The Topeka state journal., 1922-08-24
EOening Story
Practical Politics.
BY H. IRVING KING.

oI IL In v 4~NG A4ING
If there are caliphs in Bagdad there
are also caliphs in the rural districts
no relation TO o. Henry or Haroun-
al-Raschid, eitheri In the rural dis
tricts they are called political bosses.
Such a one was John J.. PhettypIace.
caliph of East Wamport. I will take
back. partially, tkat about there being
no connection between j. Jas they
called him-and Haroun-the-Just;
there were one or two points of resem-
blance. In the first place, j. j., like
the other caliph, was the commander
of the faithful-that is, the workers"
and strict party men. Secondly. like
Haroun and all caliphs who are on
their jobs, he kept his ear to the
among his people.
But enough of the caliph for a few
minutes. Allow me to introduce you
to the caiiph's daughter, the Princess
Annie. Bagdad's roofs of fretted gold
never sheltered a more delightful vi
sion Henry Forsythe was in love with
Annie, and had it from her own dear
lips that his affections were reciprocal
ted. Henry was most eligible young.
man. held an important position in
East Wamport's principal manufac-
tory, was slated for promotion and
bound to go to the top. He was q
sturdy. athletic youth and cookbook
ing. He was just the man for Annie,
they had nothing in common. Henry
hated politics. while Annie took a deep
interest in them. She had inherited
good share of her fathers native
shrewdness and loved to sit and hear
him discourse of political matters.
making now and then a pertinent sug-
gestion out of her own wise little
head. But what has politics to do
with love or love to do with politics?
We shall see.
One evening Henry took his cour-
age in both fists, as the saying is, and
went in to ask J. ]. for his daughters
hand. Now the fact is that J. J. had
dreamed dreams about Annie and built
air castles for her. He saw that she
was beautiful, he knew that she had
brains: why should not her married
life be on the heights? He loved to
picture her as a congressman's lady
the governors lady, or even sem
ator's lady.
He never thought of her as mar
ried to great author, a great scien-
tist, or even a millionaire. You see
]. Us world was a world of politics,
and its heights of fancy were peopled
only by successful politicians. 1t
/ therefore came to him with a shock
when rising young business man
stood before him and boldly proposed
to make Annie his wife. He had seen
the youth about, of course, but other
youths had been about Annie also,
and for the only time in his life the
Caliph of East Wamport had allowed
his fancies to blind him to realities
When ]. J. had recovered from his
| surprise he turned the young suitor
down-turned him down hard and
brutally, so that Henry came out OF
the house in a state of rage and de-
spair. Annie was waiting for him on
the piazza-the moon-flooded, piazza,
the vine-draped piazza, where the air
was heavy with the scent of the honey
suckle: He begged her to fly with
undying love, mingled with abuse OF
the caliph.
At first Annie turned a little pale
and, just for an instant, threatened
to became fearful. Then she got a
firm grip upon herself, calmly assured
Henry~of the constancy of her affec-
tions, advised him, to wait hopefully
for better times, and dismissed him in
manner which he thought. under
the circumstances, cold and unfeeling.
Some little time after this ]. J..
heard that a project for a Citizens
movement" was showing signs of life
in his domains. Now the caliph had
no fear of the recognized opposition
party-he had that hog-tied. But
these Citizens movements annoyed
him, Because you never can tell-ac-
cidents are liable to happen. How
ever ably you may conduct your brace
game, however perfect may be the
hidden machinery which controls the
roulette wheel. however skiIlfully you
may stack your Cards, some little cog
in the machinery is liable to slip,
some triflinG tumble in the handling
of the "pasteboards" may be made
and the whiriing ball fails into a num-
bered slot where it was never intended
to go; a hand is dealt to a player
which was never intended for him.
So these citizens movements" tho
they seldom amounted to anything
and their life was ephemeral, had al
ways the latent potentia1ity of disar-
iranging the political machinery and
dfsordering the political deal When.
later, he heard that Henry Forsythe
was to run for Assembly on the citi-
zens' ticket, he said - Humph!" and
quietly continued his business of OIL
ing his machine and marking his
cards. 1t had come about this way.
Henry had left the caliph's palace
and furious against her father. Some
of his friends, taking advantage ofthis
continuing mood, had induced him to
consent to head the citizens ticket
and he was too deeply compromised
to draw back when he came fully to
realize that the man against Whom he
was making war was the father of
the girl he still loved He had written
several times to Annie; letters full of
protestations of love and repentance,
but had received in return only cool
advice to wait.
1t was no wonder that he threw
himself into the campaign in a sort
Of frenzy. At last election day came.
At night the votes were counted in the
great hall of the Town Hall. On one
side of the hall sat J. ]. with a trusted
fugleman on either hand. On the
other side stood Henry with a group
q his political supporters. The vote
was close. very close. But at last the
counting was over and the citizens
ticket declared defeated by a small
plurality. Henry went over and shook
his victorious opponent by the hand
and went out of the hall with a laugh.
"Good-by, but-in." said the genial
DervyfE on 7 I 'S left sSrhaf'S fha Ia sf