
understand principally. suppose. to
smash you aud your organization.
That probably sounds funny TO you"
Murchell did not laugh. lie merely
felt pity for an impractical young
dreamer.
"You can't smash the organization"
ut must he smashed. because II ex-
lists TO deprive the people Of the right
OF self government"
"a pretty phrase. It's common sense
politics The people don't want To gov
ern themselves cant. They need
some one 10 take the burden from them
How are you going to smash usr'
1T may be simpler than you think.
Senator Murchell. When the people
understand what you are they'll smash
you"
The other smiled pltyingly. "You
think because you've sent few poor
devils TO Jail you're a man OF destiny.
don't you! You think I'm merely a
wicked old fellow who's got power
and Is using Il for his own selfish ends.
IL were just that you could smash
me But I'm more than that. am
nm Institutions part 81 necessary
institution. one that society. that prop
erty. that business. can't get along
without. You can smash william
Murchell that IL. put some one In his
place But you can't smash the instl
tuition. And you cant Judge a system
by its incidental errors"
John smiled. not very happily. 1--WE
heard that before. The weakness Of
your argument Is that the errors seem
To be essential. Government isn't. or
shouldn't be- merely n matter OF force.
nor exist only as the servant OF prop
erty. even II all you say Is true And
I've got Ia go on"
And whcre'll you come outf'
81? You will try to break me. You
may succeed But you will observe