Montgomery County sentinel., 1924-01-11
The Parlor
Politician
By JAMES BLACK
. SsOOSs0OSsSssssOsSSSsooOeS
20. 1928. Noatern Nowspaper unlonl


GG|TNt1E trouble with the world" said
Corrigan, "is the graspng mo
nopolists who've got their clutch ON
the proletarlat and won't let go.
"Now take Landlord James, for in
stance. Here he's got this row of
houses we're living in. Rents must
bring him in $500 month, And moth
ing going out. There's a man living
on the sweat Of the proletarlat's brow,
a superfluous parasite who ought to
be hanged from his own maple-tree-
and l told him so"
"What did he say?" inquired Mrs
Corrigan.
"Had the impudence to say that l
could take them of his hands for
$4,000 and he'd be glad to be rid of
them. He knows only draw $65
week. But said, IL had his money,
I'd give an example to the world
by making my tenants the owners of
their properties. I'd give up my bloat-
ed possessions for the sake Of human
lty. I'd"
"Have some more tea, James," said
his wife.
Corrigan went down to his office
fuming and fusslng the next morning.
He had been brooding over the fact
that his rent was to be raised $40
n month. He had stopped in to see
Landlord James on the way.
"You ought to be shot, you blood
tI,Ivot,r st ho h1uotaraI
"My dear Mr.. Corrlgan, suppose you
had white elephant like these houses
and a wife and family to support,
what would you do?"
"Glve 'em to the proletariat and get
out and work by the sweat of my
brow I" yelled Corrlgan "I admit
you're the victim of an lnlqultous So
cial state, like me, but raising us
raising usW
At his office Corrigan found letter
from firm of lawyers in the West:
eve regret to advise you of the
death Of your uncle Leopold, which
occurred on the 10th inst Under the
terms Of his will the property goes
to you. 1t consists Of substantial In
vestments in real estate. 1t Is to be
sold, and the estimated proceeds will
probably reach not far short of the
sum of 100000"
Corrlgan was very thoughtful when
he got home that night, He had de-
clded to say nothing to his wife until
the money was actually In his posses
sion.
did you see Landlord Jamesf' she
asked
"Yes, and he Insists on that ten-dol-
lar raise"
"He really is Il bloodsucker."
"Oh well, we've all got to live" an
swered her husband tolerantly.
Mrs. Corrlgan looked at him in sur
prise. Moderation OF this kind was
unusual in him. She noticed that dur
ing the ensuing days he did not have
very much to say about bloodsuckers
or the proletarlat.
And as the weeks went by, she no
tlced strange change in her hus-
band. He seemed less demOnstrative
In his political theories When she
tackled him once or twice he had
hardly any remarks to make. She was
afraid he was not we'll She began
to feel sure Of II when strange,
eager manner came over him.
"Dear, won't you tell me whether
you've got any secret trouble" she
asked him.
"No trouble" said CorrIgan. "only
may have some news for you on
Saturday.
She awaited Saturday with anxious
lmpatience. Corrigan came home at
noon. "Well, I'm through with the
Office" he remarked.
"You-you haven't given up your
positi0nT
"Just what | have. Uncle Leopold
you remember me speaking OF him?
has left me all his money. Just
got check from his lawyers for
S0s,000."
When Mrs. Corrlgan had grown
calmer she asked What are you go
Ing to do with lt7 You won't give
1t awayp
$50 long as we are victims Of the
present economic system such an act
would lnJure us and help no one" re-
spOnded Corrlgan sanely. mo. I've
bought this row of houses from Land
lord James,"
"What? And-about the rents. You
aren't going to give these houses
away7"
mo, I'm raising everybody So more.
You see, the taxes are so high that
there's practically no profits from
them, and we've got to get our four
per cent. ] have you and the chill
dren TO consider"