The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1919-04-12
The
MAN
uith a
COUNTRY

ically that the President was not OF
his political faith, and that he might
be bringing on the war at the behest
of powerful commercial interests that
thirsted for enormous profits. Then
from this fabric Of suspicion he began
to pluck strands-in the shape OF ru.
mored irregularities in administration
affairs in Washington-that he wove
into plausible beliefs.
There were several members OF the
Presidents cabinet that Corwin did
not like-he had always thought them
incompetent. II there was to be
war. why did not the President force
the resignation Of these men?
Within half an hour. meditating
alone in his Office, Corwin became
narrow partisan-convinced that his
political party was able to conduct
war more efficiently than the one
headed by the President. Feeding his
partisanship with incidents that
seemed to prove the soundness of his
conviction. Corwin became. within an
hour, a dissenter from all the princi'
pies enunciated by the President in
his war message-and in his public
utterances.
A hot rage seized Crwin; and he
laughed. scoffingly. War! The idea
was monstrous. Why declare war on
Germany? Why, indeed? Miller was
right; Roberts was right The Presi'
dent was making terrible blunder.
The jingoes and war-proftsers were
agitating this thing, and they had
won the President to their side. 1t
wasn't a question Of patriotism. for
Germany had not threatened to invade
America; and the surest and quickest
way to convince the President and the
world that the great body Of the Amer
lean people could not be fooled by
such buncombe was to refuse tc
finance such war.
When Molly King, Corwin's stenog
rapher, came in few minutes later
her face was flushed, her eyes were
bright and there was an air OF sup
pressed excitement in her manner
She went Immediately to her desk
but instantly wheeled in her chair ant
| faced Corwin.
l did you hear the news, Mr.. Cor
/ win? America will declare war OF
/ Germany"
/ Corwin grinned cynically at hel
| "Bosh!" he said. Why should Amer
lea interfereT'
| The girl gasped and stared at Coz
win in amazement. Then, when sh
saw Corwin was in earnest, she raise
her chin defiantly.
Because America is America. Nj
/ Corwin," she returned. coldly. "
II America did not go in. now! shout
ii never be able to look another foreig'
III er in the eyes,"
III She founced around in her cha
iii and began to bang the keys OF he
typewriter with a viciousness tn;
startled Corwin. The girls sturd
patriotism was in striking contrast
his own feelings, and for long tin
he sat, watching her, oppressed vii
II sensation of guilt-of somethir
II shameful and clandestine and u
II worthy.
ii CHAPTER III
II CORWIN was astonished to discov
~ that most Of his friends we
either opposed to war with Germal
Il or we're lukewarm toward It. So
II gathered that 1t was not popul
X war. His own feelings had n
LII changed-except that his convictio
n had deepened When the poison
= distrust Of the President and his o
cial family had got into his veins
had changed him overnight.
It was easy to pick naws In eve
public utterance Of the Presider
=. the mistakes Of the men appointed
N responsible positions were 30 glaril
1k ly apparent that they aroused IN c
III win a grim contempt for the emit
war structure. Men were being cal
II to Washington in huge numbers
iii take charge Of various department!
newly created. II seemed to Corr
that these men we're chosen. not
II cause of their especial fitness. but
III cause they were influential in poiiti
ma Corvin foresaw many opportunit
MC for graft, and he had no doubt t
an the entire REORGANIZATION would
~ honeycombed with It. So as the d
fed and he continued to nurse his
trust. he observed with sardonic
isfaction that ineficiency was to re
in FaIltown. For one morning G
Miller told him that the Central
erty Loan Committee Of the dist
had appointed Bernard Dillon Oh
man Of the Falltown Committee.
Corwin flushed angrily. He and
Ion we're not friendly. He knew Of
good reason why Dillon should
have the appointment, and he q
not have denied that Dillon was
est But he disliked the man. and
convinced that there were more c
BILE men IN FaIltown.
Il He saw Miller looking keenly
[45 overwhelmingly.
II We'll" laughed Miller; 7 supl
they could have done better. Not
don't like Dillon. It's nothing
sonal. you understand; but he's q
low that a man can't warm to-
Il ler's voice grew grave. The loa
to be two billion. They can't ras'
. Why, it's more money than the
eminent ever spent in two years
~ didn't cost much more than tina
. finance the Civil War. And they
Of spending that amount within a
II months!-
H. Miller was not the only residei
M Pafltoyn 10 express his convict