The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-09-18
The Politician
His Career Was IncOmpati-
BILE With Winning
a Wife
ByF. A. Mitchell

MY SON." said my father-he held
the position of governor of his state-"I
admonish you never to take any part in
politics"
One might as well have cautioned
another to refrain from becoming an
aeronaut while looking at man flying
about like a bird. / was accustomed
to see my father courted. He was the
central figure of the state. Persons
were continually striving to influence
his presence at dinner, at public meet,
1ngs and at social gatherings It seem.
ed to me that of all men he was the
most to be envied. Had he eschewed
politics these honors would not have
come to him.
1t was not to be expected, then, that
I would follow his admonition. Per,
haps / had inherited some Of his pro
pensity to manipulate men, moldine
them to his purpose. At any rate
when at school l secured the election Of
the president of my class by distribut
ing the other honors among the differ
ent cliques, or punches, as we called
them, of the scholars. Fhis was a be
ginning which hoped to turn to my
own account. There were several
years ahead of us in the school, and
before we were graduated counted
on being class president myself.
This accomplished. was made
president for the last year, not because
ip free election l would have been
chosen, but because had put my pom
nation and election In the hands OF
those whose election to various posi-,
tons during the three previous years
bad secured. The concentrated effort
of these scholars landed me IN the GOV,
eted chair to the exclusion Of the most
popular member Of the class.
At college / developed o faculty for
talking ON my feet" to those who were
willing to listen to me. | don't remem-
Der that ever said anything that was
worthy Of a place among American
orations, but the fact that could pour
forth a torrent of words gave me prom
inence. had advanced from my posi-
ton as manipulation, and at college re-
lied on the class wire workers to push
me forward. The consequence was that
when class day came around these gen.
tlemen landed me fr class orator.
have read my grafton some years after
IT was delivered, and II there was one
original idea In 1t failed TO discover It.
The true politician Is not born, Ike
an animal. He, rather, grows slowly,
like q tree. In the wicked politician
the villainy is born an at once. In the
superpolitician the villainy Is never
born at all. There rs always some
one to do the dirty work. The princi-
pal never wears rubber gloves
The son of the governor, was not
expected to do dirty work. The gov
ernor himself had begun rather low,
and, though did not know 1t, surely
1 suspected that he had done some
questionable work. There were Ger
tain fiashy men sporting massive jew
elry who when alone with him called
him Frank. He called them Tom and
Bill and Pat In return when he couldn't
help 1t, but when he came to occupy
his first important Office he got I'D on
his dignity, and when one Of his old
pals called him Frank he turned him
down.
When my father noticed that l was
working small groups Of those who
wanted Office or job or something
like that-for began to work my home
city before ! got out Of college-he look
ed very sour upon me and remarked,
you can't make silk purse out of a
sow's ear"
Further than this he dsd not reprove
me, but he did caution me to keep
within the law and always turn the
dirty work over to some one elseI
After being graduated / studied law
and became an attorney. Some men
are appreciated for less than they are
really worth and some for more. !
think belonged to the latter class.
was considered prominent young
man, and took care by maintaining
certain reserve to foster this idea.
My advice was usually asked on points
concerning municipal matters and mat
tiers Of state. never failed to take
time before giving reply or to as
sumo an air of wisdom upon pronouno-
ing my decisions.
One summer while visiting a friend
at his fathers country place fell in
love with his sister, Eleanor. She was
a girl of character, always looking up,
never down. I don't mean that she
was angling for an establishment On
the contrary, she decided everything
on principle. She admired men of true
worth. Naturally being in love with
her, strove to appear as such man.
| was well practiced IN the art and
succeeded in impressing her as what a
woman would describe as a noble,
good man"
One morning after having read the
newspaper she came to me quite radi-
ant and said:
II see it announced that your fellow
citizens have chosen you as a candidate
for member of congress. l congratu-
late you"
Now, the truth is / had chosen that
certain political heelers Of mine
should choose that l be the nominee
Of the residents of my district for the
Office. Indeed, had secured the nom
nation by one Of the shrewdest po-
litical tricks ON record But | did not
enlighten the woman | loved on this
point. I looked modest and said that
] feared would not be able If elected
to be worthy of the trust reposed in me
by my constituents.
Unfortunately the next morning an
article over my name was published
citing different reforms l proposed to
carry out If elected and immodestly
giving various reasons why was espe-
cially qualified to represent the dis
trict The article met Eleanor's eye,
and saw by her changed manner that
she was much affected by it. Some
thing must be done. l feigned great
displeasure with whoever dared pub
lish anything over my name without
my consent; whereupon Eleanor asked
me If would publish q denial of what
had been written. l got out of doing
so by stating that If elected proposed
to carry out the very reforms men
toned In the article If l repudtated
It would deny what hoped to effect.
which would cost me the election.
This not only satisfied Eleanor, but
gained her my sympathy as badly
treated man. The dear girl was much
concerned about the interference Of
my political friends and suggested that
1 reprimand them severely and forbid
them ever to do so again. shuddered
to think what would be the result II
she should know l had written every
word Of the article that had shocked
her.
This was only the beginning Of the