The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-02-13

In those days-to he exact, three
years after the destruction Of the
SIeehan machine-there was strife in
the organizations of both parties. Upon
the devoted heads Of MurcheIl and
Duffy. the respective bosses, hurried
abuse from strange quarters Anxious
cries rang from the deck Of the ship
MurcheIl had steered SO long. Then
the storm burst.
The biennial election of state treas
urer WIS III hand There appeared to
john Cae dag plausible gentleman
vho discussed the troubled waters. He
Was in y state of righteous Indignation.
Aurchelis domination had continued
too long, Patience with his tyrannical
WAYS has ceased to he a virtue. His
unftness had been proved by his
breach of contract to let Sherrod sue
coed Beck. And he. the messenger
was glad to say, in confidence, that
those able and distinguished patriots
and leaders, Mark SherrOd and Phi
lander Parrott. were organizing a re
volt and proposed to make the treas
urership nomination a test of strength
And they had commissioned him to
urge that other able, etc, John Dun
meade, the man who had licked
MurchelI in his own back yard" to
join the reform. He was deeply hurt
when John refused.
Haig who also had made New Chel-
sea his legal residence. invented sun
fVYsgr I1Ty.t 70 Irs TCIn -
folly and urged reconsideration. John
shook his head.
But l thought you wanted to put
Murchell out of business?"
Not MurcheIl. I've grown past
that I'm rather sorry for him just
now. And I'd rather have him run
things than Sherrod. It's the in
stitution we've got to destroy-as he
told me himself once. Nothing's gained
if we substitute one boss for another
Then what are you going to do. my
destructive friendg"
'"Try to slip in between them, I
think-put up an independent candi-
date"
John made his campaign. When the
primaries had been held, he was him
self astonished TO discover that nearly
quarter of the delegates chosen were
pledged to his independent candidate.
But before daylight on the night be-
fore the convention John learned that
he had been used to draw delegates
from Murchell for Sherrod's purpose;
he saw his band dwindIe to a faithful
handful.
When the convention met, Sherrod
was in control After the preliminaries
John, answering to the roll call of
counties. placed his candidate in nomi-
nation in speech that could hardly
be heard for jeers and catcaIls. II
was brought TO an abrupt conclusion
by yell from the gallery, "Sit down.
sonny Only money talks in this CON
vention"' Even the delegates Joined
| in the roar Of laughter. And then the
coup was accomplished The Parrott-
Sherrcd candidate was withdrawn and
| Sherrod himself substituted. Amid
confusion that amounted almost TO a
| riot he was nominated
\ nonpartisan candidate was put ND
| that fall John and Jerry Brent were
most active in his support. They made
| what was said to he a remarka BILE
| campaign, and in every county they
were met with tremendous enthusi-
assn. Peop,e 6ocked by thousands to
hear them and cheered themselves
| hoarse as the young orators excoriated
| the bosses. But on election day the
! people marched to the polls. voted as
they had always done and elected the
old party ticket by a majority of
more than 100000.
The campaign fixed Johns place
firmly in the public mind. This place,
one that practical man would have
| thought twice before seeking. was won
| at the cost Of much of his buoyant
| optimism. 1t almost cost him his life
| also. A heavy cold contracted during
| the last days of the campaign eventu-
| ally settled into a stubborn case Of
pneumonia. There were many anxious
| days in the Dunmeade home. Nor was
| Miss Roberta's anxiety unshared.
| Through three consecutive nights
| Hugh Dunmeade never sought his
couch but kept a constant vigil by his
sons bedside. listening to the painful
| breathing and. without protest. to the
| reproaches of an inner voice. When
the Christmas holidays arrived John
| was still confined 10 his room.
That winter Senator Murchell varied
| his program by spending the congress
| sional recess at his legal residence.
And one Sunday morning he came
| face TO face with the judge and Miss
| Roberta in the vestibule Of the Presby-
| terrain church. 1t was the first meet
ing in more than two years.
| 1.-THE doctor tells me John ought to
| go south and won't. If it's on account
of err money matters" the senator
looked carefully out into the street.
! ''I'll be glad to help out"
mo, sir" the judge put in stif1y.
''If John needs money it is my right
| TO provide it," 1t had not occurred to
| him before II exercise the right
Stuff" said the senator. II know
how you're fixed. Hugh. You can't af
ford it. can
I'VE Dunmeades, Senator Murchell
don't accept charity from our political
enemies"
Our political enemies! Have you
turned reformer, judge?'' Murchen in,
luired innocentIy II thought Won