The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-01-09
HIS RISE
POWER
BY HENRY RUSSELL MILLER,
Author OF
"The Man Higher Up"
Copyright, 1911. by the Bobbs'Merrill
COmpany

win Hampden's hostility and 70 put
himself out of the way Of protecting
his farmer friends.
And late in october occurred hit par
tvs rally.
1t was necessary to marshal the
badly shaken party hosts. For into
Benton county had marched young
man who, in single opposition speech,
broke through the defenses so pains
takingly reared by Jeremy Applegate
and his fellow soldiers None other
than Jerry Brent. A big, rawhoGed,
homely fellow, uncouth in manner and
sometimes in grammar, but with
crude, passionate eloquence that al
ways carried his audience with him.
He had been a coal miner, labor
organizer and had. after a struggle
so common that description stales.
been admitted to the practice of law.
In all the thirty-fiva years of his life
the charge of material dishonesty haG
never been raised against him; ht. was
still poor. And he was counted n ris-
ing man in the opposition party, not
with the connivance of ais party
bosses, however. They considered him
a radical, unsafe and-cardinai crime
in an honest and unmanageable young
man-ambitious Respectable people
sneered at his "antics" 1t was said
that his eyes were fixed on the next
nomination for governor Even with
this suspicion ranking in their minds
the bosses dared not-so popular was
he among labor men-refrse him or.
portunity to speak during the cam.
paign.
John, an nconspicuous listener.
heard Brent's Benton county speech,
1t troubled him. 1t seemed to him
unanswera BILE Brent, it was true
dealt in terms of suspicion not of
facts, but it was suspicion that
found a swift echo in the hearts of his
audience. He frankly said as much.
1--WE don't govern this state.'' said
Brent. Zone man, Murchell, picks out
our officers and tells 'em what to do
while in office. You people don't gov
ern Benton county. One man. Jim
y
commissioners, your treasures. your
sheriffs, your district attorneys" John
WINGED. "And it's wrong, nv G0d! It's
wrongr' the orator cried passio-,ately.
''It would be wrong, even II these
men We're honest. And I blame you
for it. You haven't the right to shove
your responsibility on other mems
shoulders, and they haven't the right
to take the power"
The mans hot. rough eloquence
found lodgment where least expected
in Johns heart, already sensitized by
his own discoveries and questionings.
Jerry Brent was right.
The oldest inhabitant could not re-
member when the old party had been
so vigorously attacked. To stem the
tide Of revolt-John felt it strongly in
his canvass-an old time rally was to
be held in the square. Sheehan in
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. Parrott
and Sherrod'll be there. Parrott's no
slouch Of a 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 electedY
Sheehan demanded
81 guess so. Yes" with sudden vigor
and short laugh that Sheehan did
not understand. 81 do"
"Well, then, play up your inde-
pendence. Tell em there's no strings
tied to you"
81 can tell them that-with truth"
Sheehan looked long and hard at
him. Then he chuckled. "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
square, where Main and North streets
meet. Before us is the rough board
speakers stand. hastily knocked to-
gether and literally bedecked with
nags 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
speakers stand are set haring and
smoking, and by many other lights.
Debouching into Main street from
other roads comes 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 safely
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
49,