The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-08-13
A Wide-Open
Policy
BY r. RAY BAKER

| Harley Wentworth tilted back in his
| swivel chair and stretched luxuriously
while he smiled with a quiet sort of
triumph
The battle-and hard tussle it had
| been-was over, and he was the win
ner. AT the age of twenty-eight he
was mayor Of Kenton. Precedents had
been overthrow, the standpatters had
been overwhelmed, young blood had
come out on top. For the first time
in its history this city of $1,000 inhab-
itants was to have youth at it's munich
pal helm. Only today at the polls the
venerable Mr.. Black had gone down to
a crushing defeat.
Mayor-eect Wentworth heard the
doorbell, and presently the housekeep-
er tapped at the study door and an
| nounced that "Mr. Hennison" was
caller. Harley directed that Mr.. Hen
nison be admitted, and soon the person
in question, a rotund, florid-faced,
squint-eyed individual, whose clothing
shouted to the world, but made no pre-
tense of fitting, waddled into the study
and Topped into an easy chair near
Harley's desk.
well, we won," grunted Mr.. Hen
nlson, helping himself to cigar from
the box on the desk and wrenching
off the end with some tusk-like yell
low teeth and ejecting the amputated
portion in the general direction of
waste-basket, which it failed to arrive
at by several inches.
Il thought we might as well have
thorough understanding" he said,
chewing on his cigar. you were elect
ed, of course, by the wide-open ele-
ment. You ran with their support;
of course, you know that. The I'M
derstanding was that if you were elect
ed things was to be thrown open-and
l was to operate with protection"
Harley eXhaled a heavy cloud of
smoke
There was no understanding-ex-
actly," he said. II made no promises,
and there was no agreement that
things were to be wide open. However
of course, have the welfare of Ken
ton at heart"
81 understand" he grunted. 81
think that's sufficient. All l wanted
was your-your silent assurance, you
might say"
Scarcely had Mr. Hennison left when
the telephone bell rang.
This is JEAN" said a girls voice.
- want to congratulate you. How
ever, | much prefer to do it in person."
"I'll be right down." Harley assured
her, and presently his car stopped be-
fore neat, modest dwelling.
Jean came out on the porch and
greeted him, not effusively, but in a
manner that left no doubt as to sim
cerity.
I'm proud of you, Harley" she
told him as she ushered him into the
living room. Its a great triumph to
beat Mr.. Black, who was in Office so
long. You certainly have great respon-
sibilities on those young shoulders
now"
They're rather broad shoulders"
he smiled "They ought to be able
to sustain some pretty heavy bur-
dens."
She seemed to hesitate before
speaking again, and her eyes studied
the figure in the rug, while the fingers
of her right hand fumbled with a dia-
mond-set ring on the third finger of
her left hand.
Harley, you know I'm very proud
of YOU" she said presently, looking
him in the eyes; but I'm afraid, some
how. I've heard it was the wide-open
element that selected you, and Tn
afraid-well, you know it may bring
a certain kind of prosperity, but think
of the suffering in many homes. 1t is
pretty we'll understood that liquor has
been sold lately in spite of the pro-
hibitiOn law, and that there has been
some gambling in spite of Mr.. Blacks
efforts. 1t seems he hasn't been fully
supported by part of his administra-
ton in his efforts to enforce the new
law That was bad enough, but if
things are allowed to run with free
hand a great many people will suffer
for it."
The mayor-elect smiled indulgently.
There, there, girl" he said, with
tinge of patrOnizing in his tones.
Don't you worry your little head
about those things I'll try to manage
things all right. You don't understand
politics thoroughly.
There's party loyalty to be consid-
cred, and a number of things. Ken
ton should grow more rapidly, and it
will if given proper chance. l have
an opportunity to make a record for
myself and to do so must shut one
of my eyes to certain things. But
don't worry. Everything is going to
run along smoothly"
"Of course you know best, Harley"
she told him. while disappointment
showed i'm her ewes 'tTm with Won