Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-15


structed John as to the part which the
latter was to play.
YOU'RE to speak. Hit 'er up hard.
Tell 'em all about US bein' the friend of
the farmer. It's your chance. Parrot
and SherrodIl be there. PARROTS no
SLOUGH Of speaker. but you can beat
him. Farmers like good speech"
II don't know that I care to make
the speech"
Don't you want to be elected?"
Sheehan demanded.
II guess so. Yes" with sudden vigor
and short laugh that Sheehan did
not understand II do"
"well. then. play up your indie
pendence. Tell 'em there's no strings
tied to YOU
IT can tell them that-with truth"
Sheehan looked long and hard at
him. Then he ctuckled "Of course.
And don't forget the state ticket when
you're talkin'."
When he was alone John fairly
writhed in his self contempt and hat
red Of the boss.
He prepared a fine speech. and then
came the night Of the rally-the pomp
and panoply of war.
We stand with John under the big
elm at the northwest corner Of the
square. where Main and North streets
meet. Before us is the rough board
speakers stand. hastily knocked to-
gether and literally bedecked with
Hags and Autographs Of Lincoln and Of
Beck. the candidate for treasurer. In
front are many rows Of pine benches.
Over all falls the white splendor Of the
full October moon, to be dimmed when
the four kerosene torches guarding the
speaker stand are set f1aring and
smoking. and by many other lights.
Debouching into Main street from
other roads comes a,.steady stream OF
steeds. gaunt and strong and slow
moving as the human freight they
draw, shying awkwardly at the lights
flashed In their eyes by reckless, mis-
chievous boys. The steeds are bafely
hitched in various churchyards. and
the drivers gather in the square in
shifting, serious groups. Gradually the
square fills. A hoarse hum Of voices
rises. The air becomes charged with
an unnatural excitement-the sense of
an occasion-bred Of the strange lights
and hustle and the presence of many
men. John between handshakes has
time to feel It. His tagging soul. jaded
by much questioning, leaps forth sud
denly responsive. These men are-the
people. The power Of 1.-THE power
and the glory! he thrills under
sense Of oneness with them. Murchell
and his machine. Sheehan and his con-
troll. seem far away, unreal. impossible.
The candidates, properly acclaimed.
and their party of distinguished citi-
zens are on the platform. The benches,
are filed. Around them stands fringe
of men: mostly farmers, who in the
John. sandwiched in between Sheehan
and Congressman. jenkins. looks out
over the audience. strange question
in his eyes. He is seeking a reason"
as though it were to be found written
on the faces. Of the men before him.
The speaking begins. After short
preliminary speech the chairman intro
duces Beck, candidate for treasurer. as
inconsiderable now as he will be when
In Office. Then comes Parrot, IA
nous corporation lawyer. whose fea-
lures somehow suggest that he is well
named. He is adept in the use Of those
phrases which elicit enthusiasm. but do
not convince. After him Mark Sherrod,
state senator. a tail. suave man with
magnetic something about him. One
Of his eyes has slight cast and gives
his face sinister expression which not,
all his undoubted attraction can re-
move. He is a coming man. Already
q power in the big eastern city, 1t Is
whispered that he Is planning to sue
coed Beck in the treasurership. And
after him the Hon. G. Washington Jen-
kins. congressman from the district.
Lincolnian in figure, shriu and nasal Of
voice, but with the old campaigner's
fund of stories and rough and ready
eloquence that catches the crowd In
spite Of his time worn arguments.
The front seats roar their approval.
From the fringe Of farmers, Jim Shee-
han observes. comes only grim silence.
There Is an uneasy sense that Jerry
Brent's suspicious have not been an
wered.
Through 1t all John sat, hardly NOV
ing. But within him was tumult. He
was contrasting the grandiloquent. viz
tuous phrases with the machine a. he
had seen it. And he knew that In the
devious devices Of which he could not
help hearing hints In his campaigning
he had caught but q, glimpse Of the
thing-the machine. He did not believe
that good employs evil to tts ends; BY
its agencies a cause was to be judged.
He sighted along the line Of those who
profted by it-Sheehan. Beck, Parrot,
Sherrod, Murchell. The line was lost
In the mist Of his incomplete knowl-
edge. This knowledse. - srankling
suapicions, Brent's Qusstioninss. roe
- e e :s.cnt him AeEhandinx sroa-
~. ~ cSisd -. ~ sik q ad5thsl
;ilss ass
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