The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-09-18

BUT the pride and Joy were all taken
out of her when l was accused of hav-
ing engineered the election of a man
for comptroller who had robbed the
city Of 81, 100000 explained the mat
ter away by denying that had had
anything to do with the comptrollers
election, and fortunately she believed
me. Had been called upon to dis
prove the charge should have found
1t difficult matter. I was not a pc
cuniary gamer by supporting a rascal,
but knew he was politician of bad
stripe.
Compliments were mingled with
slurs. was frequently referred to as
that political hummer" "that gum
shoe politician" and in other terms
that were very painful to my betrothed.
explained to her that in politics there
were men who resorted to the most
shocking devices and that their innu-
endoes must be borne, for they usually
kept within the law in their accusa-
tons Nevertheless the stigma at
tached to me was bound to have some
effect upon her. could see notwith-
standing her efforts to conceal the facts
from me that the attacks upon me
troubled her.
The voters of the principal part Of
my district were Of what in political
parlance are called silk stockings. This
constituency | might have managed in
a digni1ed manner without descending
into muddy politics. But unfortunately
the district extended into location the
residents of which were of the lowest
degree. My managers reported to me
that In this locality l was considered
an aristocrat and the candidate of
aristocrats. If wished to win 1 must
do something to placate this element.
told them to do what they thought
best in the matter and gave them my
check for $1,000 TO be expended in any
way they thought proper.
They concluded to have grand rally
for this-the Seventh-ward, and since
1t was in the early fall the meeting
should take place In the open air. A
vacant block that had been turned into
Q park was chosen, and the thousand
dollars was expended for beer, with
liberal allowance Of whisky and cheap
cigars. Realizing that the winning
over of this constituency would not be
accomplished by a simple appeal to
reason, forbid my managers to tell
me Of their plan. in order that might
not be able to reveal it to my fiancee.
Since she lived in the suburbs and was
not accustomed to attend political
meetings, counted on her not know
ing what would occur in a rally in the
Seventh ward.
1t was arranged that | should not
reach the meeting until a fair proper
ton OF the spirits had been imbibed.
This was carried out, and when I
stepped upon the platform to address
the meeting l was greeted by a chorus
Of appreciative yells. To further win
the favor of those present l told them
that I believed in the right of a free
American citizen to break the law
whenever it had been passed to curtail
his individual rights, and the citizens
Of the Seventh ward were not account
able to the Sixth-a silk stocking ward
adJoining-as to what hour they went
to bed.
When in the midst Of a powerful at
tack on the autocrats of the district my
eye caught sight Of an auto parked
among many others and saw the face
Of my fiancee looking at me with hoF-
ror
Ny audience believed that had been
suddenly taken i'll, for reached for a
glass of water on the stand before me,
then sank back in collapse.
Eleanor had come to the city to dine
with a friend and, hearing that was
to address my constituents, drove with
others to the park to hear the states
manlike words that would drop from
my lips. She arrived just in time to
hear my reflections on educated citi-
zens delivered to people least calcu-
lated to govern themselves.
was not permitted to see Eleanor
for six months. At the end Of that
time my father explained to her the
difficulties by which politician is be-
set and promised for me that l would
never again seek an Office. If the office
sought me i would conduct the cam
paign only in creditable manner.
Then she forgave me.